Lisa Lazio, csj
I had been doing mandalas for 20 years before I met Judith Cornell, PhD (Rajita Sivananda), author of The Mandala for Healing Kit. This kit was developed for the sacred use of the mandala and its ability to awaken you to your Truest Self and to the God within you. This process has touched me at my very core. When I met Judith, I questioned everything she said---from the discipline of silence, to the use of colors, to the mastering of techniques. I finally realized that if I were to learn anything from her, I needed to trust, and just do it. The experience changed my outlook on life.
I have always loved color and art. From the first moment I learned what a mandala is, I knew that I had found something that would play an important role in my life. I enjoy teaching this process to people who are searching for themselves and for their God. It is humbling to see another discover their TRUE self. It is even more even more powerful to witness others connecting with the God of their hearts.
I have a few mandalas that I often turn to for greater understanding of who I am in my Inner Self—and if that matches what others experience in me. It gives me comfort at times and challenges me frequently---that is what mandalas are all about. The logo for this site is one of those mandalas because it always speaks to me of people gathering and sharing their stories and love and wisdom with each other. The logo for this site is the icon that you see on every page.
The other one though, is my motivator. It never fails to call me to look at what keeps me from being who I want to be. Sometimes it takes on different words in the Intention, but for now they are most fitting.
Nancy Marsh, csj
A mandala experience that I found helpful was creating 100 mandalas in 100 days for peace. Each day we were to create a mandala, numbering them consecutively until we reached 100. I kept going. Stopping at 287, I realized that in the process, I had acquired my own inner peace. Time spent that I will never regret.
I have come to appreciate using the mandala to center myself, process what is in my heart by expressing it on paper.I Discover visions as I reflect on varied Images in color and form. I do this both alone and with others weekly or as often as I sense something that needs deep attention.
I am a senior citizen who enjoys expressing herself in artistic ways. For me, Mandala-Making is a spiritual practice. It is a way to honor an event or an awareness of what is happening in your life, Mandalas provide a new way to put my intention into a visual form that I will remember. I often do a mandala while at a meeting to capture what is happening in the group. I have been using mandalas seriously since 2015. I have participated and assisted in the facilitation of retreats. I have also done some workshops for faculty and business groups.
I regularly participate and co-lead small groups. I have enjoyed a weekly mandala group on Zoom, facilitated by Dr. Susan Johnson. For several years I have participated in daily exercises during the liturgical seasons of advent and lent.
