My mandala is a literal and mostly symbolic representation of who I perceive myself to be, known and unknown. The outermost area of my mandala represents the infinite hands that affect me and my being. Whether those are the cosmic hands of the universe or those closest to me. As my mandala approaches the center, you encounter the four main cornerstones of my character, the ways that people would describe me. A Purple carnation for spontaneity, a scribble ball for my anxiousness, a pair of masks for my flair for the dramatic/the arts, and an Irish Claddagh for my heritage, along with the love and loyalty I have for my friends and family. Within those four corners lie the ever-changing and evolving tides of my inner self, represented by the ocean. But reversely, that same ring serves as the sun. As the sun is the center of the universe, everything past this ring represents what signifies the center of my universe. Which is my religion (cross), my thirst for knowledge (book), my love for music (headphones), the role that love plays in my life(two locks), my hyper-awareness of time (hourglass), and my Hispanic heritage/history (polaroid photos). Holding up the forces I believe make me who I am, are 2 white figures. These figures were meant to signify all the people, ideas, and things that I have yet to name and identify as contributors to who I am. At the center is a silhouette of myself, to represent the infinite unknowns that dwell within me. Finally, there’s a black thread passing through all the layers of me, tying my individual being to the rest of the cosmos.