Meditating with mandala art is a powerful practice that can give you insights on the challenges in your life. I’m so incredibly grateful for my mandala meditation practice as it grounds me in telling the truth of a situation in my life and it inspires me to take the next steps with courage and hope.
In my last blog post, I shared how I create my full moon mandala art using stencils that I designed for StencilGirl products. You’ll also get in that post more details on the qualities of Scorpio and Pluto along with the first part of my mandala meditation practice. In this post, I’ll show you an example of my second mandala meditation practice where I add crystals to the mandala to form a crystal grid and how I work with oracle cards to glean deeper insights.
A day or week after creating my mandala, I pull it out to focus on my intentions. I start by selecting a gemstone or object to place at the center. Here a piece of sodalite carved out in the shape of a skull felt like the perfect choice. Pluto, Scorpio’s ruling planet is associated with the process of rebirth and facing a dead end situation that may involve a painful catharsis before moving on.
While I’m not ready to share the details of my current situation, I’ll say that I am faced with a dead end situation. Do you have something in your life that feels like you are coming back around? It reminds me of that game called Chutes and Ladders where you work your way up the game board climbing the ladders when unexpectedly you step on a chute and fall back to an earlier spot. Now that’s how karma feels to me.
This Scorpio full moon has helped me to shed light on a situation in my life that I can’t keep ignoring. Placing the skull gemstone at the center sets the intention that I’m ready to end this karmic cycle.
There are no hard-fast rules when placing gemstones to create a grid. Here I placed the stones on and around the petals in the center mandala design.
My gemstone selection includes:
Sodalite (dark blue chips and skull) an awakener of the Third-Eye Chakra, or Sixth Chakra that’s the center of our intuition. Scorpios have a strong interpersonal nature and tend to focus on what other people say about their situation rather than listening and trusting their own intuition. During challenging times it’s natural to look to friends, family, and colleagues for advice. There comes a time to look within and trust your intuitive wisdom.
Carnelian (dark orange pieces) stimulates the Sacral Chakra, or Second Chakra, that controls the flow of energy and creativity. It’s well matched for the sacral chakra mandala pattern at the center of this design.
Citrine (rough cut yellow gemstones) adds a radiance of the Solar Plexus Chakra, or Third Chakra that feels warming, energizing, and highly creative. It imparts a flexibility, openness, and confidence to new experiences.
You are blessed.
After the intention is set and the gems are placed on the mandala, I pull out a set of divination cards. For this reading I selected The Wisdom of the Oracle deck by Colette Baron-Reid.
As I shuffled the oracle cards, my central question was, “What is the best way to proceed?”
I pulled four cards. The first titled, Blessed was placed at the base of my mandala that represents where I’ve been and what has led up to this situation.
When I first faced the truth of my situation, I felt angry and shame. “How did I let this happen, again!?” The dark side of Scorpio can pull us into the depths of our shadow nature that’s full of sadness, anger, grief, and the like. The empowered side of Scorpio recognizes the lessons and gifts in the moment and how they’ve made us the person we are today.
Pulling this card helped me to see the many blessings along the years and in this moment. It’s setting the tone or foundation for how to navigate this situation full of gratitude and blessings. It reminds me that there is sweetness with the bitterness.
You have what it takes to go the distance.
The second card placed on the left side, “Go the Distance” describes where I’m at in the moment and my central concern, “How will I see this through?” I know where I’m at and where I want to go, but what do I need to do to get there?
I am open and flexible to what this situation needs.
I smiled a big cheshire cat smile pulling this card. It gives me the OK that I don’t have to have all the answers and that I can be open to what is needed. I’ll listen to myself and others and strive to meet us where we are at. I truly want the best for all concerned.
Happy, Happy
What a delightful final card that indicates the probable outcome, Happy, Happy. I feel reassured that no matter the process, in the end, I’ll experience the sweetness and joy of life.
Fun little side note – In this oracle card, the mandala underneath the egg is the Torus Yantra, a design that I’ve been drawing over and over again as I explore the many patterns found within it. The Torus Yantra will be one of the projects that’s part of the Cultivating Compassion Mandala Art Program at the Dharmakaya Center. I’m so looking forward to facilitating this program in August. I do hope you’ll join me!
Here’s a look at the mandala with the four oracle cards. It amazes me how the messages of the cards line up so perfectly with the four directions.
I’m living a bittersweet moment. Meditating on the mandala and oracle cards has filled me with hope, courage, and trust.
Until the next lunation,
{soul hugs}
Kathryn Costa
Instigator of Soulful & Creative Living
Related Links
Easily create your own Scorpio Full Moon Mandala using these stencils.
- Four Gates Mandala Stencil
- Sacral Chakra Plexus Chakra Stencil
- Zodiac Chart with Zodiac Symbols Stencil
- Celestial Bodies Stencil (ruling planets symbols)
- Browse All Stencils Designed by Kathryn Costa
Other links:
