WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Life is for Growing

Life is for Growing (Circles of Healing) © Sue O'Kieffe 2010 

source image: yarrow leaf

FRIDAY FIND: Some Children See Him

Some children see Him lily white,
The baby Jesus born this night.
Some children see Him lily white,
With tresses soft and fair.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
The Lord of heav'n to earth come down.
Some children see Him bronzed and brown,
With dark and heavy hair.

Some children see Him almond-eyed,
This Savior whom we kneel beside.
Some children see Him almond-eyed,
With skin of yellow hue.
Some children see Him dark as they,
Sweet Mary's Son to whom we pray.
Some children see him dark as they,
And, ah! they love Him, too!

The children in each different place
Will see the baby Jesus' face
Like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace,
And filled with holy light.
O lay aside each earthly thing
And with thy heart as offering,
Come worship now the infant King.
'Tis love that's born tonight!
~Alfred Burt and Wilha Hurtson ©1951

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY : Be Blessed Now

Be Blessed Now (Circles of Winter) © Sue O'Kieffe 2010

source image: eriogonum leaf

FRIDAY FIND:Mandala Quartz Crystal Singing Bowl Energy Healing Video

Feeling holidazed? I know I sure am! Take a moment and let the soothing qualities of the vibrations from this quartz crystal singing bowl meditation bring you back to inner peace.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Festival of Light

Festival of Light (Circles of Winter) © Sue O'Kieffe 2009
source image: dahlia

Abundant Blessings of Light Mandala

 

Abundant Blessings of Light (Circles of Winter 2010) © Sue O'Kieffe 2010

source image: cotoneaster

I grew up in Minneapolis, and every year at Christmas time there was always something in the news about the Festival of Lights and the celebration of Santa Lucia. I can remember seeing photographs of a blond haired girl with a crown of candles in her hair. When I finished creating this mandala, the words Santa Lucia came to mind and so I did some googling  to learn a little more.

In Sweden, the shortest day of the year is today, December 13th, and so the tradition of the Festival of Lights is grounded in the celebration that the days are growing longer. Santa Lucia was a wealthy Italian woman born in the 3rd century A.D.who was martyred for her Christian beliefs. She is one of the few Catholic saints worshipped in the Lutheran church.

Lucia was known for her kindness. When I breathe into this mandala and feel its gift to us, what comes back to me is light filled compassion. I feel that energy that hums with Love.

Please know that your lives are blessed with abundant Light and Love.

Bright blessings
Sue O'Kieffe
Sacred Circle Mandalas

FRIDAY FIND: Gratitude Mandalas

 I am sharing one of Atmara Rebecca Cloe's amazing kaleidoscope videos with you for today's Friday find. I first met Atmara  on Facebook as a fellow mandala creator. This fall I had the pleasure of meeting her face to face. Atmara's supportive and radiant nature shines both on and offline. Her mandala videos captivate me. Their beauty and capacity to uplift and spark the soul is apparent  whenever I view one of them. I hope you enjoy her gifts as much as I do.

Please be sure to visit her website, New World Creations and her YouTube channel, Artwork for the Soul, for more  of her mandala goodness.

Sue O'Kieffe
Sacred Circle Mandalas

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Peace Mandala

 

Peace Mandala (Circles of Awareness Series) © Sue O'Kieffe 2009

source image: wild onion blossoms

Mandala Coeur Joyeux

 

Mandala Coeur Joyeux (Circles of Love series) © Sue O'Kieffe 2010 

source image: beet ends

I've been sitting with this finished mandala for a few days now, breathing into the image and seeing what is reflected back to me. There was a sense, at first, of the upcoming holidays -- visions of sweetness and frosting, snow and winter wonders, peppermint candy and sugarplum fairies all spoke to me. But I think the message of this mandala goes deeper, right to the heart.

This mandala  throws open a window, inviting the self to meet the Self. The  heart at the center of this image glows with light, joy and innocence. Look at me here, the Self seems to shout. I am dizzy with Light and radiating with Joy and Delight.

And really, I really do believe that this is who we all are, filled with this Light and Love.Have you felt a knocking at your heart? Have you noticed that  quickening, a desire to let loose with the glow of who you really are?

I do not speak French, and so I asked Google to help with the translation for Joyous Heart Mandala. I wanted to title it in French, which after all, is the language of Love.

I would, as always, love to hear your impressions on how this mandala speaks to you.

(And here's a little technical aside, for those of you who like these things:

I created this mandala using the Illuminate photoshop action I downloaded at Paint the Moon Photography's Facebook page. I am always looking for ways to add more light to my mandalas. So, merci, Annie Murray Manning, for figuring all these details out so I don't have to.)

Bright blessings,

Sue O'Kieffe

Sacred Circle Mandalas

Mandala Coeur Joyeux is available now in my Etsy shop (20% off through 12/6/10)