NATURE MANDALAS
HONORABLE AND RESPECTFUL HARVESTING
HONORABLE AND RESPECTFUL HARVESTING
Nature mandalas are works of art. I have facilitated the making of these with children. First, I have to assess the availability of materials at each site where we are. In addition, I scout out the location for the optimal site. Sometimes, that involves clearing a space on the ground so the mandala can be seen better. The size of the mandala may be determined at the beginning or the end. It can grow from the middle or from the perimeter. Or they can be determined in size by the availability and diversity of materials, as well as the length of time available for this building project.
The purpose of the mandala must be decided from the outset. It may be a community-building project (i.e. working together, cooperative learning), a math project (i.e. measuring, angles, radial pattern, radius, perimeter, diameter), a science project (i.e. becoming more familiar with local plants and plant parts, four directions), an art project (i.e. symmetry, color and design), or something else.
I decided to make the mandalas be the focal point for my Nature School birthday ritual in which the birthday child took a walk around the mandala one time for each year of age. Before the "birthday walk", everyone helped to create the mandala. The size was determined approximately by the "wingspan" or length of the birthday child's two outstretched arms' reach.
Utilizing the principles of the HONORABLE AND RESPECTFUL HARVESTING, we then gathered the materials that were in abundance without harming the plant life in the vicinity. It helps to have a cloth to put the natural materials on as they are being collected, or containers of some sort, like a bucket for smaller items. Children may even carry the containers while collecting the materials, to bring them closer to the source. Often, we gathered some materials on our way to the site, especially if there was not a variety of them readily available nearby.
For the birthday mandala we always started by making a distinct circle/outline with larger materials that would be in contrast to the ground color so that the mandala would be more distinct and pop. After that we marked the middle and filled it in from there with concentric circle and radial patterns. Or, it can be filled in with a spiral pattern or in a different way. We always located the four directions (north, south, east, and west) and marked them in a special way on the perimeter. The birthday child started the "birthday walk" in the direction of the season of his or her birth. Spring equated to the east, summer to the south, autumn to the west, and winter to the north.
Mostly, it was fun for the children to create. Some were more engaged than others. My help was needed to bring the vision to reality and shape the patterns, giving some structure and suggestions to the overall plan. Some children preferred gathering the materials while others preferred to place them in the mandala. Some lost interest along the way since this took some time to create. I had to encourage the children to help complete it at times, although this often only took a gentle nudge.
Viewing the mandala was very satisfying when we were finished. On occasion, we had the opportunity to revisit the mandala over time and watch it go back into the environment. Other passersby usually left it alone. A few times, we watched other people walk by, stop to look, and compliment our work.
The purpose of the mandala must be decided from the outset. It may be a community-building project (i.e. working together, cooperative learning), a math project (i.e. measuring, angles, radial pattern, radius, perimeter, diameter), a science project (i.e. becoming more familiar with local plants and plant parts, four directions), an art project (i.e. symmetry, color and design), or something else.
I decided to make the mandalas be the focal point for my Nature School birthday ritual in which the birthday child took a walk around the mandala one time for each year of age. Before the "birthday walk", everyone helped to create the mandala. The size was determined approximately by the "wingspan" or length of the birthday child's two outstretched arms' reach.
Utilizing the principles of the HONORABLE AND RESPECTFUL HARVESTING, we then gathered the materials that were in abundance without harming the plant life in the vicinity. It helps to have a cloth to put the natural materials on as they are being collected, or containers of some sort, like a bucket for smaller items. Children may even carry the containers while collecting the materials, to bring them closer to the source. Often, we gathered some materials on our way to the site, especially if there was not a variety of them readily available nearby.
For the birthday mandala we always started by making a distinct circle/outline with larger materials that would be in contrast to the ground color so that the mandala would be more distinct and pop. After that we marked the middle and filled it in from there with concentric circle and radial patterns. Or, it can be filled in with a spiral pattern or in a different way. We always located the four directions (north, south, east, and west) and marked them in a special way on the perimeter. The birthday child started the "birthday walk" in the direction of the season of his or her birth. Spring equated to the east, summer to the south, autumn to the west, and winter to the north.
Mostly, it was fun for the children to create. Some were more engaged than others. My help was needed to bring the vision to reality and shape the patterns, giving some structure and suggestions to the overall plan. Some children preferred gathering the materials while others preferred to place them in the mandala. Some lost interest along the way since this took some time to create. I had to encourage the children to help complete it at times, although this often only took a gentle nudge.
Viewing the mandala was very satisfying when we were finished. On occasion, we had the opportunity to revisit the mandala over time and watch it go back into the environment. Other passersby usually left it alone. A few times, we watched other people walk by, stop to look, and compliment our work.
We are just getting started creating a nature mandala for a birthday ritual. Notice the small, metal buckets holding some gathered materials and two piles with larger natural materials on either side.
HONORABLE AND RESPECTFUL HARVESTING
Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of the book Braiding Sweetgrass, talks about the Honorable Harvest (YouTube video, Bioneers, 3:30). With young children, I refer to this as Respectful Harvesting. It is a sustainable practice. The following are key elements in this approach.
*Give our attention to and learn about the plants. We can come to know some of the names of the plants and their gifts.
*Have a plan or purpose in mind.
*Talk to the plant. Introduce yourself. Use good manners and be respectful.
*Ask permission from the plant. Listen for an answer. Be aware of the plant’s surroundings to gather information that will contribute to the answer.
*Never take the first or last plant you see. Leave them be.
*Harvest in such a way that does the least harm and may even benefit the growth of the plant. *Harvest only a little bit at a time. Harvest only what is needed. Do not waste. Use everything you take.
*Express gratitude to the plant and say “thank you”.
*Give something back to the plant, reciprocate the gift. Leave a gift behind. This could be water, fertilizer, pick a few weeds around it, prune in such a way to help the plant, engage in some form of caretaking. This can be on a spiritual level as a prayer, a song, or a story.
*Share with others as the plant and the earth has shared with you.
Remember:
“Every breath you take is from plants.”
“Sustain the ones who sustain us and the earth will last forever.”
Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of the book Braiding Sweetgrass, talks about the Honorable Harvest (YouTube video, Bioneers, 3:30). With young children, I refer to this as Respectful Harvesting. It is a sustainable practice. The following are key elements in this approach.
*Give our attention to and learn about the plants. We can come to know some of the names of the plants and their gifts.
*Have a plan or purpose in mind.
*Talk to the plant. Introduce yourself. Use good manners and be respectful.
*Ask permission from the plant. Listen for an answer. Be aware of the plant’s surroundings to gather information that will contribute to the answer.
*Never take the first or last plant you see. Leave them be.
*Harvest in such a way that does the least harm and may even benefit the growth of the plant. *Harvest only a little bit at a time. Harvest only what is needed. Do not waste. Use everything you take.
*Express gratitude to the plant and say “thank you”.
*Give something back to the plant, reciprocate the gift. Leave a gift behind. This could be water, fertilizer, pick a few weeds around it, prune in such a way to help the plant, engage in some form of caretaking. This can be on a spiritual level as a prayer, a song, or a story.
*Share with others as the plant and the earth has shared with you.
Remember:
“Every breath you take is from plants.”
“Sustain the ones who sustain us and the earth will last forever.”
