PHOTO GALLERY: 12.12.12 Sands of the World Mandala ceremony
By
Rachel S. OHara
| 5:00 a.m. December 14, 2012
Longboat Key
Neighbors
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PHOTO GALLERY: 12.12.12 Sands of the World Mandala ceremony
From left, Gopi Chari, Zan Benham, Frannie Hoffman and David Cooper represented the four anchors of the four directions of the mandala.
Dr. Margerite Barnett does a dance around the mandala.
Zan Benham bangs on one of the many drums Wednesday, Dec. 12, during the 12.12.12 Sands of the World Mandala on South Lido beach.
Patricia Cockerill sounding the gong between the elements and between each of the virtues that were read out loud around the mandala.
The mandala’s design was created by Jo Mooy and took three hours to assemble.
Jo Mooy
Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday, Dec. 12, on South Lido beach for the 12.12.12 Sands of the World Mandala ceremony.
Rose Lettieri sprinkled blessed water that had been collected from a wide variety of places all over the world over 10 years.
Ella Mirman reads a prayer for the world that she wrote herself to the crowd during the ceremony.
Patricia Cockerill and Zan Benham swept all the sands into a spiral, blending and putting some of it on the center of the mandala.
Judi Cannon placed the Mombasa sand, representing her sister, as Mooy placed sands from Tibet and the Hop and Toas Native American communities while Gabriel and Ella Mirman held the center of the mandala.
Gabriel and Ella Mirman walked around the circle with a pile of the mixed sand Wednesday, Dec. 12, during the 12.12.12 Sands of the World Mandala on South Lido beach.
Martha Lopez, a soprano with the Sarasota Pops, sand “Let there be Peace on Earthâ€.
Tahja Harrison performs around the mandala.
Aukon Rivero threw dried rose petals down the beach and into the Gulf of Mexico during the end of the ceremony.
Dr. Margerite Barnett leads the way down to the water followed by Aukon Rivero who thre dried rose petals, followed by Ella and Gabriel Mirman carrying the mandala sand and Rev. Jim Toole and Rev. Eileen kemp behind them.
Gabriel and Ella Mirman dump the mixed sand into the Gulf of Mexico at the end of the ceremony.
Following the ceremony, people were encouraged to take plastic bags and bowls to collect the mixed sand to take home.
