Life is noisy, fast, and often overwhelming. Nature Mandalas for Busy Minds is like a deep breath of fresh air on a chaotic day. Tela Talise offers a beautifully crafted guide to mindfulness through nature-inspired mandalas, weaving together reflections, affirmations, and journaling prompts that encourage stillness and self-awareness. The book is about admiring mandalas and using them as tools for introspection, healing, and finding peace in a world that never slows down.

One of the things I absolutely loved about this book is its approach to mindfulness. It doesn’t preach or overcomplicate things. Instead, it gently invites you into a space of self-reflection. Talise starts by explaining her own journey—how art, nature, and mindfulness helped her through personal struggles, including postpartum depression. Her vulnerability in sharing this made the book feel deeply personal. The section “My Mandala Story” struck a chord deep in me, especially when she described realizing she had abandoned her creative passions for the sake of life’s obligations. How often do we forget to nurture the things that bring us joy?

Beyond personal storytelling, the book is structured in a way that encourages ongoing practice. Each mandala is paired with an intention—concepts like “Acceptance,” “Healing,” and “Patience”—alongside affirmations and journal prompts that make you pause and reflect. I found the “Lost Connections” section particularly powerful, where Talise discusses how we deal with relationships that fade or change over time. The affirmation, “I release the void created by farewells, welcoming the potential for new connections and growth,” felt like a necessary reminder that endings can be beginnings, too. The way she ties each theme to natural elements—like using dried roses and rosemary to symbolize memory—makes the experience feel so tangible, like you’re truly connecting with something beyond just words on a page.

What makes Nature Mandalas for Busy Minds so special is its accessibility. You don’t have to be an artist, a meditation expert, or someone with hours to dedicate to mindfulness. Talise makes it clear that even a few minutes of reflection—staring at a mandala, answering a question, repeating an affirmation—can be transformative. I tried her suggestion of flipping to a random page when seeking guidance, and it was almost eerie how spot-on it was. One night, overwhelmed with overthinking, I landed on the “Overthinking” mandala, which compared negative thoughts to weeds in a garden. The reminder to focus on “flowers” instead of “weeds” helped reframe my spiraling thoughts in a way I desperately needed.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a simple yet meaningful way to incorporate mindfulness into their daily life. If you find yourself constantly stressed, always in your head, or struggling to slow down, this book is for you. It’s also a perfect gift for someone going through a tough time—a gentle, nonjudgmental companion that reminds you to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with yourself.

Pages: 167 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DSC9GRKD