Astrolabe Mandala

Last year I got interested in medieval navigational instruments, particularly astrolabes. Their forms were intricate and exotic. I drew several of them for my "Dreamscape" series, using whimsical interpretations. Because they are generally circular I decided it would be fun to include one in my mandala series.
The constellations along the ecliptic were critical to navigation and usually inscribed in the instruments. I included them along the edge of this mandala created from artemisia foliage.