Mandalas Page-A-Day Calendar 2005 (Color Page a Day Calendars)

Rating:
Summary: Starting my day with a smile - and more
Review: Clare Goodwin has done a superb job with her calendar of mandalas for next year. Clare, of course, is known for her own mandalas, and the inclusion of many others expands the pleasure of this work. The calendar offers not only "joy, serenity, and meditation" but also excitement, fascination, and challenge.

Look at August 16, for example. You first see the swirling blue and purple mandala, leading you inside yourself in a peacful way. Then you read the quote and are challenged to ponder the meaning of ocean-like swirls. The directional quality of this mandala is powerful. Maybe you will be prompted to consider the direction of your day or even your life.

Starting each day with the beauty of a mandala brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart. The construction of a mandala reminds me there is order in the universe. And then each day I will get something different from the specific mandala and from the quote: reassurance, serenity, joy, challenge, wonder, excitement, etc.

I personally have decided to share these spectacular works with many of my friends and family. It's hard to find Christmas and holiday presents for a wide range of people. This year I am presenting many with a year of art and beauty, all contained in one small calendar. There is no one one my gift list who will not enjoy these works. I urge you to experience the beauty of these works also.

Rating:
Summary: Contributing artist
Review: I just got my copy of this calendar and I am MORE than pleased. It is much more beautiful than even I had expected.... and I'm one of the contributors! Okay, so I'm probably prejudiced toward the work, but I know that the compiler of the project is an acknowledged expert in Mandalas, and I feel she selected those pieces that would enhance the project, rather than detract from it, and from a broad spectrum of Mandala artists from a variety of spiritual traditions. Altogether, it is a powerful project: beauty for the eye, practical for the calendar.

At first I wondered why there were no explanations about each of the Mandalas, but then I realized that each person is given the liberty to experience the image without the filter of someone else's interpretation. Instead of a detailed interpretation of the Mandala there is a useful thought from the Buddhist traditions that you can mull over on your own. Such liberty is wonderful.

Plus, there are many uncolored Mandalas for your own use -- to fill in and color in your own way, or leave them uncolored as a reminder that every single day is yours to fill in and color any way you want. Each day is a new opportunity for choosing exactly how you wish to experience it.

I'm buying several of these for holiday gifts this year.