What is "MANDALA"?

What is a Mandala?
A mandala is a sanskrit word meaning 'sacred' or 'magic circle'. Psychologist Carl Jung introduced mandala's into western thought. He noticed his patients often spontaneously created circular drawings. Jung also began drawing his own mandala's in 1916 and noticed that they somehow corresponded to his inner situation, feelings, and thoughts. Jung realized that these circular drawings were therapeutic, first to draw, then to look at.

 

Jung finally arrived at the conclusion that the self, the wholeness of the personality, is reflected in the mandala. Mandala images emerge spontaneously as a sign of change or transformation and are also associated with a feeling of wholeness, growth, and birth of something new.

Hence creating mandala's are also a way of opening up to our inherent creativity, a particular quality everyone has, and that is not only connected to our ability to draw and paint, but also to the capacity to create our life moment after moment in joy and freedom.

 

Carl Jung and Mandala

Mandala is a graphical representation of the center (the Self for Jung). It can appear in dreams and visions or it can be spontaneously created as a work of art. It is present in the cultural and religious representations.

Examples of mandala can be found in all the ancient cultures. We find it in Christianity under the form of frescos with animal images representing apostles (and the zodiac). The astrologic zodiac and its versions are examples of mandala. Also, in the Indian spiritual practices we find fascinating examples of mandala, with symbols of the local pantheon.

In the yoga practices mandala can be a support for meditation or an image that must be internalized through mental absorption. This image organizes the inner energies and forces of the practitioner and puts them in relationship with his ego.

Generally speaking a mandala is a geometrical form - a square or a circle - abstract and static, or a vivid image formed of objects and/or beings.

In our dreams the mandala indicates the phenomenon of centering the individual psychic in which the ego reconsiders its (dominant) position through the assimilation of the collective unconscious contents (symbols or archetypal images).

Benefits of Create & Color Mandalas

People who color mandalas often experience a deep sense of calm and well-being. It's a simple tool that doesn't require any expertise, but it can be remarkably soothing and nourishing. Mandalas not only focus your attention, but allow you to express your creative side, which many of us neglect in our daily lives.

Who Should Attend Mandala Workshop?

 

Anyone who has suffered deep, personal loss and wants better tools for being present with and honoring grief while moving forward into the new possibilities offered by any major life transition. Applicable for men and women who have done some personal growth work and bring a level of maturity and self-awareness to the program. This program is not a substitute for clinical therapy for the treatment of severe trauma, PTSD, clinical depression, etc. The focus is personal exploration and development with emphasis on the spiritual.