Wendy PiersallCritiques

**I won this book in a giveaway in exchange for an honest opinion**

I love this book! The mandalas are beautiful and not too intricate. The designs are only on one side of the page, and the pages seem to be of an alright thickness (though I haven't tried coloring with markers to see if it bleeds through). I can see myself coloring in this for many a happy hour. I would recommend this book. 5 out of 5 stars.

**I won this book in a giveaway in exchange for an honest opinion**

I love this book! The mandalas are beautiful and not too intricate. The designs are only on one side of the page, and the pages seem to be of an alright thickness (though I haven't tried coloring with markers to see if it bleeds through). I can see myself coloring in this for many a happy hour. I would recommend this book. 5 out of 5 stars.

Coloring books for adults are now very popular, the activity looked upon as a meditative way to relax, foster creativity, and reduce stress. Sales have skyrocketed for these books, as they no doubt also have done for the whole range of colored pencils and markers used to fill in the pictures.

A mandala (Sanskrit for circle) is a symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism that represents the universe. Mandalas are employed for meditation, by focusing one’s total attention on the mandala (as opposed to say, one’s to-do list of chores). Many people believe that creating (or by extension, coloring) mandalas helps stabilize, integrate, and re-order one’s inner life.

Piersall combines the soothing patterns of mandalas with the relaxing practice of coloring, and I love the idea of this format. Coloring Flower Mandala Postcards: 20 Hand-Drawn Designs for Mindful Relaxation is a great way to create presents for your friends by coloring in the floral mandalas and sending them out with personal messages on the tear-and-mail postcards. What better way to send friends gorgeous roses, hydrangeas, poppies and so on that will never die!½

Coloring books for adults are now very popular, the activity looked upon as a meditative way to relax, foster creativity, and reduce stress. Sales have skyrocketed for these books, as they no doubt also have done for the whole range of colored pencils and markers used to fill in the pictures.

A mandala (Sanskrit for circle) is a symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism that represents the universe. Mandalas are employed for meditation, by focusing one’s total attention on the mandala (as opposed to say, one’s to-do list of chores). Many people believe that creating (or by extension, coloring) mandalas helps stabilize, integrate, and re-order one’s inner life.

Piersall combines the soothing patterns of mandalas with the relaxing practice of coloring, and I think the book featuring bird mandalas is one of her best yet.

Clearly, as with her other books, Piersall has a knack for tapping into ideas that promote relaxation and a “zone” of mindful/mindlessness. Coloring Bird Mandalas has an array of gorgeous (or soon to be gorgeous, when you are done coloring) bird images, including toucans, flamingos, peacocks, hummingbirds, owls and finches.½

A mandala (Sanskrit for circle) is a symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism that represents the universe. Mandalas are employed for meditation, by focusing one’s total attention on the mandala (as opposed to say, one’s to-do list of chores). Many people believe that creating (or by extension, coloring) mandalas helps stabilize, integrate, and re-order one’s inner life.

In keeping with the worldwide adult coloring book craze, this latest offering from Wendy Piersall features a collection of thirty hand-drawn outlines of mandalas focused on nautical-themed quotes and images, including designs of seashells, mermaids, turtles, and sea horses.

Piersall also has created similar books featuring mandalas featuring animals, flowers, and the dream world.

This particular one is great because, if you’ve ever been to an aquarium like the outstanding Monterey Aquarium in California, you will know there is little more relaxing than watching a tankful of jellyfish or undulating anemones.

In fact, human beings find water itself soothing, and so by extension, anything associated with water. Wallace Nichols, author of the 2014 book Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do writes about our relationship with water, calling it “Blue Mind,” which he defines as:

“. . . a mildly meditative state characterized by calm, peacefulness, unity, and a sense of general happiness and satisfaction with life in the moment. It is inspired by water and elements associated with water, from the color blue to the words we use to describe the sensations associated with immersion. It takes advantage of neurological connections formed over millennia, many such brain patterns and preferences being discovered only now, thanks to innovative scientists and cutting-edge technology.”

Clearly, as with her other books, Piersall has a knack for tapping into ideas that promote relaxation and a “zone” of mindful/mindlessness.

You can really go wild with markers for this book, because the colors of the ocean are pretty amazing.

