Creating Mandalas with Susanne Fincher

✨ Remarkable Women and the Great Round continues THIS FRIDAY as we learn about the American dancer and choreographer, ISADORA DUNCAN, in relation to TURNING TOWARDS THE JOURNEY / Stage 3 of the Archetypal Stages of the Great Round of Mandala ✨

Each month, we are honoring and celebrating trailblazing women from around the world whose lives and stories personify qualities and experiences of the Archetypal Stages of the Great Round of Mandala.

This month, we're excited to have CMCP Graduate, Anna Sardina, share all about this month's remarkable woman.

Anna shared…
"I am a visual artist, dancer, and facilitator based in the Monterey Bay / Big Sur area and the creator and founder of Rite of Passage Art and Rite of Passage Dance.

Drawing inspiration from my ancestral stories and myths as road maps to healing, my art and movement practices delve into the metaphorical journey of descent and ascension and themes that express deep layers of identity and belonging.

I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts with a major in Ethnobotany and a minor in Dance, a Masters of Fine Arts Degree with an emphasis in Mask Making and Dance Ritual Theatre. I am a certified facilitator in the Chakradance healing movement modality and am currently working towards a PhD in Women's Spirituality.

My interest in Mandalas and The Great Round began when I discovered Creating Mandalas in 2023 and participated in the Creating Mandalas Certification Program.

I am currently offering in-person one-on-one and group Chakradance sessions. I am also offering one- on-one and group online and in-person Rite of Passage Dance facilitations. Soon to be offering Chakradance, Rite of Passage Dance, and Fire Poi retreats and workshops in the U.S. and Internationally."

Join us *THIS* Friday, March 13 at 10am-12pm Eastern Time (U.S.)

Get the zoom link at the 🔗in the comments.

(Mandala art, “Growing Light” by Anna Sardina, inspired by the experience of Turning Towards the Journey / Stage 3 of the Great Round.)

Upcoming offerings from Susan Paul Johnson -

Upcoming offerings from Susan Paul Johnson

✨ Celebrations of Nature and the Great Round continues THIS FRIDAY as we learn about the celebration of MAY DAY in relation to Claiming Selfhood / Stage 5 of the Archetypal Stages of the Great Round of Mandala ✨

This month, we're excited to have CM Team Member, Marilyn Clark, share all about this month's celebration.

Marilyn shared…
"I have led mandala workshops and retreats with Susanne for many years, and have used the mandala with psychotherapy clients. My primary work has been as a psychotherapist and trainer of the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery & Music. Both of these modalities provide means of accessing our rich inner worlds and enable us not only to deepen our relationship with ourselves but also to share those worlds with others."

Join us *THIS* Friday, MAY 9 OR Tuesday, MAY 27. DM or comment MONTHLY MANDALAS and we’ll send you the link for zoom access — or 🔗in comments!

*MONTHLY MANDALAS is an expressive arts community gathering facilitated by CREATING MANDALAS Team Members and CM Certificate Program graduate scholars to bring the Great Round of the Mandala to your life.

Monthly Mandalas is offered on a pay-as-you-can basis, with a suggested minimum of $25 per meeting. Proceeds from these monthly gatherings go to the CM Scholarship Fund that aims to increase opportunities for persons to learn about and enjoy Creating Mandalas.

(Mandala art by Marilyn Clark)

🌑 Grounding and Growing 🌑

From Susanne’s reflections in this month’s newsletter…

What’s your plan for 2025?
Ready to let mandalas be a part of it?

Join us as we plant seeds for the new year with a new mandala creation…

It’s natural to think about beginning something new the first of the year, but sometimes we over think it.

We feel we should have a specific plan for what we will do, when, and how it will be done.

At the beginning of a process, things are often not so clearly defined. You may only be able to take the next right step as you see it at the time.

Clarity may even come in hindsight after you feel your way through the process of creation.

Still, identifying in broad brush strokes the direction you want to take with your new initiative sets something in motion that feeds the process, and helps define the next appropriate actions.

It’s like planting a seed, even when you cannot know exactly what the plant will be like when it germinates.

This month’s mandala - Planting Seeds for the New Year - is designed to support you in the less defined, but important, early stages of formulating new projects.

Comment or DM us JAN2025 to receive the directions and journaling prompts for this month’s mandala exploration.

Tag us in your mandala creations and share something that surprised you with this mandala!

(Mandala art by CM Team Member, Susanne Fincher)