Dung Balls (really)

"The scarab rolls his pellet, and life is born in it as an effect of nondispersed work of spiritual concentration. Now, even in manure an embryo can develop and cast his "terrestrial" skins, why would the dwelling of our celestial heart not be able to generate a body too, if we concentrate our spirit on it?"

-Taoist belief found at insects.org.

dung beetle from Wikipedia Creative Commons

Scarabs/beetles were used as religious symbols in prehistoric Shamanism, Buddhism, Taoism and Judeo-Christianity. They were also found in imagery throughout ancient Egypt, Greece, India, and Iran. One of the basic reasons why I think beetles/scarabs were used so universally, is because of their dung balls. Yes, my whole premise is based on poo....but they roll these balls made out of feces, larger than themselves, and then they implant their little scarab embryos inside for the gestation period. New life out of a ball of refuse, no wonder they are credited with being the creators in most of the above mentioned cultures.



(They don't know it yet, but one of the three mandalas I send this Tuesday will have a scarab/dung ball connection, and the above quote inside the package. Head's up for one of you.)

Please check back late next week for more updates on the progress of these mandalas!