Advent and Christmas Mandala Prayers

     Early in December I decided I had so much fun drawing November prayers from ONE stencil design that I would try it again, only twice as many, during Advent!  Early designs had more to do with various seasonal icons I saw in the pattern, then whatever activities were going on that day.  Toward the end?  I began using our church's Advent Window devotions as my inspiration.  Eventually I will probably add an Epiphany design to complete the series.  

ADVENT #1 "Getting Started"  
The patterns of the stencil were cut with the holly and candy canes in mind.  I should have remembered I would be using those same lines over and over.  It made this exercise a challenge!  Throughout all the designs you can usually easily find the arrow like shape pointing inward.  

ADVENT #2  "Poinsettia"
I could have just as easily titled this design Christmas tree.  As I studied the pattern I saw the layers of pine boughs, laden with fresh snow.  The holly cut was altered to form a poinsettia leaf.  

ADVENT #3  "Snowman"
Just as quickly as I saw the tree boughs, they transformed into the ball of a snowman's body and I had my inspiration for today!  

ADVENT #4 "Star-Flake"
I wanted to use the holly pattern again, and some creative line connections transformed the curved shapes into a snowflake.  The title comes from combining the snowflake with the inner star pattern.  

ADVENT #5  "Evergreens and Popcorn"
How in the world did the center of the design morph into a pine cone?  The holly cut was easy to transform into a light bulb.  I had fun making a popcorn garland for my 'evergreens'!  

ADVENT #6 "Women's Support Group Party"
I hosted a gathering of women today and we played a game with Jed's old reindeer stuffed toy (can you find the holly lines there?), exchanged socks, and Mom traded away a glitzy snowflake ornament for a Christmas bell.  In the center?  I served cinnamon rolls!  

ADVENT #7  "Let It Snow!"
Today it snowed....inches and inches of white powdery fluff!  There was no doubt where my prayer drawing was going to lead this day!  

ADVENT #8 "Christmas Lights and Santa Joy"
I liked the lacey look of the outer ring of the snowflake yesterday, so I used that same design concept for my Christmas lights!  The rest was a merry mix of candy canes, peppermints, and Santa hats!  

ADVENT #9 "Zentangle Plaid"
I thought I would just use some Zentangle style patterns today in my design, but my initial sketching in the center began to look like a tartan plaid.  With a maiden name of McLean it didn't take long for plaids to dominate in the background.  My son Jed taught me a new technique with my Paint.Net program and I was able to import the McLean tartan plaid into the background of the design!  Sweet!  

ADVENT #10  "Songs of Christmas"
Today was Sunday, the 20th of December, and it was a music filled day.  I was directing a one-time choir during worship which also involved the tone chimes.  We practiced tone chimes after worship in preparation for Christmas Eve.  And then....we went Caroling with the tone chimes.  Whew!  

ADVENT #11  "Lenten Windows - Sheep"
Running out of ideas and I was feeling somewhat guilty for not contributing any reflections on our massive Advent Window Calendar on the north side of our church fellowship hall.  The shepherds had to bring their sheep with them to the manger.  The question for thought....What are the practicalities of your life that come with you as you seek the sacred?  I tried to embed my responses in the green holly shapes.  

ADVENT #12 "Advent Windows - Candles"
On this the longest night of the year, the darkness of our world, the pain and the sorrow, seem to linger.  I used the candle theme to include the four advent candles, the white of Christ candles, stars and light.  I wrote, "Longest night, night skies, and candles in the darkness bringing light to all....Can we possibly all be candles to the world?"

ADVENT #13 "Advent Windows - Manger"  
The theme for this prayer came from Sunday's worship also as we prepared the manger to welcome the Son of God.  We sang a song, 'Cloth for the Cradle' as we laid strips of cloth on the manger.  The reflection question asked 'Where have you prepared a space for hope and love to enter?  I wrote, "As I was drawing my prayers, I realized the song Cloth for the Cradle was running through my mind...preparing the manger for the baby Jesus.  We prepare by actively making room in our hearts, our day, our lives, our schedules, for that which Christ calls us to do."

ADVENT #14 "Advent Windows - Doves of Peace"
The dove was actually the picture earlier in the month for the windows, but I wanted to include it now.  As I sketched, an image of stained glass doves emerged.  

ADVENT #15  "Christmas Story"
How do you wrap up the Christmas story in just one design? Angels singing, shepherds and sheep, and the LIGHT of the world in a tiny baby. Full moon tonight to add to the magic and wonder of it all!

EPIPHANY - January 6
I'll wrap up my Christmas Season Prayer designs with this final Epiphany Star.  I confess I didn't use the same stencil, but rather combined two techniques for radiating patterns.  Hidden within you can find the words, Star, Wonder, Bright, Perfect Light, and Holy.  May we take each day of this new year and find the wonder, find the bright and positive, seek the holy, always guided by that perfect LIGHT.  Happy Epiphany!