“At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.” ~ Lao Tzu

Woke up to snow and revisited the mandala with curiosity… Everything still in tact, water level rose slightly, barely revealing a change is surface texture of water inside the mandala.. :)  Arrived just in time… two of the seven balances collapsed from wind at the end of my snowy visit.. :)

“Act without expectation” ~Lao Tzu

Experiences like these, I’ve come to find, carry a certain magic.. The photos fail to capture the thick spring snow that was falling during these pictures.. The whole scene was truly surreal with the thick mesh of moving elements and still rocks…. Fortunately I was able to record a clip of video.. :)

The video does a great job illustrating the variable stillness of water inside versus outside the mandala.. the video is somewhat hypnotizing to watch.. :) ZEN… check it out below!

During today’s visit, a vehicle pulled up on the creek path with two curious people checking out my work.. :)  They were in a state of wonder having discovered the mandala.. we exchanged a few words and one guy said the rocks were amazing and that he had been bringing friends down all morning to see it.. INSPIRED :D

One of the most powerful elements of this art form is the way it brings people together… I’ve seen this phenomenon since my first experiences stacking in the creek… People are either curious and/or mystified.. Because of this mystery, simultaneous onlookers usually seem more likely to spark conversation about the structures… :D  This has happened hundreds of times in my experience… which is why rock balance is a great thing to incorporate with events.  I’ve heard so many different subjects of conversation evolve via two strangers randomly meeting and discussing the balance..

If you are depressed, you are living in the past.
If you are anxious, you are living in the future.
If you are at peace, you are living in the present.

~Lao Tzu

“The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.”

~ Lao Tzu

Some balances take on such interesting form when all the parts are arranged thoughtfully. I wonder what there is inside my mind and perception that tells me this is an interesting balance. Perhaps specific arrangements of shapes, colors, proportions have a way of communicating with my subconscious…? I’ve recently thought often about the paradigm where these balances are merely actions of the total universe rather than actions of my separate ego. They would not be possible without everything else happening simultaneously if everything is a single energy system. So then, are the balances communicative in some way? after all, it is the total universe acting to create something for itself to witness. ..

“Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”

— Lao-Tzu

Watching this balance stay in place despite the rushing water was somewhat hypnotizing. The logical mind would argue that the smallest vibration from the water should topple the rocks, but nothing happened… in those moments.  Just as the rocks were carefully set into place, the inevitability of their collapse became a focal contemplation.

Location: Ebin G Fine Park, Boulder, CO.