The Woman Sleeps With Death

It is quiet.
The woman sleeps with Death.
Her eyes closed;
her lips shut;
her breath silent;
her body...still.
Legend says she is cursed;
Some say,
   she sleeps for a 100 years
Or a century
Or centuries upon centuries.

Something stirs.
Twin Dolphins jump.
"What is it?", they asked
It is a sign
   of the Going of an End,
   and a Coming of a Beginning.
Such is Death;
Such is Life.
Coming and Going
   and Coming again.
In and Out
   and In again.
Meeting each other,
Dancing together.
A Play throughout Universes.

Meanwhile...Hush!
Lady Moon shines a little
And the woman sleeps.
But not for long...
Not for long.
- Khema Yen, 23 Sept 2016 - a day after the Autumn Equinox of 2016 (22 Sept 2016)

(The mandala above is titled The Woman Sleeps With Death)

A Globe of Red and Blue

A Globe of Red and Blue
Fell onto the Ocean Floor.
Down, she fell.
She thought,
  she was going to drown.
She thought,
  she was going to be cracked open,
  and die.
She thought,
  she was dying,
  a long, slow, lonely, watery Death.
She thought.

But then,
  she fell and landed
on soft, nurturing
Old Green Seaweed.
Old Green Seaweed opened his arms wide.
Cradling
Supporting
Soothing,
   Little Globe of Red and Blue.
"You're safe, Little One.
My arms will carry you;
My arms will hold you."
said the Old One with his deep, rich, ancient voice.

A school of Yellow Fishes came swimming by
All of them,
friends of Old Green Seaweed.
"Why, Old Green Seaweed,
You have a new friend today.
She looks kind of sad and desolate.
Let's check her out!",
said the more curious ones.

And before you know it!
Before Globe of Red and Blue could do anything!
Before she could even protest!
These Curious Yellow Fishes
   swam right into the Globe!
Ahhhh!!!!!

Mixing
Stirring
Swirling
Energizing,
the Red and the Blue,
such that Red and Blue
   became One.
The Globe of Red and Blue
    was no more.
She has become
   the Globe of Purple.
- Khema Yen, 15 Sept 2016 (Full Moon in Pisces, Mid-Autumn Festival of 2016)

(The mandala above is titled, The Globe of Red and Blue)

Testimonials for Mandala Journeying

"I had fun learning how colours hold different meaning for different individuals. During class, Khema Yen guided me to break through a struggle I was facing while drawing a mandala. I saw with my own eyes how my mandala transformed after the breakthrough" - Catherine

"I have completed my first mandala art, and it ended in tears. With Khema Yen"s confidence and guidance, I benefited a lot from the class. I experienced the focus attention from her and her spiritual guidance. Mandala is widely recognized as the great source of reflection on the soul and brings balance to our life" - Agnes

"I am very grateful that I have the chance to attend the Mandala Journeying workshop. The immediate effect is, I can now associate well with a colour that I did not like since young - red. I felt a release each time I complete a mandala; it is like loosening a knot that had tied up so long within myself. I will keep drawing mandala as it gives me very positive energy" - Wee Sze

"With her generous spirit and passion for mandala work, Khema Yen makes Mandala Journeying an enjoyable, educational and insightful experience. I now find it more meaningful when drawing, colouring and reflecting upon a mandala. This workshop is highly recommended for anyone who is interested in using mandalas in their inner work towards self-liberation." - Sharon

"This would be the workshop for you if you are looking for some quality quiet time whilst learning mandala drawing techniques from a teacher who is Patience personified, brimming with enthusiasm, and willing to share her knowledge un-stingyly." - Liz

(The mandala above is called "The Joys of Falling In Love". I drew this mandala as a gift to a friend whose mum was bedridden with last stage of cancer. She passed away not long after receiving my gift.)

Mandala Journeying: Engaging the Unconscious Through Colours and Forms

Mandala Journeying is not your typical art class. Mandala Journeying is a 2-day workshop that I teach to help students to engage with their unconscious through mandala art. It is now a known fact, that our unconscious rules most of our behaviours. Thus, by engaging with our unconscious, we bring our patterns out into the open, so that we can understand, and if needed, change them. I help my students to heal these unconscious patterns through Mandala Journeying.

Firstly, what is a mandala? Mandala is a Sanskrit word for circle. It is a spiritual art form that has been used since ancient times, throughout the world, as a tool for spiritual growth, creativity, and mental and emotional healing.

Throughout these 2 days, students learn to:

• understand their relationship with colours and forms
• use different approaches in drawing a mandala
• gain insight into their unconscious self
• access their innate healing and creative capabilities
• creative dialogue with the colours and images of their mandalas 
• develop a loving relationship with themselves, and thus, with others
• gain insights into the various stages of Life through their mandala drawings.
• develop a sense of wholeness and centeredness through mandalas
• reconnect with the mystery of Life and the Divine.

As you can observe, it is an intensive workshop of journeying into ourselves through mandalas. There are lots of Aha! moments, with lots of letting go and healing during these 2 days.

Everyone can create a mandala; the archetypal pattern of a circle is universal and not restricted to any particular religion or even artistic talents, And when one draws a mandala, you heal yourself, and the world around you.

If you are interested to join the workshop, please email me at khemayen@yahoo.com. Below are some testimonials from my students.

Testimonials for Mandala Journeying
"I had fun learning how colours hold different meaning for different individuals. During class, Khema Yen guided me to break through a struggle I was facing while drawing a mandala. I saw with my own eyes how my mandala transformed after the breakthrough" - Catherine

"I have completed my first mandala art, and it ended in tears. With Khema Yen"s confidence and guidance, I benefited a lot from the class. I experienced the focus attention from her and her spiritual guidance. Mandala is widely recognized as the great source of reflection on the soul and brings balance to our life" - Agnes

"I am very grateful that I have the chance to attend the Mandala Journeying workshop. The immediate effect is, I can now associate well with a colour that I did not like since young - red. I felt a release each time I complete a mandala; it is like loosening a knot that had tied up so long within myself. I will keep drawing mandala as it gives me very positive energy" - Wee Sze

"With her generous spirit and passion for mandala work, Khema Yen makes Mandala Journeying an enjoyable, educational and insightful experience. I now find it more meaningful when drawing, colouring and reflecting upon a mandala. This workshop is highly recommended for anyone who is interested in using mandalas in their inner work towards self-liberation." - Sharon

"This would be the workshop for you if you are looking for some quality quiet time whilst learning mandala drawing techniques from a teacher who is Patience personified, brimming with enthusiasm, and willing to share her knowledge un-stingyly." - Liz

(The mandala above is titled "3 Gazing Dolphins/The Ballerina". Can you spot the ballerina in the mandala?)