3.22.2013

Planetary Mandala

I recently started work on a new series the I have been thinking of as planetary Goddess mandalas. I suppose this might seem astrologically influenced, but not exactly. More shamanically attuned / intended.

The original notion was to work with a double exposure technique using the Goddess bodies overlaid by sacred flowers, tree branches and leaf textures. In the heart of each mandala appears the particular astronomical body. The Goddesses hold court in each image - 4 in the Solar mandala, 3 in the Gaian mandala, 2 in the Lunar mandala, and 1 in the Venusian mandala. Additionally, various associated birds and power animals appear (Earth -> owl, Moon -> hummingbird, Sun -> hawk, Venus -> bat and rattlesnake).


Gaian Goddess Mandala

Lunar Goddess Mandala

Solar Goddess Mandala

Venusian Goddess Mandala

These pieces are current on view in the "Double Exposure" exhibit at the Blue Door Gallery in Yonkers thru April 27th. www.bluedoorgallery.org

3.02.2013

Green Tara Visualization

It's taken me quite a bit of time to finish this series of images for the Tara Self-generation visualization practice. (I took the empowerment over a year ago...) In order to simply present the sequence, I decided to put together a gif animation combining the images with associated textual instructions.

The sequence is based upon my notes from the original empowerment ceremony as well as study of the booklet "The Yoga of Enlightened Mother Arya Tara" from Tharpa Publications. The images present the core sequence - including a "no self" meditation practice at the end, but excluding the ceremony's typical framing prayers and offerings.


Green Tara Visualization

Raising of the World Tree (video)

I recntly came across this video which shows the Milky Way unfurl over the Southern Ocean along the coast of Australia. Watching at 00:45 into the clip, a beautiful view of the Milky Way rising to a vertical position is recorded - what the Mayans would refer to a the "Raising of the World Tree."

The video by Alex Cherney, titled Ocean Sky, was awarded the overall winner at 2011 STARMUS astrophotography competition.

Ocean Sky from Alex Cherney on Vimeo.

Be sure to watch this full screen to get the best appreciation of the fantastic lime-lapse starry sky imagery.