Gifts of the Mandala: A Guided Journey of Self-Discovery, by Clare Goodwin. Illustrated in color. Published by Balboa Press (a division of Hay House). 2016.

Gifts of the Mandala: A Guided Journey of Self-Discovery, by Clare Goodwin. Illustrated in color. Published by Balboa Press, 2016.

Psychosynthesis Therapist Clare Goodwin’s wonderful book, Gifts of the Mandala: A Guided Journey of Self-Discovery, began as an attempt to put into words the kind of therapy she did intuitively with clients. A mandala is by nature a spatial, imagistic picture of wholeness, where there is no need for a logical sequence. Writing about mandalas, however, turned out to be more challenging. What could she say that augmented the images and opened up the process to readers new to this artistic and therapeutic modality, in a writing voice that was truly her own?

My role: Book Developer, Editor

Working with Clare as a new author: Sometimes she asked me to give her writing assignments to get the flow going — and when I did, she fulfilled them beautifully, using my questions as a means to unearth the treasures of her own knowing.

In response, I emailed her: “It’s such a pleasure to be working with you. I ask a question, and you delve into yourself and find the answers. I think the essence of the medicine relative to writing your book is to keep homing in on, ‘What do I want? What is in me to say?’ That gives you a way to tell what’s real and alive for you, so that you know what you’re saying because you’re listening to yourself as you say it. If it doesn’t give you something in the moment of writing it, then slow down, take some time, listen again until there’s a spark of true interest.”

Clare gave herself to the writing process, resulting in a published book whose writing is warm, inviting, and caring, and whose images are beautiful and resonant with meaning.

From the back cover: Imagine that you found a map to the invisible realms of mind and spirit. What might you discover? Such maps have been drawn for thousands of years in myriad cultures throughout the world. Today, we refer to them by the Sanskrit term mandala, loosely meaning the whole world. Mandalas are universally associated with healing and prayer. Creating mandalas is an absorbing and relaxing way to enhance your life journey. Based on Clare Goodwin’s 35-year exploration of the mandala as an artist, therapist, and teacher of students world-wide, Gifts of the Mandala: A Guided Journey of Self-Discovery invites you to deepen your understanding of yourself through the sacred art of mandala making.

Reader praise for the book:

“Clare Goodwin’s incredible and beautiful book comes to us at a time when creativity, wonder and possibility are sorely needed. Clare invites us to take paper and colors and draw ourselves into our own experience. This is not a book only for artists, though they will love it. This is a book for all of us, designed to free our hearts and minds. Thank you Clare!” — Dorothy Firman, Ed.D., Director of Training, Synthesis Center, Amherst, MA

“Clare Goodwin’s writing is so very warm and encouraging. It is perfect for those new to mandalas and also for seasoned mandala enthusiasts seeking a new approach to exploring and creating mandalas. I love this book!” — Lori Bailey Cunningham, author, Mandala: Patterns of the Universe and Mandala: Journey to the Centre

The author on working with me: "Unconditional positive regard and presence are two qualities that every good therapist aspires to. When achieved, the counselor becomes a healer. What a delightful surprise to find that Naomi Rose excels in these attributes. Through being deeply listened to, I am starting to hear myself. Because of that, my relationship to writing has shifted to a level that will grow beyond the book project and inform the rest of my life. The book has become a bonus, and I am grateful.” — Clare Goodwin

If you have a book calling you to write it — whether it’s “just” a wish at this point, or you’ve already stepped into the writing but you don’t know what to do next to have it be an authentic expression of you — consider calling on me to be the midwife of the book that can only come out of you.

You can start by (any or all):

Subscribing to my weekly newsletter on “Writing from the Deeper Self” (sign-up form below).
Reading my books on the creative process —
- Starting Your Book: Navigating the Blank Page by Attending to What’s Inside you
- An Organic Approach to Structuring Your Book: A Right-Brained Alternative to Outlines
- 10 Essential Qualities That Help You Write a Book: Watering the Seeds of the Qualities You Need
Booking a complimentary 30-minute consultation with me to explore the book waiting in your heart.

Any way you’re drawn to do it, I can help you listen forth the book that wants to be known through you — and you will get to bloom, in the process.