Originally my plan was to blog about my daily experiences in the Circles Cycles Symbols event as noted in my previous post. However, due to some different issues, I was not able to follow through as planned. On the bright side, I completed all of the exercises by the last day of the event (today).
Rather than making separate posts for each exercise I will summarize them below. Here goes!

The prompt was to create a two page spread of concentric circles with matching descriptive words. I thought about tree rings, and how using tree ring dating can tell the history of a particular time and place.

A basic mandala grid can be formed by connecting the center and the circumference with radial lines.

Sections can be made large and small. The rays suggest the sun.

Combining concentric circles, radial lines, and connections creates a more complicated and interesting mandala. Adding color can also create patterns. There are endless possibilities for different combinations with this star symbol mandala.

The final exercise was to draw  twin star symbol mandalas on facing pages. They are both variations on the same combination grid mandala from exercise 4. Notice how variations in lines, shapes, and colors can create different looking results!

• Be present, and stay focused.
• Don’t forget to breathe.
• Let go of  worries about not being perfect. There is beauty in imperfection.
• Stay true to your self and to your aesthetic.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment.

This was a valuable learning experience for me, and I hope that anyone else who participated in the event found it rewarding! I highly recommend Mandala Magic School to anyone interested in learning more about the mandala art form. And definitely take advantage of any FREE workshops offered in the future.