Happy Riḍván!
Dear Friends,
In honor of the Bahá'í festival of Riḍván, I am delighted to share with you an artwork that I designed inspired by this beautiful occasion. With love, I offer you this design as free downloadable coloring sheets in english, french and spanish (see below)! I hope that this coloring sheet brings you and your community joy. Read more about my artwork and inspiration below.
I would love to see how you color this design! Send me a photo or tag me on Instagram @artbymichelejubilee.
About this artwork:
Nature is used as a powerful symbol for inner transformation of mind and heart in the Bahá’í writings. This artwork explores a spiritual springtime of the soul, inspired by the memory of sitting in prayerful reflection in the Riḍván garden, and Bahá’u’lláh’s quote:
“In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love...”
What an opportunity we have to cultivate the gardens of our hearts, transforming not only our inner world but the world around us.
The figure in the artwork is being enveloped by foliage, emerging from, and melding into the natural environment, becoming one with a spiritual garden. The figure holds a bundle of roses, evoking a spiritual harvest, and a nod to the piles of roses that were placed in Bahá’u’lláh’s tent during His time in the Riḍván garden in 1863. The seat next to the figure is empty, an invitation to enter into the garden.
What does the garden of your heart look like?
Images of the Riḍván garden I took in 2015:
