White Lily I-a
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Purple Peony IV
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Queen Anne's Lace I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Queen Anne's Lace II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Red Dahlia
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Red Hibiscus I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Rhododendron 'Ponticum Roseum' III
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Water Lily XI
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Purple Iris I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Purple Iris II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Pink Peony I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Pink Hibiscus III
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Pink Hibiscus I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Pink Hibiscus II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Pink Dahlia IV
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Pink Dahlia III
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Pink Dahlia I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Purple Peony I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

White Petunia IV
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Petunia II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Oriental Poppy II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Orange-Yellow Dahlia I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Orange Pansy II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Orange Lily VI
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Orange Lily V
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Orange Lily IV
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Orange Lily III
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Orange Lily I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Orange Dahlia
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Nasturtium
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Moulin Rouge I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Morning Glory II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Marigold II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Lavender Pink Peony III
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Yellow Lily
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

White Lily III
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Rudbeckia
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Rose
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Rosa Rugosa
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Rosa Belle Poitevine B&W
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

White Lily II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

White Dahlia I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Wet Lily III
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Wet Lily I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Water Lily X
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Water Lily I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Rosa Rugosa Rubra I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Rosa Belle Poitevine
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Rhododendron 'Ponticum Roseum' I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Sunflower 'Moulin Rouge' I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Yellow Marigold
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Marigold III
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Lily IV
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Lavender Pink Peony I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Iris III
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Purple Iris IV
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Hibiscus moscheutos I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Heliopsis helianthoides
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Morning Glory I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Gloxinia II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Giant Dahlia
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Red Hibiscus
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Doronicum
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Hydrangea
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Dying Hibiscus
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Gazania IV
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Gazania III
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Gazania I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Dianthus
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Salmon Daylily I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Dandelion II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Dandelion I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Dahlia Hybrid II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Clematis
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Chives
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Chinese Tree Peony Seed Pod II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Chinese Tree Peony Seed Pod I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Blue Passion Flower I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Begonia
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Beach Rose II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Gazania II
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Dahlia Hybrid I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Chinese Tree Peony Seed Pod I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Beach Rose I
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Gazania V
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder

Flower Mandalas Project

This blog contains mandala-like images created from photographs of flowers. Suggestions for a complementary quote, a word that these mandala images evoke, or some history or other information about the flower itself are most welcome.

My personal motivation in creating these images was to heal from a decade of physical and emotional trauma, the consequence of a near-fatal event in Albany, New York, in1993. I began this project shortly after I bought my first digital camera and found myself shooting patterns of color and light, rather than the people and buildings I had shot in my black-and-white days. I learned to manipulate the images, hoping at first merely to improve them, but soon realizing that once an image file was on my hard drive, I could do anything I wanted with it.

I tend to work on several mandalas at once. On each piece, I spend anywhere from a few hours to a sequence of several-hour sessions spread out over a couple of months. The experience is reminiscent of meditation.

My choice of the hexagram (the Star of David, "beloved" in Hebrew) as the organizing shape for these mandalas was subconscious, but I believe this choice was no accident. In many traditions, the Star of David, composed of two overlapping triangles, represents the reconciliation of opposites — male/female, fire/water, and so on. Their combination symbolizes unity and harmony. Listening to what the mandalas were telling me led me out of a dark place and, indirectly, to my decision to become a psychotherapist.

Thanks for looking and for listening,
- David
© 2005, David J. Bookbinder