Water Medicine Mandala

This design originated form a traditional Buddhist Mandala and it
incorporates indigenous symbols and representations of Amazon Plant
Medicine.
The spiral in the center comes from an ancient design in Southern Chile used
by the Mapuche shamans in their ceremonials drums.  This symbols
represents the sun in our solar system, our source of life.  
The 8-pointed star, also from the Mapuche tradition, used vastly in their
weavings, represents Venus.  This is in honor of balance, and beauty.  In
their ancient language of spoken tradition there was only one word used for
both “beauty” and for “perfection” This symbol honors beauty and balance
as being one inseparable concept.
The eight-petal lotus is part of the original blue print. It is in reference for
transmutation as a perfect flower is able to arise from stagnant waters.
Around the lotus flower we find the 4 directions, and the 4 different colors
representing the 4 elements: Air, Fire, Water and Earth.
The most relevant additions to this Buddhist medicine wheel are the
depictions of the “chacruna” and the “caapi”, the leaves and vine of 2
different master plants that grow around the Amazon basin. They come
together in a brew known as the “Ayahuaska”.  Ingested as a Sacrament of
Divine Communion with the Source of All Life where all Truth can be
revealed. Those who have part-taken of this Ceremonial Ritual have
considered it as one of the most transformative, revealing and healing
experiences one can have accessing long buried memories and receiving
revelations and messages of Light straight from the Source of Creation and
Communion with Mother Earth. This master plant harbors a powerful entity
of female nature, nicknamed “the grandmother”; she bestows healing of the
mind, body and spirit.
All of these symbols are encased by a blue circle, which is a prayer for the
perpetual renewal of water, a most precious element that sustains all life
always purifying, nurturing and renewing and redeeming us.
Original Art by Mariela de la Paz
www.marieladelapaz.com