Memento Mori Mandala

The Memento Mori Mandala

Inspired by anatomical sketching practice sessions for the human skull from reference as part of my drafting practice, the Memento Mori emerged as a mandala of the realms of death and the underworld, where warmth and color fades to gray, and the corpselight burns eternal.

Victorian society would encourage themselves to take joy from their lives as they could by meditating on the Memento Mori, the Reminder of Death, to ensure that you never take the moment you have for granted.

This mandala explored the foundations of the Underworld while also showing the magical ladder of transformation and rebirth both natural and hermetic. And within center, an array of different skulls for beast and human and dinosaur alike.

Mythic connection to the ephemeral nature of life can sweeten the life you have left. This mandala inspires all to make the most of the time we are given.