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Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Our Mandala
The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in preparation for
the 1994 dedication of Mercy International Centre wished
to emphasise unity in great diversity and submitted four
seasonal and regional mandalas.
In the one pictured here, the evergreen trees are typical
of the north of the U.S., the colours being those of
winter.
The four mandalas
1. Western U.S. The Saguaro and Prickly
Pear cactus plants are typical of the 1and, the co1ors
being of the sun and
desert. A Native American weaving using earth colours represents
the peoples and cultures of the many Native American Nations
living there. The chrysanthemum design represents the Orienta1
people and culture enriching the U.S.
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2. Southern U.S. The Cabbage palm and Palmetto plant are
indigenous to the South, which is also sun-lit and hot. The
serape in brilliant colours is representative of the Hispanic
people and culture. The go1d and b1ack kinte cloth comes
from the African-American people and culture.
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3. Eastern U.S. In this rondel, the Sugar
Maple and its brilliant Autumn foliage are typical of the
Eastern part
of the U.S. Here, a1so, is a Native American rug design
representative of the cultures and peop1es of the eastern
groups.
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| 4. Northern U.S. The Evergreen trees are typical of the
north of the U.S., the colours being those of Winter. Behind
the evergreen is a patchwork quilt representing the peoples
of Europe and their descendants who brought many of their
customs and variations of culture to North America. The patchwork
quilt, in another sense, stands for all of the people and
cultures of the U.S., each piece unique and vital to the
design of the whole. |
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