Spring Mandala Creation: Transitioning from Mud to Lotus with Kylee Gies

Join us for this creative experiential workshop that encourages and supports the discovery, the integration, and the expression of your own authentic grief mandala inspired by the philosophy of “No Mud, No Lotus”

The word "mandala" is from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. Loosely translated to mean "circle”. In many sacred traditions, it represents wholeness and can be seen as a cosmic diagram that reminds us of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds. Mandalas express visions, beliefs, meaning, the unspeakable, etc. They represent a moment in time while reminding us of the impermanence of life along with the importance of living in the present. They are beautiful and magical.

Life’s trials and tribulations require us and sometimes harshly demand us to navigate inevitable pain and sorrow. The wild nature of individual and collective grief can leave us feeling an array of negative emotions. Leaning into it versus bypassing the thresholds we find ourselves at is ‘crucial ‘to the healing process. The question becomes, “How do we cultivate the view, the understanding, and the toolkit to use our suffering to help us find more meaning, purpose, healing, and love within ourselves, our community, and the world?”

Thich Nhat Hanh states, “No mud, no lotus! The secret to happiness is to acknowledge and transform suffering, not to run away from it.” In this four-hour workshop, we will utilize the metaphor of the lotus’s relationship to mud to: calm your body and mind through restoration, open your heart through ‘grief-composting’ narrative, and create your own mandala as an expression of your unique process of becoming and blooming into Spring.

You will have the opportunity to:

- Create a group altar and sacred circle

- Self-regenerate with movement and guided meditation

- Compost grief narrative that is not serving you anymore

- Engage in your own mandala creation (with nature objects, paints, crafting material,etc)

- Develop resiliency and self-healing tools

- Shape meaningful intentions moving forward