App News: Updates and New Animations Coming Soon

Updates to my relaxation / meditation app are on the way. More animations as well as other updates are planned. Stay tuned for more information — coming soon!

Mandala Meditations App Now Universal -- iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV 4

My Mandala Meditations App is now universal — meaning that if you purchase it for the iPhone / iPad, you will then automatically have access to it on your Apple TV 4 (and vice versa).

I'm so thrilled to have this app finally become available after envisioning it so many years ago!  I created it with the belief that even if you only spend a few moments each day you can still begin reaping the benefits of meditation: increased focus, inner calm, better sleep, an increase in overall happiness and more.

Visit the app store now to download.

New Mandala Animation

Hi everyone! Just wanted to pop in to announce that I've released a new mandala animation. This one loops seamlessly and is not accompanied by music, so you are free to relax and meditate in silence or use your own music as accompaniment. The new animation is entitled Abiding and can be found here.

Mandala Meditations Apple TV App Available Now

I am so excited to announce that Tim and I have created an app made especially for Apple TV entitled, Mandala Meditations. The app consists of over 30 minutes of visually stunning animations set to music. (Please note: These are not guided meditations, and this app does not function as a screensaver.)

For those of you who are unfamiliar with my previous mandala meditations, the six unique visual meditations included in the app are similar to one I released recently: Acceptance.

My app is currently available in the Apple TV app store. You may find it by searching for "meditation" or "mandala".

A special word of thanks goes out to Chris Zabriskie, for without his music I would have been unable to see my dream become reality. Please visit his web site to find out more about him: http://www.chriszabriskie.com/.

For more information and screenshots of the application, visit my web page.

Acceptance: A Mandala Meditation

Acceptance: A Mandala Meditation. from Kelly Dietrich on Vimeo.

Years ago I used to make mandala meditations for the original iPod and upload them to my podcast on iTunes. This is the first mandala animation I've made since creating those podcasts so many years ago.

Music: "Witnessing Infinity" from the Infinite Octaves album by Andrew Forrest. Used with his kind permission. His music and artwork may be viewed at his web site.

New Video Podcast: Soulshine

My latest video podcast is available on iTunes. Soulshine was created using one of my latest images, "Everything is Connected."

Video Podcast: Patience

I have been creating my video podcast for one year, so to celebrate, my latest video is twice as long. Entitled Patience, this Mandala Meditation is more than two minutes in length and features one of my flame fractal images and music written by my husband, Tim. To view the most recent podcast or to subscribe to my podcast, visit iTunes.

Latest Video Podcast and Image Change

My latest video podcast is now online -- uploaded May 15. I also changed the appearance of my podcast image to be more in tune with my web site, so if you are looking for the old mandala on iTunes, it's no longer there. Below is the new image for my podcast. Thanks so much to everyone who subscribes to the podcast -- they've been great fun to create. To commemorate doing these video podcasts for a full year, I'm hoping to release a longer version of one next month, so be sure to look for it.

Latest Video Podcast: Vernal Equinox

To commemorate the coming of spring, my latest video podcast can be viewed via iTunes.

New Video Podcast: Springtide

My latest video podcast is entitled Springtide. Visit iTunes to sign up for my video podcast, Mandala Meditations. New podcasts are added two times a month.

Latest Video Podcast: Contemplation

I uploaded my latest video podcast last week, entitled Contemplation. To take a look, or to subscribe to the podcast, please visit my page on iTunes.

How to Use Mandalas & Fractals to Meditate

My mandalas, fractals, and moving art create intricate, geometric shapes which give the mind something to concentrate on while allowing our body to relax, tension to dissipate, and peace and an expanded awareness to flow through.

To begin meditating with a mandala, fractal, or moving art piece, first select an image to which you feel attracted. Once you have selected an image, sit in a comfortable position, either on the floor with your legs crossed, or in a comfortable, supportive chair with your feet resting flat on the floor and your hands resting comfortably at your sides or in your lap without touching. Make sure the image you wish to meditate with is within reach or is hanging directly in front of you at or slightly below eye level.

Take a moment to connect with your body and feel the areas where you are holding tension. For many, the shoulders, jaw, and lower back are key points where stress is held and tension builds throughout the day.

Once you have noted these areas, take a deep breath in through your nose, gently filling your lungs with air by first concentrating on the lower abdomen or belly region, then the mid-abdomen, and finally the chest. Do not force these areas to fill, but rather, become aware of the depth of your breath and intend to deepen it with each gentle inhale.

Then, exhale out your mouth, expelling as much air as you can without forcing it in any way. As you exhale, feel the tension melting or draining out of your body and into the earth beneath you. Continue this breathing exercise until you feel relaxed and ready to begin the meditation.

Move your attention to the mandala or fractal. Allow your eyes to travel over the artwork in an easy manner. Take in the details - color, texture, depth - but do not feel the need to analyze the detail intellectually as you view it. Simply allow it wash over you as if you were seeing the image for the first time.

As you view it, you may begin to feel as though you are being drawn into the center of the image or into the spiral, feeling as if you were entering into the image itself. Some areas of the image may appear to recede while others may appear to pop out. Or, the image may appear to move or undulate. Allow all of these experiences without feeling the need to question or analyze them. Continue to view the image with a relaxed focus, blinking when necessary.

