Lenny

And here is the video of the complete mandala :)

And for you, coloring page. Just enlarge, print and enjoy!

Have a wonderful day :)

♥♥♥

Lenny step 8

And here is the complete mandala.

Born 25-04-1962

So Lenny turned 50 today!

Happy Birthday dear!

The last circle is made of 11 lotus petals which is her life path number.

All the numbers of her date of birth added together.

Individuals with the Life Path number 11 are very intuitive, in fact it is the most intuitive of all numbers. They are sensitive and have a great understanding of others, and can sense a great deal about what is going on behind the scenes. For example, they will pick up on people's relationships and health without being told anything. They are here to use their gifts of intuition, and sensitivity to help others.

Have a hummingbird day!
Happy Animal Wednesday!

Hope you enjoyed the making of this mandala :)

♥♥♥

Lenny step 7 / Cactus Monday

Lenny is born in the year 1962, so for the 2  I picked 2 hummingbirds.

I found these Tufted Coquettes. Aren't they just cute?!

And perfect because of their orange accents.

I know they can be found in Suriname and in parts of South America.

Hummingbirds are considered to be symbols of peace, love and happiness, moreover, ancient pagans held them sacred for their tireless energy and anxiety. In Native American culture, a hummingbird symbolizes timeless joy and the Nectar of Life. It's a symbol for accomplishing that which seems impossible and will teach you how to find the miracle of joyful living from your own life circumstances. They are really spectacular birds, and have a lot to teach a person about self discovery and healing. It stands for immortality. Or sometimes the Sun. Hummingbird is seen by some as a messenger of love and joy. It symbolises energy, wonder and swift action. It is associated with the Ghost Spirit native American religion which teaches a dance that is intended to return the natural balance of the world. The hummingbird represent abundant life and joy.

I have posted this symbolic meaning before but here it is again. I just love it!

Read more about them here

 And since it is Cactus Monday I knew I had an oldie somewhere........

Of a hummingbird on a cactus.

 And you know what?! I found a few on my PC

Could it be the hummingbird is a favorite of mine?

Well, without a doubt I can say yes.

This little beautiful bird is just inspiring and amazing.

Have a hummingbird day:)

Happy Cactus Monday :)

And to our Chief cactuteer:Teri, have a safe trip up North.

♥♥♥

Lenny step 6

196.

A hexagon in indigo with 6 spirals in the corners. Some consider the spiral a symbol of the spiritual journey. It is also considered to represent the evolutionary process of learning and growing. It seems that life doesn't proceed in a straight line. The path of life more closely resemble a spiral. We seem to pass the same point over and over again but from a different perspective each time.

(How to draw a perfect hexagon)

Have a wonderful day:)
♥♥♥

lenny step 5

19..

for the nine I used the lotus petals. I love to paint these. I love the rainbow of colors they bring into the mandala and I love their symbolic meaning :)

The Lotus (padma) is a very important symbol in Buddhism. It refers to the complete purification of body, speech and mind, and the blossoming of wholesome deeds. The lotus refers to many aspects of the path, as it grows from the mud (samsara), up through muddy water it appears clean on the surface (purification), and finally produces a beautiful flower (enlightenment). The blossom represents purity, the stem stands for the practice of Buddhist teachings which raise the mind above the (mud of) worldly existence, and gives rise to purity of mind. An open blossom signifies full enlightenment

 Have a rainbow day :)

♥♥♥

Lenny part 4

Here I added a red ring, also called the millennium ring .
The first number of her birth year.
Red because it belongs to the number red, the first color of the spectrum.
The ring has no beginning and no end , a symbol for eternity and unbreakable love.

More posts on red and number 1 

Have a nice day :)
♥♥♥

Animal Wednesday

Just a few days ago Chris did a post on a journal page  and in my comment I told her I never had ducks in my garden because it is too small and enclosed.

Just one day later I looked outside my window and what did I see in my pond?!

Yes a duck couple! I was so surprised .

I took the pictures from behind the window so they are not very sharp.....

Oops........ predator on the premises..........

The duck flew away and went to the drinking well 

just behind our garden. Maybe you can see them

 when you enlarge the pictures. 

And this is Wodan....................I must admit Rottweilers are not my favorite breed. I have a history with this breed. My Pekingese Gijs (20 years ago) was nearly killed when attacked on the beach by 2 of them. My Dad was beaten up by a Rottweilers boss when he tried to rescue the same dog out of the teeth of another Rottweiler. The neigbors Rottweiler nearly killed the Chihuahua from my friends daughter just 100 meters from my house and later that  year he killed a Sheltie just in front of my door. So no wonder this is just not my favorite dog......

