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OfflineWhiplash
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Registered: 09/20/13
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Learning to make mandalas from photos
    #19129617 - 11/13/13 01:00 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

Hey fellow Shroomers

I have been getting more and more interrested in using mandalas for meditation. In my searches I found quite an easy way to make them from photos using photoshop. My photoshop skills are seriously crap. But I had fun making these and thought Id share them. These were my first attempts and Im getting a feel for what the end product will look like.

These two are from a picture of one of my san pedro`s flower.



The ones below are all pictures of mushrooms on cakes from my current grow.









Its nothing super amazing but I can see some potential for some pretty cool creations. Plus i had fun creating them.

Peace out
WL


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OfflineGoldenEye
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Re: Learning to make mandalas from photos [Re: Whiplash]
    #19129634 - 11/13/13 01:08 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

Symmetry is always pretty isn't it :ooo:

Looking good!

How do you use your mandalas for meditation?
I was under the impression that drawing them was the biggest part of the meditation..?


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OfflineGoldenEye
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Re: Learning to make mandalas from photos [Re: GoldenEye]
    #19129685 - 11/13/13 01:28 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

Edit: posted this in the wrong thread. Tabs are confusing.


Edited by GoldenEye (11/13/13 01:30 AM)


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OfflineWhiplash
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Re: Learning to make mandalas from photos [Re: GoldenEye]
    #19129717 - 11/13/13 01:43 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

I am still new to meditation but I use it as a kind of one pointed meditation. These pics are not really the kind that I prefer, i just stumbled upon this in my search and thought it was cool. 

I find black and white, geometric, line based mandalas more pleasing. I cannot relate to them like i can to petals of a flower and theres something about the geometry that affects my mind in a manner that allows for it to calm and almost has a deeper meaning to it. Shapes and angles repeated and mirrored according to a set formula.

Basicly I get comfortable and settle my breathing. I focus my mind and eyes at the center and try keep my focus there. My mind wanders and I redirect it back to the center. It has a drawing in effect and I find it easier to clear my mind when staring at the center. Its almost like they clear my mind for me. Something about the geometry and symmetry. My perception widens and I seem to see more and more of the shapes within shapes while gazing at the centre. As Time passes and my senses opens up I seem to find even greater detail and a sense of meaning in the shapes. Like sacred knowledge that i cant understand.

Something about geometry has always intrigued my mind. Since i was a child I was drawing complex geometric designs, top of my class in geometry and technical drawings. It just makes sense to my brain and gives it a calmness just by looking at it.

I cant really explain how and why it does this but just by looking at them it engages my mind in a way that almost suspends its normal functions.

hahahaha..wow that was the first time I tried putting this into words. I hope I made some sense and didnt stutter too much :tongue:


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OfflineWhiplash
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Re: Learning to make mandalas from photos [Re: GoldenEye]
    #19129719 - 11/13/13 01:44 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

Quote:

GoldenEye said:
Edit: posted this in the wrong thread. Tabs are confusing.



No worries. Good song and great voice!


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OfflineGoldenEye
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Re: Learning to make mandalas from photos [Re: Whiplash]
    #19129728 - 11/13/13 01:50 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

No that was actually a good read!

I personally can't do the meditations that focus your eyes on something so it's interesting to hear what it does for someone who can.

I still love mandalas though, I like the patience part of drawing them up :smile:

Do you ever try to visualise them when you're not looking at them? From what I've heard that's common practice as well...


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OfflineWhiplash
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Re: Learning to make mandalas from photos [Re: GoldenEye]
    #19129771 - 11/13/13 02:11 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

Never tried that, I do have a visualization meditation/self programming i do during the day, while driving or when ever i remember.

Basicly I repeat my mantra which goes :
"I am patient , I am peacefull, I am honest , I am kind.
I love, I listen, I give, I care"

I visualize myself doing those actions as I say them. Taking time to feel the emotion in each act and the good feeling I get from them. Also if im not around people I say the words out loud as I visualize.

This is part of me feeding my subconscious with positive thoughts and words. I believe that filters back up into my conscious mind and shapes my perception of reality. Part of this is also using positive words to say negative things. Instead of saying "I hate xxxxxx" I say "I dont like xxxxxx". Or, instead of saying "I must not lie" rather say "I am honest" I do really believe thinking and talking like this has a positive impact on my perceptions and actions. It increases empathy and love from a subconscious level.

Sometimes on solo mushroom trips i will repeat my mantra out loud, while writing it down and visualizing it. So i create it in words and images, I see it, I hear it and I feel it. Engaging all my senses. I might be a bit crazy but hey whatever makes me a better person :thumbup:



Here is the type of mandala I prefer.

This is called Sri Yantra and its a hindu mandala. Although I do not follow any religion, nature is my religion, I do find these designs do have a deeper meaning. And like I said they have a instantaneous calming effect on my mind

I pulled the following of a website I discovered this morning. Its about this mandala type of meditation. Its actually called Yantra Meditation. I did not intentionally follow this guide but in my own way ended up at a similar result.

"Yantra Meditation

As you look at the yantra, allow your eyes to focus on its center. This dot in the center is called the Bindu, which represents the unity that underlies all the diversity of the physical world.

Now allow your eyes to see the triangle that encloses the bindu. The downward pointing triangle represents the feminine creative power, while the upward facing triangle represents male energy.

