Greetings from Colorado, USA!
I’m a self-employed artist, writer, and teacher, with a mixture of training in creative
writing, visual art, teaching, and spiritual practice. I love exploring new techniques and
materials, and I consider creativity a spiritual practice.
If I am feeling out of whack, lost, or agitated, I’ve found that creating something, even if it’s just writing in my journal, can bring me back to ground.
Ten years ago, I underwent a hysterectomy, and to prepare myself for the weeks of
recovery, I looked for comfy pajamas, good books, and something creative I could do
easily while propped up in bed. That’s when I discovered Julie Gibbons and Mandala
Magic!
I loved Julie’s easy, generous approach to creating art, and I loved how she wove in
depth psychology and self-care into the practice of making mandalas.
She offered the perfect combination of creativity and spiritual inquiry that I was craving. I’ve been working with her and the mandalas ever since.
I’ve incorporated mandalas into pottery, dream work, art journaling, and rock painting, among other things.
Every time I engage with the Mandala Magic material, I feel nourished—by the information and insights that Julie shares, as well as by the physical process itself.
There’s something alchemical in the physical experience of creating a mandala, watching something take form under my hand—something that had lived only in my head, now alive in shape, line, and color.
In particular, I love the seasonal focus of Mandala Magic Alignment, following the
natural cycle of the eight-fold Celtic calendar.
When I create mandalas in this way, I feel part of something larger than myself, a member of the complex collective we call Nature, and a part of the lively and kind community of other Mandala Magicians around the world.
Julie’s live events bring together a lovely circle of mutual care and support that helps me in my creativity, as well as in my daily life.
I always end our sessions feeling more connected to other women and artists, no matter how far apart we may live. There’s something soothing and grounding about the whole process.
Though Colorado’s location and climate are far removed from Julie’s native Scotland,
her intentional engagement with her local surroundings often gets me off the couch to
explore my own environment.
I’ve used Julie’s botanical lessons to inspire ink-making with juniper and elderberries, create Eco prints with local leaves and flowers, and incorporate cyanotypes (made from my own garden!) in mandalas, greeting cards, and other artwork I make.
What these practices and this community have taught me, most profoundly, is that we are—across geography, language, and time—more alike than we are different.
Time and again, I’ve brought an issue into the group, either online or during a live event, and my fellow Mandala Magicians have echoed my concerns and shared their own experiences. There’s something truly powerful and empowering in these connections and in the creative practices we share.
More than ever, these connections and practices are needed to help us navigate the
often-jarring world events around us. They help us to ground ourselves in the here and
now, the only point in time and place where we have the power to make change.
Thank you, Julie, for this great offering you make to the world.
Thanks for sharing your inspiring images. I especially love the tree tribute mandala. I love to make and to see images of trees as there are many trees where I live. ( this is typing capital letters tho caps lock is off IDK? lol)
Hi,Anna!
Yes, I also love trees, and they’re few and far between in my past of Colorado. I find them wherever I can! Thanks. 😃
*part
Thanks so much for sharing. I loved all your mandalas, especially the trees and yin/yang. I also love how Julie’s course combines art, spirituality, and journaling. I couldn’t have said it better. Creativity and community are so important!!
Thanks so much for your sharing. I love hearing about people’s journey into mandala creating
Thank you for sharing Chris. You are a most interesting person. Your mandalas are lovely, carefully done with much thought. No flies on this lady!
Hi, Penny!
Thanks so much. ❤️
Thanks for sharin. lovely artwork. I echo your feelings.
Thanks, jean!
So glad to find like Minds in this great community.
It’s wonderful to connect with people through the art of mandalas because it’s a deep connection beyond social life. It’s the truth of each of us that we share on another level. I like the way you express the yin yang. As well as your love for trees and nature that are also connected to each other “secretly”
Thank you, Zanin!
I couldn’t agree more. I love this community and the practice of COLLECTIVE creativity. ❤️
Thank you for sharing here Chris. Your words are inspiring and your mandalas are gorgEous – i don’t remember seeing any of these in the facebook group and im so glad i came here to SEE them.
Hi, Karen! Thanks so much. I haven’t been on fb for a while, so I’m thankful to connect with you here!
Hi Chris
I love the mandala with black trees iver green writing. Thanks for opening up and sharing about how mandalas get created in your life and your words about the meaning it holds.
Hi, Lizzie!
Thank you so much. That’s one of my favorites too! I hope to see you at the next event, and we can create more stuff together!
HiHi Chris, I so enjoyed reading about Your process and what has inspired you and your work is lovely! I’m especially drawn to the spiral words with the black trees and fascinated to see you did that on my birthday, May 27 😊 if if you want to private message me I’d love to know where in Colorado you live… I’m in Grand Junction🙏🏼💫🌀
Hi, Robin! I’m in Fort Collins. I have a lot of friends with late may birthdays, that’s cool! You can find me on Bluesky @GUPPYTREE.BSKY.social or csguppy at duck dot com. I’d love to chat.
Chris! I love reading about your journey and seeing your beauty-filled mandalas. Thank you for sharing 💜
Hi,Eleni!
Thanks so much for reading. Glad you’re here! 😃
Thanks for sharing your work/play with mandalas. I like the integration of nature, the natural colors…
Thanks, Pamela!
Julie’s my inspiration for getting out in nature. 😃 Is a big part of my practice, now.
Love this. Thank you! beautiful and inspirational.
Thank you, Nancy! So glad we’re here together.
Thank you cris for sharing your story and work! i feel connected!
Hi, Wanna! We are connected! Isn’t it magical? I love this community. Thanks go to Julie! 😃
Sorry,Yanna! My phone autocorrected. 🙁
Thank you for sharing your words and MANDALAS, chris. I am brand new to the community and i can really aee and BELIEVE how powerful this practice is in your life. I am INSPIRED to truly dive in and make it a part of mine.
Hi, Sarah!
Thank you so much for your kind words. It has been a truly life-changing practice for me, and I can’t wait to see what you create! Julie is the best. 😃
Hi Chris, Thanks for sharing your journey and your mandalas. I’ve been following Julie for ten years now too, and agree that her gentle approach and guidance have been inspiring. I also love how connected we feel at our gatherings. Your mandalas are LOVELYi I especially like the one with the dark trees, as well as the one with the green and purple Ying and yang symbol.
Hi, Barbara! Yes, I love our live gatherings! So good to hear from you. ❤️