Mission Peak UU Congregation
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"A Spiritual Community of Caring Hearts and Open Minds"

 


Mission Peak's Spiritual Portrait

Irises Mandala

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The Symbolism of the Irises Mandala

This mandala was created by Rev. Barbara Meyers to embody the healing nature of her mental health ministry. Mandalas are used by many religious traditions, and find their expression in a number of forms from rose windows in cathedrals, to meditation symbols in Eastern religions, to American Indian rituals, and beyond. A mandala's circular unifying form is thought to help a person to become centered and find inner balance. It represents wholeness and transformative healing.

The inspiration for this mandala representing a mental health ministry was the painting Irises, Saint Remy painted in 1889 by Vincent Van Gogh, an artist who suffered from mental health problems. A portion of that painting was used to generate a kaleidoscope with 8 points, the traditional number for a mandala. The kaleidoscope was then shaped into a traditional mandala circle.

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