When talking on the phone, at a lecture, or at a meeting, many of us thoughtfully draw circles on a piece of paper. It turns out that such pictures have a hidden meaning. These mandalas are ancient sacral symbols that help you learn how to meditate, practice mindfulness or unravel the signals of the Universe.
It turns out that the concentrated immersion in yourself is no different from bowling: the more you practice, the better it turns out. An assistant in this is the images of the mandala and the colored pencils. We tell what a mandala is and how it returns to a happy childhood.
What is a mandala
Mandala is enclosed in a circle sacred symbol of harmony, unity, integrity of the universe, the world and man in this world. Translated from Sanskrit "mandala"means"a circleor “sphere.” But this is not a simple drawing, but a mystical diagram that contains geometric figures and images of deities depicted in the language of symbols. It can be read, studied, examined, repeated and memorized for the next reproduction.
The mandala is depicted as an outer circle in which a square is inscribed, which includes internal circles. The sacred image is placed in the inner circle.. The figure implies a clear symmetry with a pronounced center, personifies the movement from the periphery to the center in order to distinguish the true from the visible.
Mandala likes to draw nature itself. This blooming flowers of daisies or sunflowers, shells, snowflakes, tree rings, cobwebs or circles from drops on the water.
What are mandalas
Images are flat (two-dimensional) and three-dimensional (three-dimensional). Flat paint on paper or canvas, embroider, create from sand, thread, marble chips, flowers or precious stones. Volumetric cut out of oil or from a single piece of wood.
Today mandalas are used for religious or psychological purposes:
- Ritual - This is a meditation tool, which is called "frozen prayers." They have a deep philosophical meaning, accessible only to the elect.
- Personal - depicted in the process of art therapy, psychotherapy or needlework. Interesting to people of different worldviews, religions, professions.
Personal mandalas are created with a specific purpose:
- Desires. During creativity, a person asks a higher power to fulfill his plans. Usually they ask for love, money, health, energy. Ready-made mandalas are used as charms.
- Therapeutic Mandalas. These are ready-made images for contemplation or coloring mandalas for stress relief. Colors for them are chosen for a reason - every shade has its own purpose.
The history of the image of the "mandala"
Since ancient times, the circle has been identified with the deity. He was worshiped, embroidered on clothes and painted with special rituals. Many religious events began with the lighting of the circle, the ancient shrines fit into the circle. Shaman tambourines and ritual Chinese bronze mirrors have a round shape. Each ancient culture used the image of a circle, but did it for different tasks.
Historical and cultural the origins of the mandala, scientists interpret differently. The most ancient images in caves or on stones symbolized the worship of the Sun and the Moon. If you do not go into long explanations, the mandala for ancient people symbolized the picture of the world.
It is believed that the woven mandala originally from Mexico. Large and complex images learned to weave for years. Moreover, the work with his hands could be overcome quickly, but only a select few achieved spiritual enlightenment during the ritual. The native inhabitants of North America, the Navajo Indians, have an ancient rite of purification with the help of sand mandalas. During the ritual with songs and dances, the spirits are summoned to the center of the circle and cure mental or physical illnesses of the person.
In Vedic rituals, mandalas symbolized the four sides of the world enclosed in a circle. Later a part of the Hindu culture of the mandala turned into Buddhism and became one of the main sacred symbols of Buddhist mythology. The monks create complex and picturesque images for months and thus convey all the subtleties of the Buddhist view of the world.
The ancient centric image of the Sun Yaryla as a symbol of the victory of light over darkness is one of the most famous Slavic mandalas. In pre-Christian culture, the image was applied to fabric, metal, and stone. Mandalas-wards "God's Eye" wove their branches of trees and hung out near the entrance to the house in order not to let negative energy into the dwelling.
Mandalas in psychotherapy
The concept of the mandala was introduced into psychotherapy by the founder of analytical psychology, Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961). Jung noticed that in difficult periods of a person’s life, he unconsciously begins to draw circles or sees their images in a dream in the form of labyrinths or spirals. In his opinion, these images help to balance the spiritual and material worlds of man. The center of the mandala is the center of personality or the source of psychic energy in which psychological opposites converge.
Today, the Buddhist sacral symbol is used in the techniques of personal development. The practice of contemplating or creating a mandala is the easiest exercise to begin a journey into your inner world.
Diagnostic
Therapists use diagnostic mandalas to meet a new client or to work with children. When a person first enters the office of a psychotherapist, it is difficult for him to immediately tell about the hidden or accurately formulate a request. Coloring a mandala with colored pencils is more like a game. The client relaxes and draws, and the therapist then deciphers the drawing.
The interpretation takes into account the colors used and their location relative to each other, the hue of the frame, going beyond the boundaries of the image, the center of the picture and even the facial expression of the client during work. You can conduct a kind of psychotherapy session to yourself. For this you will need:
- Soft colored pencils, crayons, paints or felt-tip pens.
- Ball pen and blank paper.
- Ready mandala for coloring
- Time and mood.
How to start working:
- Sit back, relax, take a few deep breaths.
- Work as you like - in silence or turn on soft music.
- While working, try to concentrate only on the figure.
- Be sure to note your thoughts, emotions, mood. Write everything on a clean sheet.
When you are done, think about your thoughts and images that have surfaced in your mind. Try to interpret your drawing. Decoding options are many. Here are some of them:
- Center of the picture - this is a deep unconscious. Its color, border, size represent your inner self at this moment. Two centers speak of internal conflict. If there is no center at all, your “I” is in the stage of transformation or rethinking.
- Boundaries - this is your ability to maintain a distance in society. Too dense or dark talk about cautious attitude towards others, the need for self-defense. Extraverts, who derive energy from constant communication, are more likely to have subtle boundaries.
- Symmetry pattern - this is the feminine and the masculine. Strong asymmetry speaks about experiences, unexpressed emotions, internal imbalance.
Mandala in psychotherapy is a kind of mirror that reflects the inner state of its creator. Each work is unique and unrepeatable, so for a deep analysis of the picture it is better to turn to an experienced therapist.
Therapeutic
In art therapy, ready-made mandalas are used for coloring - whole albums and books for adults and children or ready-made templates from the Internet. This good exercise helps to calm down, listen to yourself, rethink what is happening. What happens during work:
- Small stroke movements of the brush reduce emotional stress.
- Favorite color combinations cause positive emotions and memories.
- Symmetrical pattern with a clear center gives a sense of balance, harmony.
- Returning to childhood, when everything was easier and clearer, helps to clear the emotional background, to forget for a few hours.
- During work, the brain is immersed in a meditative state and itself finds a solution to exciting issues.
If desired, art therapy can be combined with aromatherapy. Natural essential oils of juniper, mint, lavender, geranium are ideal for combating stress.
Findings:
- Mandala is a map of our inner world.
- Images of circles everywhere are the Earth and the Sun, snowflakes, flowers and iris.
- Mandalas in psychotherapy - a tool of self-knowledge, with which you can identify mental problems and just relax.
