Join Daniel Docherty and Sheetle Shah for this practical two-day course exploring sacred pattern and the art of henna.

On the first day of the course Daniel will give an overview of the practice and philosophy of Mandalas from various traditions.

Participants will be introduced to certain key characteristics and significant symbolism inherent within traditional Mandalas. We will learn how to construct a some of these sacred patterns using the traditional tools of compass and straightedge.

Sheetle, a henna artist with 20 years of experience with this traditional art form, will guide participants through the processes of making and preparing henna paste ‘from scratch’. You will learn how to apply intricate patterns to paper, hands or feet depending on your preference! Henna is a natural pigment with remarkable staining qualities. You will learn how it is traditionally applied to hands and feet during festivals and celebrations; today, henna is also applied for ‘belly blessings’, cosmetic tattoos, semi-permanent face painting, hair dye and has developed many other creative roles.