In time, thoughts may begin to pop into your awareness. These thoughts may simply be resistance to meditation. Resistance usually appears in the form of lists of things you “should” be doing rather than meditating -- making phone calls, grocery shopping, doing the laundry, getting to work, wondering about the time, etc. Gently assure yourself that all will be handled in due time and then allow these thoughts to fall away without pressure or urgency. (If you feel this will happen during each meditation in the future, make a list before you meditate. Make a note of all the things you need to do. Then while meditating, if this thought arises, you know you have already addressed this issue and can gently allow it to drop away.)

Sometimes, however, thoughts may pop up that provide sudden insight or revelation. This may indicate an opening to greater awareness. Allow this information to come through without judgement. If you feel the need to write it down, be sure to have a pen and paper handy each time you meditate. Once you have received the information, allow it to also drop away.

Continue on with the meditation for the time you had planned or for whatever length is comfortable. At the end of the meditation, close your eyes and make a mental note of the state of your body and emotions: How does your body feel? Do you feel relaxed? Energized? Emotionally how do you feel? Consider writing down any thoughts, feelings or issues that come to mind after the meditation or throughout the day as they may provide valuable insight into your life, work, relationships, health and more.

First Video Podcast of 2008: Quickening

Yesterday I published my first podcast of the new year entitled Quickening. Last year I created all 8-radiation mandala animations. This year I believe I will focus on 10-radiation mandalas, with Quickening being the first.

I must say that I am somewhat disappointed with Quicktime these days. Last year when I began creating the podcast, Quicktime compressed and converted the Flash file wonderfully — preserving the color of the original file very well. Since then, I've downloaded the lastest two updates, and now, for whatever reason, the resulting files are not nearly as colorful and vibrant. Because of this issue, I switched to iSquint a couple months ago to convert the files. Although they are coming out a bit more vibrant than Quicktime, they are not true to the original file either. If anyone has any recommendations, please let me know.

Finally, I wish you all a Happy New Year and many thanks for your support and encouragement.

Final Podcast of 2007: Beneficence

To see my final video podcast of 2007, please visit iTunes. Look for more podcasts to be published in the new year!

Latest Podcast: A Better Way

My podcast is still going strong on iTunes -- it has been in the top 100 of its category for many months now. I thank all of you who have subscribed. I also thank all of those who have commented they have found the video podcast helpful and enjoyable.

I am hoping to get one more out this year, some time in the coming week. If you have not checked out the podcast yet and wish to do so, click here.

My Video Podcasts Featured on iTunes (Again)!

This morning while uploading my most recent video podcast to iTunes, I noticed that my Mandala Meditations podcast has been selected as a featured podcast in the Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality section. When I first began doing the podcasts earlier this summer, my podcast was chosen for the New & Noteworthy spotlight. I felt very fortunate that it was featured there and enthusiastic that the videos had found an audience so quickly.

Now, this morning, I find that Mandala Meditations is featured along with only 100 other podcasts in this section. I feel so thankful and excited to see that these meditations are popular. It is my hope that they are beneficial to all who view them.



My latest video podcast is entitled "Change is Coming." To view it and my other Mandala Meditations video podcasts, click here (you must have iTunes).

New Video Podcast: With an Open Heart

My latest video podcast is entitled With an Open Heart and is now available for download at iTunes. Take a look!

Mandala Meditations “New and Noteworthy” on iTunes

Since releasing my second video podcast, my Mandala Meditations podcast has sprung up on the "New and Noteworthy" section under the Spirituality category of iTunes this week! I feel incredibly fortunate to be listed there and hope that those downloading the podcast are enjoying and benefitting from it.

If you've already subscribed to the podcast, I'd love to hear any comments or suggestions you might have, so feel free to leave a comment here on the blog.

Video Podcast: A Call to Remember

I've just released my second video podcast entitled, A Call to Remember. You can view the podcast by visiting iTunes. If you subscribe to the podcast, my latest meditations will be downloaded automatically depending upon the settings you specify in iTunes.

I am planning on releasing a new video podcast two times a month — I'm shooting for the first and the fifteenth of every month. If you haven't had a chance to see one yet, please read my previous blog entry, Mandala Meditations Available on iTunes, for more information.

Mandala Animations Available on iTunes

I'm very happy to announce that my latest mandala animations, Mandala Meditations, are now available on iTunes. I've developed a new form of my moving art especially for the iPod video. These newest animations are similar to those that I've been creating, except they are only one minute in length and they are set to music created by my husband, Tim.

These meditations (as well as the regular moving art animations) work best if you have a quiet area where you know no one will disturb you. Before watching the meditation, take a few moments to quiet yourself and breathe deeply. As you breathe, feel as though warm water is running down your body releasing any tension you may be holding there. Pay particular attention to your face, jaws, neck and shoulders, since many of us tend to carry stress in those areas.

I've made Mandala Meditations available as a podcast so that you can take them with you where ever you want to go. Now there's no reason not to meditate, even if it's only for a minute!

To view the newest animations, you can either visit my moving art page and click on the image, or you can visit iTunes directly by clicking here. If you subscribe to the podcast, you will be notified every time a new meditation is released.

If you have comments or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment here on the blog or contact me via the contact page on my site.