A nature mandala honoring past loved ones.  

One Network support group consisted of four members today that engaged in a walk around Windsor and the river, concluding with a reflective nature mandala honoring past loved ones. The group talked about where the mandala would be set. At the mandala creation site, each group member was asked to find objects within nature that symbolised or related back to a positive memory of their loved one. Each group member found one or more correlating pieces of nature that could trigger a memory. After the pieces were found, each group member added the found objects to the mandala creating an on-going spiral and symbolising infinity.

The ongoing spiral had several meanings for the group as the group. They talked about walking this journey of life, the purpose of life, how each and every piece of the mandala signified a various meaning for the clients. One group member in particular did not contribute any found objects to the mandala, however, when it was her turn to reflect, the group member spoke profoundly about her spiritual journey to keep going and live life in remembrance of her son. 

The group was then asked to take one piece of the mandala and send it off into the river with a prayer of acceptance or any type of prayer that resonated with them. Each person released their prayer into the waters and the group carried onward back to their day.

Kaelin, student psychologist