The Making of Ra Ma Da Sa
Ra Ma Da Sa | 56” dia
RA MA DA SA is part of my Perpetual Motion series where I explored the use of line and color to create rhythm and convey the sense of constant movement in a static image.
This painting is a depiction of a mantra that I learned while studying yoga and is used send and/or receive healing energy in the world. It was probably the most peaceful painting experience I have ever had while tackling a challenging subject.
Before I started preparing the canvas I wanted to make my painting space as empty as possible so that I could focus 100% on the chant and my inner experience with it. I hung a white curtain to divide my studio so that all I had in my painting area was the canvas, my painting tools, and a viewing chair.
Each painting session began with me chanting the Ra Ma Da Sa mantra until I reached a calm and open state of being. In order to continue the vibrations of the chants I played a CD of it on a repeated loop throughout the painting process.
My understanding of Ra Ma Da Sa Sa Say So Hung chant is that it activates healing energy from the world to call forth healing and peace.
Ra = Sun (energy)
Ma = Moon (align receptivity)
Da = earth (grounding)
Sa = Infinity (energy rises upwards and outwards drawing in healing Universe force)
Sa (2nd Infinity) (pull all the infinite energy into your body)
Say = honor God
So = vibration/merger
Hung = the Infinite vibration realm
The chant first pulls in energy from the sun. It then aligns and receives themoon energy. This is followed by calling forth energy from the earth to ground what has been activated. It then gathers energy from the infinite universe and pulls this energy into your body. You take a moment to pause and honor God for giving you this energy. The final So Hung vibrates the activated energies and merges them together to send it out into the infinite vibrational realm.
These intense chanting episodes, both before and during painting, placed me in a warm healing embrace. It took me many months to find the right colors, shapes, and flows that accurately reflected the holding space I experienced from my chanting sessions.
I paint to gain a fuller understanding of the world around me. I tend to choose subjects that I resist moving towards. I like to get intimate with the subject matter and experience its physiological impact. I then use my internal responses and translate the feelings and emotions in a visual way. There is nothing more satisfying then the moment you realize you have touched upon the thing you were attempting to find and captured it in color, line and shape.