Evaluation: This book would make a great present for yourself or others. Throw some colored pencils or markers into the gift box!½

In keeping with the worldwide adult coloring book craze, this latest offering from Wendy Piersall features quotes and images from the dream world.

Piersall’s previous books featuring mandalas focused on animal mandalas and flower mandalas. I like this one the best. The images are more fantastical, and I think offer even more stimulation for the imagination.

A mandala (Sanskrit for circle) is, as mentioned in previous reviews, a symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism that represents the universe. Mandalas are employed for meditation, by focusing one’s total attention on the mandala (as opposed to say, one’s to-do list of chores). Many people believe that creating (or by extension, coloring) mandalas helps stabilize, integrate, and re-order one’s inner life.

Coloring Dream Mandalas is a collection of thirty hand-drawn outlines of beautiful images, including dragons, castles, fairies, butterflies and of course, dream catchers.

The designs are just intricate enough to put you into a “zone” of mindful/mindlessness.

Evaluation: This book would make a great present for yourself or others! Throw some colored pencils or markers into the gift box!½

If you have been to any book or craft stores lately, you will know that adult coloring books are all the rage. And they cover myriad subjects: you can color gardens, tattoo patterns, animals, cities, and even outlines of indie musicians. Mandalas are perhaps the most popular category for these books.

A mandala (Sanskrit for circle) is a symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism that represents the universe. Mandalas are employed for meditation, by focusing one’s total attention on the mandala (as opposed to say, one’s to-do list of chores). Many people believe that creating (or by extension, coloring) mandalas helps stabilize, integrate, and re-order one’s inner life.

Coloring Flower Mandalas is a collection of thirty hand-drawn outlines of beautiful flowers, including orchids, roses, lilies, poppies, sunflowers, - just waiting to come alive from the addition of colors.

The designs are manageable by anyone, but just intricate enough to pull you outside of your quotidian cares and into “the zone” of mindful/mindlessness.

The books are flying off shelves; apparently a lot of people have found that one can color oneself to calmness, so to speak. Craft stores have great collections these days of pencils and crayons and markers. It’s an inexpensive way to find tranquility, and in the process, create some beautiful decorations for your house.

Evaluation: This book would make a great present for yourself or others! Throw some colored pencils or “Gelly Roll” pens into the gift box! Or, ooooh, glitter pens!½

A mandala (Sanskrit for circle) is a symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism that represents the universe. Mandalas are employed for meditation, by focusing one’s total attention on the mandala (as opposed to say, one’s to-do list of chores).

Swiss pyschoanalyst Carl Jung believed the unconscious could be revealed through art, and used it in his treatment of patients. He noticed that both he and they often resorted to circle drawings. He decided the mandala actually represented “the Self, the wholeness of the personality, which if all goes well is harmonious."

Today many believe that creating (or by extension, coloring) mandalas helps stabilize, integrate, and re-order one’s inner life.

Using animals to form the mandala adds the idea of animal totems to the mix. Animal totems are also symbols used to establish a personal or spiritual identity.

Coloring Animal Mandalas is a collection of creative representations of the animal kingdom as mandalas. These very intricate designs will look pretty amazing when colored. In fact, I can understand how working on these pictures could be hypnotic and distract one from the usual quotidian concerns. Many people, both children and adults, swear by coloring mandalas as a means of relaxation.

The book is printed on one-sided pages, so there will be no danger of your getting distracted by images or bleed-throughs from the other side. You can also then remove finished pages and hang them up.

The author has a website from which you can download some sample pages of mandalas and other images to color.

Evaluation: This would make a great gift item! It's unusual, fun, and possibly will enhance the quality of life of the recipient.

Coloring Animal Mandalas
by Wendy Piersall

Reviewing this 64 page book of 30 awesome magical wildlife mandalas was a yummy piece of cake and I enjoyed every bit. The artist has a gifted way of energetically pulling you right into each one. I felt so at peace and it was a hoot picking out the colors I needed. I have always been excited by mandalas, and this set is exceptional. These guys are where simplicity and intricacy meet radically in the middle. This one just hopped right into my spiritual toolbox. I would recommend this blessed find to anyone wanting a unique way to slow their head down. Thanks Wendy, you are an inspiration.

Love & Light,

Riki Frahmann