Personal Mandala

i'm too lame to come up w/ better titles this is another one of those school assignements that went to the art show

this is all one really long comment (more like essay <_<, so feel free to skip reading it

a little background info: mandalas are these huge, amazing works of art made by buddhist monks (try image searching mandalas and you'll see what i mean) made entirely of sand. Each symbol and sign represents something, mostly the different gods in their religion, with the most important in the center. They spend hours of concentration making it (it's amazing) but once they finish, they ceremonially take it apart and throw the sand into the nearest body of water. They probably have something on wikipedia if you want to know more.
the assgiment: we had to create a mandala that represents ourselves, each symbol meaning something about our character, life, etc. It didn't have to be symetrical or even circular like normal mandalas. Rather than make them out of sand though, we used color pencils on paper. might i add that this paper is really big (maybe a 14 inch diameter circle?)

i spent for ever on this project - even worked at home when i was sick XD each of those rings of fire took an entire class period to do. ja, i'm crazy XD but in the end it turned out nicely and all the colors were colored completely and the actual piece is pretty bright. i admit it, i actually omited part of the original design just so i could turn this in on time (on time meaning 3 weeks after the due date <_< i guess i took the teacher's words too seriously: "i want you to put everything you've got into this." hece why some of the important things of my life (like piano) are missing doodoodooo, maybe i'll edit those in later <_< if i actually use this on the cover of my college resume that is (ppl have done that in the past)

we had to write a description for every one of the symbols... and when i asked how long it was supposed to be, the teacher told me as long as it's necessary to covered every detail completely. Most ppl did about half a page of text... me? oh, i decided to overachieve and write 2 pages... single spaced -_-" i'll post it anyway. (like i said, feel free to skip reading it)

" My personality has an assortment of different characteristics. Together they even each other out, creating my most significant trait - balance. Therefore, the entire mandala is centered around a yin-yang, which is the Chinese symbol to represent balance or the unity of opposites.
At the core of my mandala blazes a fire, representing my inner energy. This energy does not only apply to my energetic nature. It truly shines through during long periods of stress and little sleep. Hidden reserves of energy within myself keep me going without the need for caffeine, both mentally and physically.
The main meaning behind the horse is that that it is my Chinese zodiac. My personality also matches it fairly well. As the zodiac describes, I am energetic, strong, fond of traveling, and tend to wander a lot. Like me, horse zodiacs are also willing to do the work necessary for getting ahead. I dedicate myself to school, for example. Although I dislike some of the work I must do, I am willing to perform these tasks in order to reach success.
The bamboo has multiple implications. For one, bamboo is known to be incredibly strong. Perhaps the main cause of its sturdiness is its flexibility; if a strong wind blows it over, it can spring right back up. Much like the bamboo, I have a spirit strong enough to face even the toughest obstacles in my life. I moved to different homes around the world many times, each time having to leave treasured friends and venture out to an uncertain future. Yet, I quickly bounce back from these mental blows like the bamboo in the wind. In a way, this holds my life together, explaining why the bamboo stems were arranged like the spokes of a wheel. Another aspect of bamboo is that it is hollow. There is always room for more inside myself, let it be friends, facts, lessons, or ideas.
The water that flows around the perimeter of my mandala symbolizes my ability to adapt. Water, when poured into any kind of a container, easily changes shape or adapts to fit in the container. In a similar sense, I can adjust to my new surroundings quickly. I had to many times, especially when I moved.
The horses, waves, and large circles that border the smaller chain of symbols have a collective meaning as well. They point in diverse directions – some clockwise, counter-clockwise for the others. Instead of directing them all one way, which could suggest a wheel traveling in a straight line to one destination, they imply movement to many goals. Similarly, I have ambitions in all sorts of areas and many paths to take in life. It also signifies how I haven’t been able to stay on one direct track – every time I move, I am forced away from one and directed down another. The swirling effect also symbolizes the whirl of ideas and thoughts that often go through my mind.

The capital letter “L” does not only represent the first letter in my name. It is also the symbol one of my favorite characters in the manga series “Death Note” goes by. This L shows that I love to read manga, especially the series it comes from. Both the character L and I also have similar characteristics. We both are observant, intelligent, but sometimes choose to be quiet and often encounter misfortunes.
I love to ski – it has become part of my life. To display that, there is a yellow figure of an alpine skier. I don’t only ski in my free time – I’m on the school’s race team. I joined it during my freshman year in high-school when I could only ski green slopes, but I found it a great experience. Although I may be one of the worst skiers on the team, I truly love the sport and have improved dramatically.
The bright orange symbol past the skier is the logo to a band I enjoy listening to. Their name is “Orange Range.” The symbol is the letter O with an R inscribed inside, and a small leaf-like mark on the top to make it give the impression of an orange. Their music is typically fun and upbeat, which I also try to be. A unique element of this band is that they are Japanese. The fact that it is Japanese is also symbolic; most of the music I listen to is actually Japanese rock music, although I enjoy a wide range of music.
My name in Chinese was written in red in a small square. This is how many Chinese artists sign their pieces (except they have a stamp for that). When directly translated, my surname (Ling) means forest and my name (Li An) is “standing peace.” It means that wherever I stand, I am at peace or peaceful.
The triple spiral is called a triskelion or triskele. The separate spirals each represent a part of life. The center brings them together, which I do too. I try to bring each of these aspects in my life to its fullest potential, making me spiral in these different directions.
Following the triskelion down the line is another symbol. It is the symbol of the first karate dojo (or school) I went to. On the mandala, it represents the dojo and my first step into martial arts, which has become a part of me. Karate has, and still is, teaching me more than just punches and kicks. It develops one’s character in all sorts of ways, such as honesty, courtesy, integrity, concentration, perseverance, respect, obedience, and humility. I also highly respect the dojo and my teachers there. They have greatly inspired me. The symbol itself signifies victory. It is mostly seen in the form of a patch worn on our gi (or uniform) over the heart. The form of karate I learn is called Isshin-Ryu, which translates to “One-Heart Way” or “One-Heart Method.” With this symbol, it combines to mean that one can have true victory if one tries with their entire heart. I am a firm believer in that.
The next symbol looks like a green spiral formed into a leaf shape. It is actually a symbol from another one of my favorite mangas, Naruto. This is the symbol of the Hidden Leaf Village, home to many of the amazing and inspiring characters in the manga series. It also, just like the “L,” represents my love for manga.
Last, but not least, is a yellow symbol of a face with X’ed out eyes. It can represent how I feel sometimes, but more importantly, it is the cover-design of one my all-time favorite band’s album “Smile.” The band, L’Arc~en~Ciel, themselves do not have a symbol thus I chose this cover design. Like Orange Range, it is a Japanese band and implies my love for Japanese pop and rock. L’Arc~en~Ciel performs a large variety of moods in their music. They created songs that are energetic and upbeat, others slow and mournful, some peaceful, and even a few of anger. I, too, have a spectrum of moods and characteristics which often contradict each other. They cancel each other and create a balance – which brings us back to the yin-yang."