Mandalas

In Sanskrit, the word "mandala" means "circle". The shape represents wholeness and is present throughout nature -- from the spiral of the nautilus shell to the rings of a tree trunk or even the shapes of the Sun and Moon. Some mandalas have an intricate pattern that spirals around a central image. Other mandalas, like labyrinths, appear as circular mazes whose paths lead to the center of the circle then out again.

Mandalas are often associated with Buddhist and Hindu culture but the truth is Mandalas appear in diverse cultures around the world. Like Buddhist monks, the Navajo, make mandalas from multi-colored sands. The Taoist Yin-Yang symbol is another form of a mandala. There are even mandalas in Christian culture including the Chartres Labyrinth in the Chartres Cathedral in France.

Mandalas: Therapeutic Uses
Mandalas have long been used as a form of meditation. Making an intricate mandala requires a lot of concentration. By focusing on the mandala, you can clear your mind, reduce stress and enter a relaxed state. Making a mandala can also act as a form of art therapy where you tap into your internal feelings and allow the images and shapes to tell a story.

Pilgrims to the Chartres Cathedral have long followed the labyrinth as a devotinal and meditative practice. It takes a fair degree of concentration to follow the winding paths to the center and following the labyrinth serves the same purpose as drawing the mandala -- it allows you to clear your mind, focus and enter a more relaxed state.

Entering a relaxed state opens the mind and allows you to reach a higher level of consciousness. Alternative medicine practitioners may use mandalas to help their clients reach a more receptive state. The more receptive the client, the more effective the healing.