Allow your vision to expand to include the circles outside of the triangles. They represent the cycles of cosmic rhythms. The image of the circle embodies the notion that time has no beginning and no end. The farthest region of space and the innermost nucleus of an atom both pulsate with the same rhythmic energy of creation. That rhythm is within you and without you.

Bring your awareness to lotus petals outside the circle. Notice that they are pointing outwards, as if opening. They illustrate the unfolding of our understanding. The lotus also represents the heart, the seat of the Self. When the heart opens, understanding comes.

The square at the outside of the yantra represents the world of form, the material world that our senses show us, the illusion of separateness, of well defined edges and boundaries. At the periphery of the figure are four T-shaped portals, or gateways. Notice that they point toward the interior of the yantra, the inner spaces of life. They represent our earthly passage from the external and material to the internal and sacred.

Now take a moment to gaze into the yantra, letting the different shapes and patterns emerge naturally, allowing your eyes to be held loosely in focus. Gaze at the center of the yantra on the page. Without moving your eyes, gradually begin to expand your field of vision. Continue expanding your vision until you are taking in information from greater than 180 degrees. Notice that all this information was there all along, you just became aware of it. Now slowly reverse the process by re-focusing back to the center of the yantra. Now gently close your eyes. You may still see the yantra in your mind’s eye. The patterns of creativity represented by these primordial shapes express the fundamental forces of nature. They govern the world and they govern you."


Edited by Whiplash (11/13/13 02:24 AM)


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OfflineWhiplash
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Re: Learning to make mandalas from photos [Re: Whiplash]
    #19129788 - 11/13/13 02:19 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

hahahaha.. this is pretty cool and confirms quite a bit for me. Its off that same website

"A mandala is a plan, chart or geometric pattern which represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically, a microcosm of the universe from the human perspective. A Sri Yantra is a type of mandala with geometric patterns. Sri Yantra literally means loom, instrument or machine. In actual practice, a yantra is a symbolic representation of aspects of divinity, the creative forces of the universe. It is an interlocking matrix of geometric figures, circles, triangles and floral patterns that form fractal patterns of elegance and beauty. These visual patterns can have a powerful effect on the mind. Just as primordial sounds, or mantras, can be useful in balancing our mind and body through hearing, primordial shapes can generate increased coherence in our brains, creating a balancing and calming influence. In cultures around the world, beautiful visual patterns are used to quiet a restless mind."


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OfflineGoldenEye
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Re: Learning to make mandalas from photos [Re: Whiplash]
    #19129812 - 11/13/13 02:32 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

Sounds good. I like the part about the feeding of the subconcious with positivity.

I like to write three pages of stream of conciousness writing first thing when I wake up. This clears a lot of junk out of my system and allows me to start the day fresh and more open. After a month of doing so I really started to notice effects (I have not missed a day for three years straight between 2008-2011 - now it is a bit more sporadic)! My overall mood got better and I was less judgemental. I also didn't bitch as much. It seems like the clutter of the subconcious does get in the way of being in the moment. Removing the clutter by writing it down worked wonders for me.

Also, whenever I am in public transport I do a visualisation. I start by picking the most nervous/anxious/worried/insecure looking person on the train. I look at them for a little bit. Then I close my eyes and visualise this person exhaling black smoke symbolising their worries or problems. I visualise myself breathing in this black smoke and breathing out a white light of love and compassion. I repeat in my mind: "give me all your problems" (on the inhalation) "I will give you my light" (on the exhalation). This is also working towards compassion, empathy and love I feel.

Finally, I like to conciously walk around the city and work with eye contact. Open face, soft smile. Not establishing the eye contact too soon, nor too late (4-5 steps away). Breaking the eye contact laterally only, not vertically (sign of fear). It is amazing how many warm smiles and greetings you can get this way. You just harvest what you sow. It also transforms the city from this harsh anonymous environment to a playground and a field of 1000's of individuals with so many stories and experiences and wisdom. Just by taking the time to look into so many eyes open hearted you will already see so much!

Good to hear your methods brother :heart:


Edited by GoldenEye (11/13/13 02:34 AM)


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OfflineWhiplash
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Re: Learning to make mandalas from photos [Re: GoldenEye]
    #19129830 - 11/13/13 02:42 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

Wow! Thats really awesome and inspirational!  Thanks for sharing that.

Interesting about breaking eye contact laterally. I will remember that:thumbup:.

The world needs more people like you!


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OfflineGoldenEye
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Re: Learning to make mandalas from photos [Re: Whiplash]
    #19129838 - 11/13/13 02:46 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

Well, you harvest what you sow yet again, I thought your methods were inspirational :grin:


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OfflineGoldenEye
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Re: Learning to make mandalas from photos [Re: GoldenEye]
    #19129846 - 11/13/13 02:49 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

About the eye contact, it's easy to experiment with.

Go one day with breaking all the eye contact you have vertically and see how you feel.

Go another with breaking all the eye contact you have horizontally and see how you feel then!

World of difference!


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OfflineGreySatyr
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Re: Learning to make mandalas from photos [Re: GoldenEye]
    #19140088 - 11/15/13 08:51 AM (10 years, 3 months ago)

You say you do this while you drive?

I have a morality shift when I get behind the wheel of a vehicle, everyone becomes an ass hole on my next hit list and I turn into a screaming savage lunatic in the fast lane while I blare the radio to demonic drum beats and war chants. Different strokes, different folks.

Look up Wardruna, Helvegen.

It's Viking, it means the way to hell.


--------------------
...also, go to hell, huh?


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