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“‎The creative process involved touching, opening, and inspecting condoms. Like many, many other towns in developing countries, most of the folks here have never seen a condom, let alone touched or talked about them. Sex and protection are an unspoken taboo-- despite of course sex's ubiquitous inevitable reality. And, alas, the heavy toll of unconscious sex on health, population and the environment.

Bontoc, Philippines – The Colorful Condoms for Creative Consciousness Mandala Movie One hundred and fifty youth leaders from all over the Northern Philippines were involved in the co-creation of the Colorful Condoms for Creative Consciousness Mandala. It was a playful, experiential and powerful creative and sexual consciousness raising experience.

‎In the spirit of Tibetan sand Mandalas that are made then destroyed as a symbol of impermanece, the Muheim Mandala was taken down after two weeks. In the Tibetan tradition the grains of sand from the Mandala (that often monks have laboured to buld grain by grain for several weeks) are gathered together and put into rivers and streams-- to distribute the energy and blessing of the mandala into the world. In the same way, the students of Muheim will all receive postcards with the final mandala image on it, to send and share with their penpals and friends around the world.

BC, Canada The Magical Muheim Mandala Movie The Taking Care of the World Magical Mandala. Composed out of 300 individual mandalas from the students of Muheim Elementary as they reflected on their role in taking care of the world.

“‎After decades of conflict, long awaited Peace Talks are set to resume between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (also with the National Democratic Front and the Moro National Liberation Front).</p> <p>Four hundred children from diverse faith backgrounds gathered with artists, ritual leaders and indigenous musicians to channel the power of art and ritual for peace building. On February 7th, 2011 the children were invited to craft terra-cotta candle and flower holders inspired by the Tri-People culture of Mindanao.</p> <p>The next day the children were joined by the President of the Philippines, leaders of the military, universities, police, government agencies, and NGOs for a ritual lighting of a peace mandala of candles featuring their clay creations. It was the call of the children to end armed conflict in their generation. It was a celebration of the end of the cycle of war, misunderstanding, and separation. It was a reminder of our interconnection across lines and generations. United, one light at a time, peace will shine.

Manila, Philippines Lights for Peace – with President Aquino and 400 children Four hundred children from diverse faith backgrounds gathered with artists, ritual leaders and indigenous musicians to channel the power of art and ritual for peace building. The children were invited to craft terracotta candle and flower holders inspired by the Tri-People culture of war-torn Mindanao province. The next day the children were joined by the President of the Philippines, leaders of the military, universities, police, government agencies, and NGOs for a ritual lighting of a peace mandala of candles featuring their clay creations.

“mandala

Osopo, Italy Human 1Mandala in Motion Two hundred folks came together in Osoppo, Italy to make this grand mandalic dance. Out of the crowd came film makers, dancers, drummers, singers, shamans, directors… you name it. This spontaneous human mandala became a beautiful ceremony. We held hands, man, woman, man, woman, formed a circles, twisted into a spiral and began a dance of our ancestors.

“‎War is the result of ideas-- typically unhealthy ideas that we have about others, ourselves and how to solve our problems. Toys and games are one of the first ways we pass ideas on to our children of how to relate to each other. Toys are ideas encapsulated. What exactly are the ideas we are passing on with certain toys? Playing with a toy means absorbing the ideas it represents. The effects of this absortion radiate out like the ripples of a stone dropped in a pond across time and generations. By transforming the war toys into a symbol of peace I hope the implicit irony illustrates this radiant ripple effect.
An installation of war toys by the artist.