"Behold the fire of transformation!" (Rilke)
"Creative Fire" © 2009 Catherine Jo Morgan - #090020, Oil pastel and acrylic, Image 5 by 7 inches, framed 14 by 11 inches. (SOLD)
Triangle and heart: fire symbols
In her book, “The Logo Decoded,” Lora Starling adds some fascinating information about the meanings of each of the five shapes identified by Angeles Arrien as carrying universal meanings across cultures.
For example, Starling calls the triangle a fire symbol, associating it with the heart and prosperity, among other things. (That got my attention!)
Though Angeles Arrien always uses the triangle shape in its most stable form, an equilateral triangle with the flat base down, it’s also possible to envision the heart symbol as combining the circle’s curves with the triangle, pointed down. Both together create a diamond. Later in this article you’ll see some good examples, from mandala artists Patricia Waters and Patricia Fitzgerald.
Earlier as an artist-blacksmith, then as a mixed-media vessel sculptor and now as a heart painter, I’ve found inspiration from Angeles Arrien’s research on the five “universal shapes.”
Recently I became curious about how other artists are using them. I came across both interesting artwork and useful art activities for personal growth.
The artists mentioned in this article gave me permission to link to their work and use their images here. Note that each artist reserves all rights to her own images.
Artists often have a preferred shape
If you have already experienced Angeles Arrien’s Preferential Shapes Test, it won’t surprise you at all that any specific artist seems to have a preferred shape. Nor will you be surprised to observe that an artist’s shapes change over time. When I began learning to forge iron, it was evident from the first thing I made that I loved the triangle shape; soon the spiral became another favorite.
In "Signs of Life," an article on her website, jeweler Debbe Kennedy says she also picked the spiral from the five shapes.
"The Centered Heart" © 1996 Catherine Jo Morgan - "Chi Energy Bag" -- mixed media vessel of fusible web, unryu paper, silver ink, cords.
"A Light Mood" by Ann Bell, 22 by 30 in. mixed media. All Rights Reserved.
Mandalas
Angeles Arrien notes that “Mandala is Sanskrit for ‘that of essence (manda — essence; la — of).’” The word “mandala” is also sometimes loosely translated as “circle,” and we usually expect a mandala to be circular — symbolizing wholeness, integration. Within this emphasis on wholeness, however, artists sometime incorporate other of the five universal shapes.
"Magic Cross" earth mandala by Komra Beth Salo. All Rights Reserved.
Digital artist Komra Atiri Cheyean Moriko makes her Earth Mandalas from photographs of nature. While her mandalas are circular, some emphasize a triangle or cross. This one, “Magic Cross,” she made from a photo of the Grand Canyon.
Unfortunately her site seems to be discontinued.
Artist Sue O’Kieffe uses a similar process to make mandalas -- starting with photographs from nature -- but places each circle within a square. She also shifts her focus among the five universal shapes, clearing stating her conscious use of the square, triangle and spiral as well. I find her mandalas quite lovely.
She even offers a link to her free Mandala Tutorial (updated from an earlier one by Moriko) on the right sidebar of her blog,showing how to do this in PhotoShop with your own photos. Note that Sue O'Kieffe's blog includes several other articles on the Angeles Arrien and the five universal shapes, plus many useful links if you’re interested in mandalas.
"Four Spirals" mandala by Sue O'Kieffe. All rights reserved.
Art for personal growth - using the five universal shapes
I wrote earlier about Angeles Arrien’s Preferential Shapes Test as a tool for personal transformation. In her book “Signs of Life: The Five Universal Shapes and How to Use Them,” Arrien recommends following up the test with daily activities to lend conscious support to the core life process that wants to be actualized at the time.
(Note : If you buy from the “Signs of Life” book link here or just above — or any other book links in this article — I receive a small commission as an Amazon Associate. This particular book is available at used book sites for much less.)
On page 73, Angeles Arrien recommends making playful, experimental mandalas using the shapes you put in the first, third and last positions. This is because there’s an inherent tension or conflict between the processes in the first and last positions, which can be resolved via the process in the third position. Knowing this intellectually isn’t nearly as empowering, though, as actively working with the symbols. Arrien notes that “Daily practice is vital to transformation.”
Illuminated mandalas in colored pencil
Mandala by Caterina Martinico, colored pencil. All rights reserved.
Mandala by Patricia Waters, colored pencil. All rights reserved.
Caterina Martinico and Patricia Waters (1934-2012) used to lead "Illuminated Mandala Retreat Day" art workshops integrating Angeles Arrien’s five symbols with the techniques of drawing mandalas shown by another of my favorites, Judith Cornell.
Note the cross and circle shapes in Martinico's mandala at left, and the spiral and triangle in Waters' mandala below.
Judith Cornell (1940-2010)
You can pursue this process on your own with Judith Cornell’s book, “Mandala: Luminous Symbols for Healing.” The newest edition includes a CD with guided meditations. I have the first edition, but for many years began my mornings with a tape recording I made of one of the guided meditations. By the end of the meditation, which took only a few minutes, I usually had been given the image with which to begin the day's work.
Judith Cornell is still a great inspiration to me, as she is to many others interested in the intersection of art, spirituality and health. I began with her book, "Drawing the Light from Within," surely one of the most encouraging books ever written for an artist in any medium.
She also created a "Mandala Healing Kit" (which I haven't experienced). Some of her students and colleagues have published a video tribute to her.
Patricia Fitzgerald - “Healing Creations”
When I first published this article, I had not yet encountered Patricia Fitzgerald’s remarkable madala paintings.
In this example, she uses the circle on a square canvas, with the focus on the triangle.
Based in Dublin, Fitzgerald combines acrylic paint with archival markers to create intricate, evocative mandalas on stretched canvas, ready to hang. She has also published expert video tutorials and is now doing online workshops.
Note: The book links in this article lead to Amazon.com. If you buy there after following one of my links, I receive a small credit as an Amazon Associate.
This is part 5 of the series on the five universal shapes
Earlier articles:
1 - "The Five Universal Shapes"
2 - "The Preferential Shapes Test from Angeles Arrien"
3 - "Angeles Arrien and the Tarot"
4 - "Chakras and the Five Universal Shapes"
(This series of articles last revised in August, 2020. This article was originally published May 29, 2014.)