I’m thrilled and humbled that my art served as the visual background to complement amazing spiritual teachers last weekend, like Buddhist Roshi Joan Halifax pictured here.  After a year of hard work in the making, mandala imagery created a warm, inspiring atmosphere for the Spiritual Directors International conference held in Santa Fe, NM.  It all came together!!  And it was SO BEAUTIFUL.  Check out Conference Event Photos to see the beauty in action.

Just as I hoped, the colors and themes enriched the teachings and the community exploring the essence and practice of spiritual companionship.  What a dream come true for me– to be given a chance to offer my best service to this group of my peers and leaders that inspire us.  Wow.

In one of my favorite moments, a young spiritual director, Sarah Cledwyn, stood at the podium in front of my Center of Becoming banner and read a glorious poem about seeds, stars, and mystery.  I wiped away tears of gratitude as I heard my intentions echoed in her words, when neither of us knew the other would share such kindred artistry.  Spirit was weaving all this goodness ahead of time!

Fifty-five local New Mexican spiritual directors and community members also helped create 80 centerpiece mandalas on the theme “Emerging Wisdom” for the conference ballroom tables.  I could hardly believe how wonderful it was to see this collaborative dream come true!  Everyone was amazed and moved by the beauty and wisdom represented by these art works filling the entire room.  See the Mandala Art Gallery for your own experience.

Finally, read the article (pages 12-15) written about the Emerging Wisdom Mandala Project also created for this conference, in “Connections,” monthly Spiritual Directors International newsletter.  It’s terrific to know the workshops and all the conference artistic environment served so many hearts, hands, and minds!

Special thanks to all those who collaborated in this huge endeavor, especially: Sue Joiner, Holly Bahn, Patricia Campbell Carlson, Marianne Lewis, Bonnie Rich, Kay Veal, Jan Gough, the 55 mandala artists, and our host workshop communities: Norbertine Community Abbey (Albuquerque), St Paul Lutheran Church (Albuquerque), St Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church (Albuquerque), and First Presbyterian Church (Santa Fe).

And now for another recovery nap… 

–Melanie