Crossing the Sea of Life

The mandala classes I teach are based on the structure of Tibetan Buddhist mandalas: Fire Ring, Transition, Narrative Cycle, Sea of Life, Four Portals, Inner Garden & Self, and Final Rim.  In our Dream Mandalas the Narrative Cycle is a series of dreams that take us into the realm of spirit. Our mandalas represent our unique personal mythologies.

Structurally, this year's class has reached the Sea of Life. It is interesting that when Homo Sapiens first left Africa, they crossed the southern tip of the Red Sea at the Gate of Tears, so named for the horde of humans who had drowned in it during the earthquake that separated Africa from Eurasia. Likewise, when Moses led his people into freedom they crossed the Red Sea. It is also noteworthy that mammalian life emerged from the sea.

When we paint our mandala's Sea of Life, we begin by meditating on our personal experiences with water, such as seas and oceans and lakes and rivers, even rain and snow. If possible we sit beside a body of water to do our meditation. Below are some examples of the variety of forms this art can take.

Sea of Life Examples from Celestial Gallery by Romio Shrestha 

Amitayus: The Buddha of Boundless Life, p. 39

Chakrasamvara: Golden Energy, p. 27

Mandala of Padmapani: Savior of Great Compassion, Frontspiece

Wagner Sea of Life Examples

1997 Heroine's Journey, begun while living in Victoria, B.C.
Brown Sea of Life was painted after leaving the Pacific Ocean.

1998 Dream Mandala. 
Turquoise Sea of Life painted during daughter's illness.

2016 Dream Mandala, Shades of blue, green and gold Sea of Life
painted after research travel in Mediterranean region.

Evolution of Mandala Sea of Life

As with each part of the mandala, after meditating, we begin the Sea of Life by laying in a base color that came to us in our meditation. Then we doodle in our journal sketchbook to find the form that wants to be in the Sea of Life. Below is the evolution my own Sea of Life underwent in my 2017-8 Dream Mandala.

2018 First take on Sea of Life

2018 Second take on Sea of Life

LiDoña Wagner Dream Mandala 2018
Final form of Sea of Life

Student Mandalas - Sea of Life

Patricia Rounds 2016, Dream Mandala 
Notice how her Sea of Life frames the four portals.

Hope Lewis, Dream Mandala 2018, Sea of Life

Janet Asman 2018, Dream Mandala

Janet made a lovely slide show showing the painting of her mandala from beginning to end. In my September 26, 2018 blog you can view the laying in of the base color for her Sea of Life, her first form, and her refinements.