April 17, 2008
posted by Henry Reed at 8:04 AM
Each of these mandalas pictures the universal in a singular expression, and thus mirrors our own individual window on eternity. For seven years, between November 13, 2004 and November 13, 2011, I offered daily my individual perspective on this Great Mystery. You may download from these archives and use the mandalas, provided this blog's URL is credited. To purchase a CD copy of the collection, hi-res prints, license information, see henryreed.com
2 Comments:
Cultural References
Eight in many cultures and ideologies seems to have similar meanings: Felicity
Perfect rhythm
Regeneration
Resurrection
In some myths the eighth day created the new "man" of grace. After seven days of fasting and penance the eighth day becomes plenty and renewal. 7+1 is the number of the octave which is a continual theme in all esoteric belief systems. The knowledge of frequency and sound are a vital key in the ancient "mystery schools".
Buddhist tradition: eight is completion, all possibilities. There are eight symbols of good augury.
Chinese system of belief eight represents the whole. It is all possibilities in manifestation. Eight is seen as a good luck number. The PAKUA is the design depicting the eight trigrams and pairs of opposites, usually in a circle, the circumference of which symbolizes time and space. There are eight delights of human existence.
Christian: Eight is regeneration and rebirth. The font is usually octagonal as symbolizing the place of regeneration. There are eight beatitudes.
Egyptian: Eight is the number of Thoth.
Hebrew: Eight is perfect intelligence; splendor. The digit value of "IHVH" is the "Number of the Lord". The Temple was sanctified in eight days.
Hermetic: In their system there is one chief God, (eight minor gods) Thoth/Hermes was the inventor of numbers and geometry.
Hindu: 8x8 symbolism is the order of the celestial world established on earth. Temples are built on the pattern of the MANDALA, which is the 8x8 symbol. In their belief system there are eight regions of the world, suns, divisions of the day, and eight chakras.
Islamic: The throne which encompasses the world is supported by eight angels, corresponding to both the eight divisions of space and the groups of letters in the Arabic alphabet.
Japanese: Eight is the "many". There are eight Gods in the heavens.
Platonic: Plato has eight spheres of different colors surrounding the luminous pillars of the heavens.
Pythagorean: Eight is solidarity and stability.
Sumero-Semitic: Eight is the magic number of Nebo.
Taoist: Eight to be All possibilities in manifestation with the Pa Kua representing the forces in the phenomenal world. There are eight Taoist genii or immortals.
I have been enjoying receiving your daily mandala in my email every day for several days now. The colors on this one really touched me this morning.
This comment is also to request permission to use an occasional one of your mandalas to illustrate a post to my dreams and poetry blog (http://roswila-dreamspoetry.blogspot.com). I would of course link back to this blog and let you know whenever I have used one. If you visit you will note that I post a DAILY DREAMKU, which is a haiku-like dream-based poem. Though I rarely use a graphic with them, but rather with the other sorts of posts I make -- many of them other sorts of dream-based poems.
In any event, thank you for these daily mandalas.
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