So my friend recently inspired me to start taking Mandala classes. If you're not sure what I'm referring to, it's the patterned circles pictured below. It may just look like a series of intricate geometric-patterned circles but it's actually quite a complex and spiritual art form that stems from the Hindu and Buddhist religions. In fact it's an integral symbol in many Eastern cultures and is gradually infiltrating into the West. It's also a form of meditation and relaxation for some people as it helps to focus the mind. Even if you're not spiritual, it's a great creative outlet.



Mandala is the Sanskrit word for "circle" and the most basic form is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. Some people believe that through creating a mandala, you can establish a sacred space and access the depths of your unconscious. It represents the cosmos both symbolically and metaphysically and aids in identifying your emotional disorders and working towards wholeness in personality and the structure of life itself.



You don't have to be an artist to draw Mandalas but it helps to have an eye for color combinations and patterns. Every mandala is unique and a personal creation but I guess introductory classes definitely help and mandala teachers will guide you how to create them within a given structure and give you suggestions on how to create and color them. You start with drawing a perfect circle using a stencil of some sort and then building on it with patterns and coloring crayons, pencils or pens. Mandala artists are supposed to feel compelled to draw certain shapes or use certain colors so follow your heart and instincts. Similarly you will feel compelled to stop at certain times. Each mandala can take days to complete depending on the design. You soon get used to the process and you can start to have fun with it. I love working with lots of different colors.

If you want to reap the spiritual and meditation benefits, it's best to work on mandalas in silence in a quiet place or when listening to music and try to adopt some sort of meditation practice before and after. Breath normally and observe your breath without altering it.



Once you've finished a mandala, hang it somewhere where you can see it regularly (I like to put mine on the fridge). Set aside a few minutes every day to look at it and think about it and let it speak to you. I have to admit that I was a little cynical at first and it may sound far fetched that you can get all this from a diagram. I can't say that I've experienced any spiritual enlightenment yet but it certainly helps me to switch off and relax for a few hours and perhaps I am tapping into my unconscious on some level. On another level, I also just enjoy coloring in! Let me take a few more classes and I'll get back to you.