Mandalas- The Beginning

One of my favorite and most relaxing things to do is create mandalas and then hand paint them. The process is a long one and worth it. It is fun to play with different shapes and designs and as no two mandalas come out the same. Not only do you get to play with design but you also get to play with color as well. Picking out which colors are going to bring your piece to life is a tricky one, especially if you have as much paint as I do. Trust the process though and if you do not like the color wait for it to dry and paint over it.

Mandalas have a rich history in Buddhism and Hinduism. They often symbolize spiritual growth, the universe and cosmic order. They represent the connection between the inner self and the outer world. They are a path towards enlightenment. Carl Jung had a more modern twist on mandalas and he believed that they symbolized the self and balance. For him the were symbols of wholeness and healing.

In our modern world, mandalas are used for meditation and mindfulness and relaxation. They can also be found in art therapy and as a way to express oneself. At the end of the day, mandalas are a symbol of balance and harmony. They show that everything is connected. I think that this idea of connection is what draws me to mandalas. No matter who we are or what we do, we are all connected in some way. Mandalas are a beautiful representation of this.

This is the beginning of one of my mandala pieces. It took me about three hours to draw the outlines but it is now ready for the paint stage.