Without even realizing it, you might have made a mandala before.
Ever cut out snowflakes as a kid?
Or maybe doodled a complex repetitive pattern in a notebook?
What are mandalas?
A mandala is an arrangement of simple shapes repeated in a circular pattern.
(Mandalaactually comes from the Sanskrit word for “circle.")
The first mandalas were thought to be created by Buddhist monks during the first century B.C.
They quickly spread throughout Asia to Tibet, China, and Japan, too.
These works of art are then swept upthe sand blended and poured into a river.
This might seem tragic, but it helps us remember that everything is temporary.
We can appreciate beauty in front of us without missing it when it is gone.
What do mandalas represent?
Most mandalas we see today are not necessarily religious or in line with any particular spiritual background.
In this sense, mandalas represent the journey of life and the path toward wisdom and self-actualization.
How to draw mandalas of your own.
Drawing mandalas can be a very calming and meditative experience.
You don’t need to give yourself rules or judge the finished creation.
Simply start from the center and work your way out.
Start small, move slowly, and be kind to yourself.
Let mandala drawing take you to a quieter and more peaceful place.
If you’re more of a visual learner,here’s a video that illustrates how it’s done.
The idea is to zone out and letyourself enter a creative flow state.
