We were fortunate to be able to attend the Clsoing Ceremony of the Mandala Sand Painting at Agnes Scott this morning. Sand painted Mandalas are used as tools for re-consecrating the earth and its inhabitants. To construct the Mandala, millions of grains of sand are painstakingly laid into place on a flat platform over a period of days or weeks. This one at Agnes Scott was done by the Tibetan Monks in four days. When finished, the Mandala is destroyed to symbolize the impermanance of all that exists. The colored sands are swept up and poured into a nearby river or stream, where the waters carry the healing energies throughout the world.
Thanks so much for posting this, Cheryl! I wasn’t able to make it to the ceremony and was bummed about that- it looks like a wonderful event.