Gift from God Mandala (Circles of Awareness Series) © Sue O'Kieffe 2010source image: bicolored daffodil
When I woke up this morning, I realized this mandala was all about my mother Dorothy. Yesterday would have been her 81st birthday. Mom passed away on February 15th, 1999 from complications of multiple sclerosis. She was diagnosed with this crazy diseases in her late 20's, but it wasn't until my father passed away ten years before her that the MS really came out of remission. All I remember from my childhood is that it was a big mystery to me (and probably to her, too, since no one really knew anything about it back in the late 50's and 60's).
Dorothy loved red, black and gold. She was a classy lady in many ways, and a searcher for the truth. (I think she is younger in this picture than I am now; and that is somehow hard for me to wrap my head around.) I know that some of the many gifts she gave to me were her exquisite color sense and her stubborn strength. My mother was determined not to let MS get the better of her. She learned Reiki before it was a common alternative healing modality. She was a leader, a searcher, a seeker, a frustrated artist. Mom also suffered from social anxiety and was prone to bouts of depression. I don't think she ever accepted who she was or learned to live in the Now, although I saw moments of that lucidity a few days before she passed away.I don't know if she loved daffodils, but she loved red, black and gold; and I know she would have loved this mandala. Dorothy means Gift from God. This one's for you, Mommy. I'm so glad I don't have to prove myself to you anymore. Thanks for being proud of me.
Sue O'Kieffe
Sacred Circle Mandalas
10 comments:
This is beautiful Sue. And truly moving. It is so hard to lose one's Mother for so many reasons. But I'm so happy to see the peace you have now. Strangely enough, I see my own mother in this as well... that radiating love and passion she had lives in this Mandala too...
Thanks for sharing this...
Lee
Oh Sue, This was so beautiful, I'm teary eyed. Thanks for sharing the story behind the mandala which is also so beautiful. I can't wait until my dental work is over and I can finally buy the mandala I picked for myself over the summer!
Hi Sue, your mandalas are beautiful, I love to see your work!
Congratulations
kisses
I love the mandala and your writing brought tears to my eyes
Dear Sue -
Thank you for sharing about your mom!! It is so hard to lose them - and such a relief that when we are older, we came make peace with them and ourselves!!
Lovely mandala!!
Hugs!!
~ Diane Clancy
www.DianeClancy.com/blog
www.DianeClancy.etsy.com
www.zazzle.com/DianeClancyArt*
Sue,
This mandala is radiantly alive...very elegant and warm. I loved the story of your mother...what sacred memories for your heart... thank you for sharing your heart and your art...
Colors are so powerful, and your mother loved some powerful colors. Thank you for this beautiful mandala and blog, to remind us all of the mothers in our lives and that feminine connection that is as old as time itself, Sue!
Thank you, everyone, for leaving comments about this particular mandala
Sue this is absolutely gorgeous. What a wonderful tribute to your Mom. Living with MS can really add to the social anxiety and depression...but this mandala is all about life and fire and rising up again...well to me anyway.
gentle steps,
Laura
This brings tears to my eyes for our mothers live forever in our spirit and will. I lost my mom when I was in my twenties and I resemble her a lot. The other day I was looking in the mirror and there she was in front of me. We carry their heart; their very ribosomes into the future... Thank you for sharing.
Diane
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