Mandalas originated in Hinduism. In Buddhism, it is a form of prayer. The creation of a Mandala is the creation of a powerful energy field and is symbolic of the macrocosm and the miniature universe at the same time. The design of the Mandala was brought to Tibet by a Guru, around the 8th century. Mandalas could be created using different media, including textiles, sand, stones and even become layouts for buildings. Often, they would be destroyed after being created, due to the Buddhist philosophy that nothing is permanent and there should not be any attachments. The practice of creating a Mandala was a way to reach the meditative and enlightened state of the mind.

Created with geometric balance, Mandalas were used as a tool for divination, and a way to connect to the higher beings, with the Mandala becoming a palace for energy to enter. Each element placed into the Mandala has purpose and significance and can guide the meditator and assist their healing and enlightenment journey.

The layers of the Mandala also serve a purpose. The outer layer symbolises the Universe, the inner shows a path for the enlightened to follow, and the third layer being the connection between the body, mind and soul. It is also interesting that both creating mandalas and gazing at them are considered as forms of meditation. A psychologist named Carl Jung called mandalas “universal maps of the human subconscious” and “antidotes for the chaotic states of mind.”, as their circular shape was a symbol of the divine. Over time, the techniques and media used to create Mandalas have developed. Nowadays, people tend to draw them into a template of circles, and the creation of the Mandala is not always linked to spiritual practices.

I personally love drawing Mandalas, I use them as a tool for my spiritual practices, to express my feelings and as a form of art. Learning about colour theory and shape psychology, I create Mandalas with purpose.