#7 Gather Items for a Natural Mandala

The following is part of  a series of posts detailing the information in my free download: 26 Ways to Prepare Your Heart for Birth.

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Mandala is a Sanskrit word, loosely translated to mean "circle" or "disk".  The circle is one of the oldest symbols known to mankind and and often represents unity, wholeness and infinity. Circles are associated with the sun, the moon, and the earth. They represent feminine energy, the eternal, and the human spirit.  It is no accident that mandalas are either circular in shape, or have a circle as it's predominant attribute.

Throughout history, mandalas have been used as a tool for meditation and centering. In Tibetan Buddhism, ornate mandalas are created out of colored sand and then blown away, symbolizing the impermanence of life and the world. Mandalas often emerge as a result of moments of intense personal growth. They have been known to bring order, and yet create the space to bring about something that does not yet exist.... perfect for pregnancy!

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Your next task in preparing your heart for birth is to create your own mandala!

Gather items from nature:
flowers
flower petals
twigs
rocks
pine cones
leaves
berries

Anything else you find outside

Find a quiet place outside, and build your mandala.

Arrange your treasures in any circular pattern that speaks to you. You can make your mandala as big, or as small as you like. You can make as many or as few as you want.  As you make each one, be present to the baby growing in your round, circular belly.  Visualize your baby warm and cozy, curled up inside your womb. 

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 Pam England, author and creator of Birthing From Within, documented the process and meaning behind this mandala, Birth as a Hero's Journey.

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Check out The Mandala Journey for inspiration. Artist, Amy Hederer created a mandala a day during her third pregnancy, the result is simply beautiful and astounding. 

Share the inspiration!  In the comments, please post photos of your unique nature mandalas.