Yesterday I went to paint our boat in the shed in the countryside and Wodan is the watch dog there.

He is just so friendly and last year he licked my arms while I was painting the anti fouling. This year he came to greet us and I made him sit give a high five and gave him cookies. He was my friend yesterday and I must admit I like Wodan. And my DH who is terrified of dogs likes him too and isn't afraid of him!

 You can't tell in this picture but believe  me he is huge!!!!!

Happy Animal Wednesday :)

♥♥♥

Lenny part 3 and Cactus Monday

Lenny is born in the month April, number 4.

For this number I picked 4 Bodhi leaves. This is a symbol I wanted to use  for a very long time and now was the time :)

According to Buddhist tradition, Siddharta Gautama abandoned years of rigorous fasting and asceticism by accepting milk and honey from a young woman. He then sat down beneath the Bodhi Tree and vowed not to move until he attained enlightenment. After 49 days of concentrated meditation and several battles with Mara (illusion), Siddharta became the Buddha, the "Enlightened One."

Buddha under the Bodhi Tree

This year I received a painted Bodhi leaf ( a similar one) from my  Mantra teacher, which I will hang in my new studio

This Bodhi Tree I found in Thailand last February. I always love to find a Bodhi tree on my travels 

or Bodhi  leaves.

I love this kind of music :)

And since it is Monday I have to show you a picture of my cactus I bought last year.
Do you see the buds?! I was surprised to find these last week.
I am not good at all in taking care of plants in the house. So maybe cacti are my kind of plants :)
I water them once a month and........ this is what is about to happen. More later on another cactus Monday.

Happy Cactus Monday !
♥♥♥

Lenny step 2

Lenny is born on the 25th so for the five I picked the pentagram. Painted in the color light blue. 

It has long been believed to be a potent protection against evil and demons, hence a symbol of safety, and was sometimes worn as an amulet for happy homecoming.

Of course there is so much written on this symbol, some bad meanings as well. people are able to turn good symbols is bad ones. Best example is the Swastika, which is from the beginning a positive symbol. In Buddhist temples you see them a lot on the chest of Buddha. To us scary as we know the Swastika from one of the darkest pages in history.  I would never use it in one of my mandalas as I think this symbol is too much associated with bad things.

With the pentagram or pentacle (with a circle around it) I don't have negative associations with. I prefer it's positive and magical meaning.
It is drawn in one continuous stroke, earning it the title the "endless knot".

Have a nice Sunday :)
♥♥♥

Lenny step 1

Tonight I went to a birthday party of my friend Lenny.

We haven´t seen each other in 30 years and re connected through the internet in 2010

(you can read how in this post)

After our contact it took a while before we established our first meeting which was 2 weeks ago.

This is me with my 2 high school friends. It was good to see them again and I was amazed how little they had changed. Lenny (on the left) was exactly  the same and Meity (on the right ) too, except she had long hair.

We met to catch up  before the birthday party this evening.

The party was wonderful, but we didn't have much time to talk , just like we expected. I met some old friends from 30 years ago as well. Saw Lenny's Mom, sister and brother. Meity's family and we drove past my old home.

I gave her a birth mandala for her 50th  birthday.

Above is the first step.

The 2. An orange Yin Yang symbol This symbol represents the primal opposing but complementary forces found in all things in the universe. Depicted as it is, it also outlines the necessity of balance in all things.
Usually this symbol is painted in black and white but since I use it for the number 2 I used different colors of orange.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend:)
Have a Yin Yang kind of a day :)


♥♥♥

Happy Easter :)

(Easter mandala)

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Easter weekend!

Today we will have brunch with my niece Sophie who is here.

Then we will bring her to Rotterdam and I will visit my Mom there.

Two weeks of my holiday have passed and I have been busy as a bee in my garden.

Tomorrow I will do some weeding and then I will just look and watch everything grow and get greener day by day :) This is my favorite season and I am so happy that I am not missing a moment .

Still lots to do on my to do list for this holiday. I want to paint the new shed for the second time, have to finish a mandala. Have to paint our boat. Have to clean the patio. I can name a few more or shall I just stop........?

Happy Easter !

♥♥♥

Monique

Monique 01-04-1962

Today was a day I visited old friends.

Through internet I came in contact with 2 girlfriends from school and we have tried to meet for over one year now.

Today we finally did after 30 years.

It was a happy reunion!

After that visit I went to see my friend Monique who turned 50 today!

I know Monique for 34 years. We had  some years without contact but somehow we always reconnected again.

I know we will always be friends, with shorter and longer intervals of not seeing each other , but we always pick up where we left.

Have a nice Sunday :)

♥♥♥