The Story of the Mandala

A work from June 2025.

On the summer solstice, 21 June, I laid a mandala over a pastel ground I had coloured that day. As I drew, I noticed:

Hey — haven’t I been tired lately?

Haven’t I been too fixed on making the mandala look like a proper mandala?

Thinking, “I’ll just draw the way I like!”, I added the last colours — and the mandala came alive, and I was thrilled too.

The day before was the new moon in Cancer… Cancer, a sign of deep love.

I, who always took it for granted to sacrifice myself and do things for others.

I, who thought I was giving my child love, yet had built a relationship of depending and being depended on.

But I accept that me, too.

You have worked so hard all this time. Well done, me…

I believe in myself, acknowledge myself, and love myself.

Before loving others, I fill myself…

Perhaps I am the one who knows myself least. I want to come to know myself.

So I focus on myself.