“Mandalas” are patterns or designs which act as symbols of both the Universe and the Individual within a cohesive whole.  Examples of mandalas exist within every human culture on this planet and all throughout nature. 

    There are microscopic mandalas, such as the double helix of DNA, and mandalas so large we have very little awareness of their existence, like the earth (as viewed from outer space), or the spiral arms of the Milky Way galaxy.  Examples occurring in nature are: ice crystals, snowflakes, flowers, seashells and rock formations, among others.  The structural specifications of what constitutes a “mandala” are by no means absolute.

    Native American, African, ancient European and Pacific Island cultures, as well as the modern-day global culture, have all used sacred symbols in ritual and communication.  In Hindu and Buddhist religious ceremonies, mandalas have been used for centuries as pictorial representations of the cosmos, to help explain the role of human beings and teach the path toward harmony.  The ritualistic intensity and discipline with which the monks create (and destroy) these mandalas ensures  that they will receive the greatest understanding and skill in this endeavor.  The nature of these ancient eastern mandalas is very specific, with each segment relating to a particular manifestation of God within the Universe.  Mandalas of all kinds are becoming increasingly accepted in Western cultures (whose predominant philosophies have long denied their relevance) thanks in large part to the work of C.G. Jung, who created mandalas for personal growth, as well as incorporating them into his work with patients in the field of psychotherapy.

What Constitutes a Mandala?

    A pattern

    An image that helps create transformation (connection, integration)

    A geometric (circular, spiral, elliptical, rectangular, polygonal or irregular) form

    A symmetrical design

    A representation or symbol of something else, such as the “self” or the “cosmos.”

    A tool for meditation, empowerment or healing.

    A pathway for light.

    A focal point

    A visual mantra

    A tool for channeling of the divine energy

My Approach

    The healing images that I use in my work are derived from a variety of global cultures & personal experiences, as well as my own inner visualization and creativity.  The title of each image is in fact the healing intention it represents.  Each of these energetic Healing Mandalas have been created with a purpose, using the focused power of INTENTION.

    Although the finished image is what’s most commonly associated with the term “mandala,” a great deal of the healing power lies in the process of creation - the preparation and construction of the finished product.

    The term “mandala” comes from the Sanskrit, meaning “circle,” but can also  be translated as “Self,” and/or “Universe.”  The energy of mandalas can work on many levels, as a symbol of the physical, spiritual, emotional and mental aspects of one’s being.  Many of the designs draw on the awareness of “archetypes,” the term Jung and other psychoanalysts have used to describe images and concepts present in every individual thanks to the collective unconscious of the entire species of humankind.  These archetypes can be as simple as a feeling of maternal energy, a basic shape such as the circle or triangle, the shadow (representing obstacles or fears that challenges us), or the feeling one gets from a particular shade of blue.

    Because mandalas draw so heavily on archetypal energy, they contain clues not only to information regarding the individual being, but that being’s relationship with the other beings in its environment, its species, and the Universe as well.   Practical applications in mandala work arise more from the artistic realm than the scientific.  Interpretations can be less effective or often altogether ineffective when interpreted by means of intellect.  Ideally, these designs will allow the spiritual forces to bypass hindrances that our intellect places around ourselves for the purpose of protection.  The harmony that a well-intentioned and well-designed mandala creates makes that intellectual protection unnecessary.

    Interacting visually with the completed image is a key point in the transformation or growth process.  This is important whether you design a mandala yourself, guided by your own intuition and constructed on the basis of what you set as the specific altruistic intent, or when a mandala is designed for you by a qualified facilitator.   Allow yourself to meditate (or focus for a short length of time) on the image itself, and let your intuition guide you.  What emotions or sensations do the colors make you feel?  Does gazing at the design conjure up recollections, visualizations or feelings of any kind?  Take note of what attracts your eye and which portions of the design you seem to avoid.  See if you can detect a pattern of movement.  Count things, compare for symmetry.  Notice and be aware, without necessarily feeling the need to interpret, analyze, correct or change.

Which colors and color combinations appeal to you most?

Which ones don’t you like?

What shapes do those colors form?

What is their location within the image as a whole?

    The visible spectrum of light consists of energy having wavelengths of between approximately 400 and 700 nanometers (1/trillionth of a meter).  This range accounts for only a tiny fraction of the entire electromagnetic spectrum, yet every day, it bombards each of us with millions of pieces of information.

    All frequencies of electromagnetic energy move at the same speed (approximately 300,000,000 meters per second). Thus, colors with shorter wavelengths vibrate at a higher frequency and colors with longer wavelengths vibrate at a lower frequency.  Color frequencies range from about 430 to 740 trillion cycles per second (TeraHertz).

