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.
