About the Mind Anchor Logo
The Mind Anchor logo was created by my younger brother, Ben Lears. It began as an abstract sketch that Ben drew many years ago while I happened to be experiencing a very difficult and extreme state of mind. When I saw the sketch, I immediately saw a body with arms that were compassionately embracing a sphere representing the mind, all of which was connected to an anchor. For me, it was a depiction of my younger brother protecting and taking care of my vulnerable state of mind while I was experiencing the horror of groundlessness that often comes along with losing one's sanity.
I realized the paradoxical nature of it all because in the picture, the anchor is not anchoring into anything tangible or concrete, as the image seems to be floating in midair. Thus, I came up with the notion that we anchor our minds to concepts and ideas, which equally only exist within the mind. However, we can anchor our minds to concepts and ideas that foster acceptance, letting go, and compassion toward self and other. What we anchor the mind to may be different and unique for each individual, and they may also change in time for each individual. Therefore, anchoring the mind is a continuous process and practice.
Below are the original sketch and the final illustration placed next to each other. I like how the final version draws my attention to both the sphere and the anchor equally. The unblemished sphere represents the purity and clarity of mind, which both compliments and contrasts with the sharp, dark, and pointed anchor, representing stability.
