January: The Power of One

We are stepping into 2026, and many of us can feel the tremor of a new era.

I spend a good amount of time in the metaphysical world, paying attention to how the seen and the unseen speak to each other. That is where I often find guidance.

This is what draws me to mandala making. The MARI Mandala to be more precise.

I’d love to take credit, but MARI stands for Mandala Assessment Research Instrument. It grew out of art making, symbolism, and a deep trust in the quieter parts of our inner life. Art therapist Joan Kellogg developed the MARI, drawing from the work of Carl Jung and from Stanislav Grof’s research with nonordinary states.

MARI includes twelve to thirteen stages, which pairs beautifully with the twelve months of the year.

January, the first month, carries the energy of number one. One is the individual, the beginning, and the spark of initiation. Think of a single acorn that holds the pattern of an oak tree. It is small, yet it contains a future that is much larger than itself.

Jung called “one” an archetype of unity. Philosophers have also spoken of the One as the essence of oneness. Psychologically, Jung believed we each touch this unity in early infancy. At that time, we were not yet divided into thinking, feeling, and sensing as separate functions. We were here, held in a field of being.

Ideally, that time is experienced as bliss, rest, and love. Adults may taste this again through spiritual awakenings, moments of deep connection, or great love.

There is another side to number one. It can also mean a strong, focused sense of self. This is different from the mystical experience of unity, yet it is just as valuable. A healthy ego helps us set boundaries, make choices, and begin.

The mandala itself is a circle that contains a center. It is a picture of oneness. When we create mandalas, we touch the feeling of unity, wholeness, and individuality. This is why making them can feel so calming. The image mirrors back to us that we exist, and that we hold many possibilities.

A gentle art invitation for January

• Draw a circle about the size of your palm.

• Place a single point or small symbol in the center. You might choose a seed, an acorn, a candle flame, or simply a dot.

• Add shapes or colors that feel like beginnings. Keep it simple.

• When you are done, sit with your mandala for one minute. Breathe.

Ask yourself

• What in me wants to begin this year?

• Where do I feel unity or a sense of being whole?

• What boundary or choice will protect my new beginning?

For those healing the mother wound, January invites a tender start. Let the circle hold you. Let the center remind you that you are here, and you are one. From that center, everything can grow.

Warmest, heartfelt wishes to you in the New Year.

Big love,

About the author

Mari Grande is a licensed Creative Arts Therapist, coach, and founder of Creative Healing Integration, Inc.
Through The Mandala Corner and her coaching programs, she helps people reconnect with creativity, clarity, and healing in everyday life.