Happy New Year 2016

iPhone Case

I got a good discount offer from VistaPrint in my email yesterday so I decided to create an iPhone case. What do you think? Should I go into production?

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

Venus Transit - 3 Minutes of Wonder

About the upcoming Annular Eclipse May 20th

Watch this informative video for details and viewing tips.

Prayer for Protection and Guidance

Sky Protector

Namo Ratna Guru

You are the drum that ends the sleep of sentient beings.

You are the ambrosia that takes away the torment of suffering.

You are the moon that dispels the misery of the afflicting emotions.

You are the sun disk that dispels the darkness of ignorance.

You are the chief of physicians who dispels the sickness of the three poisons.

You are the supreme sword that cuts the bonds of samsara.

You are the vajra that destroys the confusion-wheel of self-grasping.

You are the weapon that cuts through wrong view and doubt.

- an excerpt from "Manifesting the Mystic Body" published in "Calling the Lama from Afar"

This Tibetan figure is Kalachrakra - Lord of Time - in a Yab-Yum pose with his consort (male/female energy in balance, the Union of Compassion and Wisdom Bliss). His many hands hold tools and instruments of protection, meditation, spiritual practice and offering. Upon reading the poem fragment, I immediately visualized this Protector image including Manjushri's flaming sword of Wisdom.