Horizon Gazing Indoors
A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon the concept of “horizon gazing” and it fascinated me. Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist at Stanford, has discovered that stress narrows our field of vision. One thing is in laser sharp focus and the rest gets blurred. By contrast, when we “defocus” our gaze and we take in a wider panoramic view, we relax, we enter a state of calm. “If you keep your head still, you can dilate your gaze so you can see far into the periphery—above, below and to the sides of you. That mode of vision releases a mechanism in the brain stem involved in vigilance and arousal. We can actually turn off the stress response by changing the way that we are viewing our environment, regardless of what’s in that environment.” Dr Andrew Huberman If you thing about it, it makes sense. When our body/mind worries that there is a threat it will focus our gaze to the things closest to us to make sure no predator will jump on us. When our body/mind doesn’t feel threatened, we can allow ourselves to take in a view and to relax our eyes by defocusing… That is the idea with […]
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Mandalas in Cultures.
Mandala have been found all across cultures and thought out human history. We find them from East to West in so many different cultures: Dreamcatchers and Medicine Wheels of Native Americans, Aztec Calendars, Cathedral Rosettes in Europe, Buddhist Sand Mandalas… These patterns are more than just beautiful designs, they carry deep spiritual and cultural significance. What is a mandala for? Mandalas ask from you to be patient. Tibetan monks, for instance, spend hours creating their sand mandalas only to erase them once completed. This practice symbolizes that the process itself holds more value than the finished result. Just like in life, the journey is more important than the destination. But it also talks about impermanence, how nothing in this universe is “for ever”. Mandalas are also an invitation to meditation. You can look at the intricate designs and quiet your mind. It allows you to find some inner peace and to know yourself a bit more. Mandalas inspire a sense of beauty and with it, joy. Mandalas also act as links to the divine (Yantra), offering a channel to receive cosmic truths. They are protective symbols believed to ward off negative energies and safeguard the soul. At their core, mandalas […]
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How to Draw the Flower of Life
Learn how to draw the Flower of Life – a timeless symbol found across cultures and centuries. Not only is it beautiful, but it also makes a perfect base for your own mandala drawings. This step-by-step guide will show you how to create it using just a compass, ruler, and pencil. Prefer to skip straight to colouring? Here is a free colouring mandala to download. Or, here is a free Flower of Life grid to start practising! If you want to learn to do it by yourself, scroll a little to find the tutorial! What Is the Flower of Life? In Sacred Geometry, the Flower of Life represents protection, harmony, and connection. It consists of 19 equally spaced overlapping circles, arranged to form a symmetrical, flower-like pattern. This geometric figure has been found in ancient temples, manuscripts, and artworks around the world. So, it’s more than a design, it’s a meditative journey in itself. Materials You’ll Need Learn how to draw the Flower of life. 1. Find the Center of the Paper First, use your ruler to mark the midpoint of each edge and then, draw a horizontal and vertical line to find the exact center. 2. Draw the First […]
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Mandalas in Nature
When we think of mandalas, we often picture elaborate drawings – and we’re right, those are mandalas. But mandala-like patterns can be found everywhere in nature: Flowers. Succulents. The human eye. Tree rings. Snowflakes. Spider webs… These are small reminders to pause. To stand in awe of nature – and of the life we’re here to live. We live in mystery. For all our efforts, we don’t truly know why we’re here or how we came to be. And it’s easy to feel uneasy with that truth, so we often hide it behind our to-do lists and constant busyness. But what if we could learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable? To be okay with not knowing?Maybe then, we wouldn’t rush so much. Maybe we’d give ourselves the space to discover more about ourselves, and the vast universe around us. Let nature fill our days as much as possible. Let’s look around and notice all these quiet reminders of mystery and perhaps of our true selves as well. *If you want some inspiration, please follow me on youtube.
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Why Mandalas?
Mandalas are fascinating. You can find them in nature and across many different cultures throughout history. They serve as a bridge between spirituality and art.Mandalas represent the universe, more specifically, the interconnectedness of all things, and they also reflect the inner world of the person who created them.When you look at a mandala, you can find beauty, balance, and a moment of peace. So, who are mandalas for? -For those who seek spirituality in their daily lives. Mandalas connect the viewer with the designer, as it connects one shape to the other and one circle to the next one. It is about feeling interconnectedness. -For those who need an anchor. Mandalas come in any size, it can be kept with your treasures and be there as your soul’s home. When life gets too chaotic, a mandala can bring you back. -For those who need a reminder to stop. Mandalas are wonderful tools for meditation. And if there is no time to sit and meditate, simply pausing to take a few breaths while gazing at its beauty can reenergize and refocus you.. And then, who aren’t mandalas for? -For those you want a quick fix to their problems. -For those who […]
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