Using the flower petals of carnations, daisies, mums and other wildflowers Arizona-based artist Kathy Klein creates temporary flower mandalas in outdoor locations near her home. She calls the pieces danmalas (‘the giver of garlands’ in Sanskrit), and each piece is photographed and then left to be discovered by others. A mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the Universe. The basic form of most mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. Each gate is in the general shape of a “T”. Mandalas often exhibit radial balance. In common use, mandala has become a generic term for any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm of the universe. [source]
Kathy Klein is a devout lover of plants, animals, people and the divine presence within all. She creates the danmalas by first centering herself in a meditative devotional space. Next she gathers flowers and natural objects while her mind is kept in stillness. Her inspiration is given from the golden sound residing within perfect silence. These offerings are reflections of the inexpressible, a gesture which points towards life’s abundance, an unspoken verse of Love. The danmalas remind us all to listen to the unheard voice of nature, creation, and the eternal mystery. Blessings
