Jody Cooke © 2015 All Rights Reservded

A cool color palette to reflect the cool spring we are having here in Northwestern NJ.  Brrr.. more snow again this morning!  None the less, I have incorporated  spring green through out, and I remain hopeful!

I was sooooo in my happy place filling this one with color yesterday.  I was on the phone with my bff and I truly incorporated her wonderful energy into the outlines of the mandala. It's springy, it's hopeful and I'm glad to post it!  

Jody Cooke © 2015 All Rights Reserved

My mandalas are usually about letting go and not making things happen...but in this case, the one conscious decision I made was to have a symbol of strength incorporated in the design. I think that was achieved with the geometric element of the "braided circle". There are hearts in the four corners, and a double row of them within the mandala itself, symbolic naturally of love; curls, which are usually found in my designs representing life anew; and flowers radiating from the beginning central point and everywhere to remember beauty. 
I am so sorry for your loss, and your losses.  Perhaps the soothing nature of coloring may bring peace to your soul and some insights to console you. Please feel free to slide this design onto your desktop and print it, so you can add your colors. May God's love surround you and bring you to where you need to go on this journey.

I really like the strong image of the cross.  Though not a religious person, I do like the symbol of the cross and it's particular meaning for me.  The mandala came out light and airy...full of promise and that makes me feel good.  Happy Spring!  Don't mind that yard full of snow outside, life is awakening underground.  All is well. 

Jody Cooke © 2015 All Rights Reserved

People have been suggesting that I enter my mandalas into a contest on a Sunday morning news program. They have a segment about sun designs or something of that nature. I so want to do it but, and this is a pretty big but, I truly don't decide on the colors.  It's odd to admit that. But I don't really draw these designs either, something larger than myself guides me to these fascinating circular patterns. I never have a plan, I never decide, "Oh now I'll make this, or tomorrow I'll make that"....I sit down, exhale any frustrations of the day, maybe recite my,  "What is a Mandala?" quote and then I draw.  Whatever comes to mind, I put it down and then repeat it around the circle.  I meditate, I trust that what I do next is what I'm supposed to do next, then I let it all go.  It is the same with coloring...more than once I've sat down to execute a particular color scheme, only to see my hand reaching for the exact opposite colors. And so it was with this piece. I thought it had potential for a sunburst.  The first color I went for was blue....good bye sunshine! No more trying to make decisions. My mandalas are all about letting go, never control or decisions.  They have been so freeing because I don't come in with an agenda for them.   It's simple: I sit, I trust God, I draw.  The end.  :)

Jody Cooke © 2015 

Easy breezy.  I just wanted to do a spacey, isolated nature images kind of mandala.  Some of my designs get a little complicated...it's nice to just take it all down a few notches and surrender to simplicity.  Enjoy!