Mandala Moments

I began drawing free hand mandalas quite a few years ago now and fell in love with the process. I have always enjoyed drawing, although drawing mandalas somehow enabled me to really get lost in the actual process of creating, free from thought and completely detached from the outcome. I found this process liberating, freeing, incredibly satisfying and enjoyable.

The word mandala, translates to circle in Sanskrit. Mandalas are generally geometric designs that radiate out from a central point and are thought to represent the universe, wholeness and spiritual unity. They often consist of repeating patterns, colour themes and symbols, and are both beautiful and unique. They hold great symbolic and spiritual significance for the creator and can act as a mediative bridge between the inner self and the outer world.

We only need to look around us to realise that the circle is a fundamental and recurring shape that is everywhere in nature, and which symbolises wholeness, unity and the infinite cycle of life, along with the organisation of the universe. The circle’s perfect shape has been revered by ancient cultures across the globe and has served as a sacred and divine muse throughout time.

I have mentioned in a previous post that I am interested in the work of Carl Jung and have utilised his concepts along my healing journey. Mandala drawing is one such tool that I have adopted and used throughout my life, which has bought great clarity, peace and joy to my life. Jung believed that the process of creating mandalas had a therapeutic effect on those who draw them, and that the circle actually represented the psyche. He believed that through the process of drawing mandalas, one could return to unity, balance and harmony by bringing into alignment the polarity of opposites within the self, and I have found this to be true in my personal experience.

After I begun drawing my own mandalas on a regular basis, I found that it did indeed bring a sense of peace, unity and clarity to my mind and consciousness. I became increasingly intrigued and began to discover an interesting correlation between my journaling, intentions, goals and inner vision, as I moved further along my path. I was unmistakably directed forward in a positive, and profound way.

I found the process of beginning my drawings in the centre, and continuing out from there, was very relaxing and mediative, with each layer morphing into the next with gentle ease and grace. Seeing the drawing through to completion in one sitting also really appealed to me. I love getting carried away in the creative process, and often describe this feeling as being lost in space, because my mind somehow shuts off to awareness, and the flow state I experience in that moment, is utterly blissful. I just lose track of time, and eventually find myself coming back once my drawing is done. I am completely unattached to the outcome which is freeing and enjoyable, and it fills me with a childlike sense of wonder and awe discovering what reveals itself to me from deep within.

Creating in this way is defiantly a practice in presence and mindfulness, and helps me in many different ways. I feel deeply connected to myself and my emotional landscape as I allow whatever is within to come forth without judgement or ridicule. This is indeed a catharsis of sorts, and a dedicated time to hold space for creative and emotional exploration in a way that is both active and passive. I feel it brings the right and left hemispheres of my brain into cohesion, and helps me to feel both relaxed and energised, as my nervous system harmonises. It is extremely beneficial and worthwhile to my overall sense of wellbeing and mental clarity and I would encourage anyone interested, to give them a go.

As I continue to create mandalas, I notice correlations between my outer and inner world. As my life continues to changes, grow and transform, my life comes into alignment and better reflects my uniqueness, authenticity and inner vision. I feel like I’m on purpose and life feels fulfilling, meaningful and joyous. Even with it’s constant up’s and downs, I feel a steady sense of deep peace and gratitude inside.

I literally create because I feel an inner calling to release something internal. I guess it’s kind of like when an oyster gets a grain of sand inside it’s shell, and it produces a pearl in the process of trying to remove it. It’s like the creative force ignites something inside me that requires release, otherwise it just irritates the crap out of me. I choose my colours instinctively and without much thought, and don’t plan anything, nor have any preconceived ideas about what it will look like. It honestly doesn’t matter to me. What I’m interested in and intrigued by, is the unfolding of the process. That literally applies to my creativity in general. I suddenly have a spark of inspiration in the form of an idea, a subject or emotion, and that’s it. From there, I take that creative energy, and hold space for it to reveal whatever is inside.

I feel pleasantly detached from the opinions of others and create purely for the release of that creative spark, which often arises at the most inopportune times. I share my creativity because I don’t hold shame anymore, and feel uninhibited to express myself freely. I am truly grateful for this gift of personal liberation and self-mastery. As many souls continuing to struggle and suffer along their own healing journey, I hope in sharing what has helped me, others may be able to benefit in some small way. This is my contribution to collective unity.

I love drawing mandalas because they give me an outlet for my inner landscape and are a beautiful way to connect spiritually. They provide a snapshot into my life trajectory and move me steadily toward my inner vision. I love to play with colour as it relates to my chakras, emotions and the seasons of my life. My mandalas are organic, fluid and asymmetrical, which I believe reflects my great respect for, and value of, imperfection and the contrasts in life.

They are a practical, peaceful and deliberate way to create something unexpected, progressive and meaningful. You might like to give one a try sometime and discover something fun and unexpected in the process.

Thanks for reading.