New psychological work

I went to the bookstore looking for something non-cancer related to read, and of course found a cancer related book, My God I Thought You'd Died: One Man's Personal Triumph Over Cancer, by Claude Dosdall and Joanne Broatch.

I started to read that, when I received via mail A Call to Women: The Healthy Breast Program and Workbook, by Sat Dharan Kaur, ND.. While I don't have breast cancer, this was recommended by my hypnotherapist for the excellent info, diet tips, and workbook exercises, not to mention kundalini and other exercises.

So last night I began with one exercise the author calls a Meaning Mandala.:

"It will help you to define where you derive meaning from your life and propel you to manifest that meaning. It will remind you of your soul's purpose here and how to live that purpose. It will help to integrate the divergent directions in your life and bring you stability when you lose your compass or your anchor. As you relate to your meaning mandala, you will mobilize your body's ability to heal."(p.283)

I will try to find and post a picture of a basic mandala...well, one's not so basic, but essentially the format, to be drawn on a nice big big piece of paper, is small circle in the middle, large square framing next large sized circle, all framed by a larger circle. 3 circles, one square

(above line drawing- picture a circle in the middle, a circle just inside the large"ish" square, and lose the giant outer square, but keep the giant framing circle).

(above coloured drawing - blue outer circle, brown square, brown circle, blue innermost circle)

Intersect these with lines like cutting a pie into 16 pieces. Way easier than it sounds. This is a thoroughly enjoyable process to create once you have all the fixin's.

Great verbatim description from annieappleseedproject.org/meaningmandala.html

Meaning Mandala - finding your bliss, path, passion

On a large 24"x36" or bigger poster-sized paper, draw a circle and divide into 16 segments; a square within the circle, points touching the circle; a smaller circle inside the square touching the lines of the square at the central points; and a small circle in the center. This is your basic mandala.

Around the outer circle, write one word for each of the 16 segments: see, hear, feel, passion, forgive, create, do, be, joy, experience, learn, love, heal, express, talents, cause.

Write the 16 questions in a square or circle around that:

What did I come here to heal?

What did I come here to express?

What talents have I come to develop?

What causes have I come to serve?

What did I come here to see?

What did I come here to do?

Who did I come here to be?

What brings me joy?

What did I come here to experience?

What did I come here to learn?

Who did I come here to love?

Who did I come here to forgive?

What did I come here to create?

What did I come here to hear?

What did I come here to feel?

Where is my passion?

In the center of the little circle, write "I am Here".

At the end of the spaces between two radiating lines at the outer edge of the largest circle, write words or phrases that answer the questions around the diagram. [express, cause, see, hear, feel, forgive, create, etc.]

Between the spokes list the progression of actions or experiences that would enhance or develop the meaning at the outer edge of the circle.These might include qualities to develop within yourself, tasks to do, other people to involve, service, devotion, meditation, letting go, bodywork, dancing, growing a garden, goals short and long term etc., or words and phrases that evoke the meaning for you.

Place the mandala where you can focus on it, perhaps during your rebounding exercises. Think about it. Be aware. Don't be afraid to change it as you change.

Gradually fill in the parts, starting from the center, with contrasting colours or collages or whatever you choose, as you begin to actualize the meaning and purpose of your life.For every step you take towards fullfillment of experience, meaning, purpose, joy, forgiveness, healing... Draw or put pictures around the outside that represent those fulfillments for yourself."

Your body needs to know that you are serious about living for it to co-operate whole-heartedly with you in healing."Found in the book, A Call to Women, Sat Dharam Kaur ND, pages 283-5. Thanks to Aliss T.

For someone who is a visual learner this is a great way to look at different psychological aspects of healing. I have taken this slow as there is real thought that goes into filling out each area. I'm using art supplies and the dining room table, a candleabra and incense, background music, etc.. I'm really letting it get into my mind and my way of thinking, sort of like a work of art in progress. I can feel something shifting or moving inside.