    Brain function is altered by sensory input. Each wavelength of visible light exhibits properties that our brains respond to in different ways.  Rainbow colors regulate the endocrine system to stimulate or suppress production of the hormones that govern our most complex and vital functions.

    However, the brain is not the only part of our physical bodies that can perceive color.  Light particles are so small that they can actually penetrate into our cells, effecting changes on a molecular level.

    Theories relating particular colors to various emotions, archetypes and themes in our daily life are as numerous as specific color frequencies themselves.

    Light frequencies in the visible spectrum can be effective on a cellular level precisely because the size of their wavelengths is proportional to the sizes of intracellular material.  Evidence suggests that our eyes developed sensitivity to light for this reason.

   Figure-Ground (foreground/background) relationships often indicate important interactions within yourself and with your environment.  Is the design symmetrical, or loosely symmetrical?  Is it mirror-image symmetry, four-fold, eight-fold (balanced) or an odd-numbered radial symmetry?  Four-fold symmetry may correspond with the anatomical structure of the body, with the top representing the head, the bottom representing the feet and the sides representing each hand, so this might give you some insight into your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies as well.

    The central point of a mandala design is generally accepted to represent the innermost core of the individual, in contrast with the outer edges, which represent the periphery.  People who do not wish to confront their innermost being will often depict or perceive chaos at the center, whereas those who have trouble with relationships may be distracted or repelled by the colors and forms that surround the comfortable inner space.

    In ancient Hindu interpretations of the mandala, it was beneficial to approach the image from the outside edges and proceed toward the center.  As you penetrate through each layer or segment, you incorporate that aspect of the cosmos into your being or your awareness, working toward a catharsis at the center.  People who practice taoist breathing techniques might allow their awareness to dissolve outwards as they breathe out, and bring their focus inward to the center as they inhale.

    The techniques you employ during a mandala session are limited only by your imagination.  Nothing you do is “wrong” per se.

    Keep in mind that mandalas are symbolic, not literal.  Your internalization of the information and energy they contain is more effective as you let go of consciousness and intellect.  Following a rigid set of rules or expecting exact answers or immediate gratification in this endeavor may lead you to disappointment.

    When you feel the urge to express yourself, or you wish to experience energetic shifts in your day-to-day life, these images can channel tremendous power, so learn how to operate them!

    What follows are lists of common colors, numbers and geometric forms that may appear in mandalas.  These lists are by no means comprehensive.  The characteristics listed are just a few generally.  Your personal experience with specific colors, numbers and forms are often much more specific, personalized and useful.

A short list of possible color significance in mandalas:

Red

anger, passion, blood, action, fire, love, rage, pressure

Orange

warmth, pursuit of enlightenment, autumn, gender relationships, ambition, sensitivity, compassion

Yellow

illumination, clarity, personal power (will), consciousness, individuality, bright sunshine, stubbornness

Green

growth, renewal, calm, emotional balance, fertility, inexperience, harmony, fertility, envy, cleansing

Blue

communication, creativity, peace, coolness, water, sky, melancholia

Violet

royalty, ecstasy, spirituality, transformation, imagination, swelling

Brown

earth, fertility, blending of colors, conflict, autumn, hesitancy, excrement

White

purity, snow, emptiness, heaven, enlightenment, virginity, the moon.

Black

nighttime, the void, the shadow, fear, ignorance, suffocation, drowning, mystery,m death, meditation.

Grey

neutrality, temperance, gloom

Numerology and geometric form in mandalas:

The circle maximizes area within a perimeter.  It represents the Universal wheel which is always moving and the cycles of life which continue throughout time.  Its numerical identity is one, but it contains aspects of all numbers and all ratios.

The crescent symbolizes fertility and the creative power in Nature. 

The triangle is related to trinity, unity, change and convergence.  Its sacred number is three.

The star is a symbol of transcendence and the heavenly incarnation of individual form.  It is usually associated with the numbers five or six, but can actually have as few as three and up to an infinite number of points.

The heart is the source of emotional bounty and the center of moral strength.

The figure-eight is a symbol for infinity.  It invokes the awesome power of unlimited imagination.  It stands for Universal harmony and balance.

The cross merges the vertical (governed by the force of gravity) with the horizontal (determined by the curved plane of earth).

The yin-yang symbol shows that from there can be harmony in duality and that, from the number two, all things expand and contract alternately.

The square is one of the most basic elements of Western society.  We often regard it as supremely stable.  It represents quaternity and equality, but can also be defined as rigid and unnatural.  The cardinal number associated with the square is four.

The spiral is a symbol of vortex energy, a target, and cyclical processes.

Animals, plants (such as trees), natural phenomena (like rain, snow and rainbows) may also appear in mandalas.  Their meaning may be symbolic or literal.

Ritual Space Healing Arts   ©2009