Lessons from Coloring Mandalas
Creative Meditation and Soul Searching through Art
In this article, the reader will be introduced to Mandalas and the powerful use of this ancient art in meditation and creativity in their personal life.
Mandala translated from the original Sanskrit, means “circle” or “completion”. Mandalas are used in Hindu and Buddhist ceremonies. They are a tool for meditation in many cultures and are even becoming more popular in the Western world. In this article, we will discuss the uses for mandalas and lessons they can teach you.
Buddhist monks will painstakingly take hours, weeks and even months creating beautiful mandalas with colored sands. These beautiful sacred geometrical patterns will be used in ceremonies and then, in an instant, the sand will be thrown to the wind. Why? Because, the monks believe that only in giving up the mandala will the essence, the good energies be sent out into the world. To them, the mandala is more than simply art. It has a spiritual message born out of the hearts and consciousness of those who created it. So, in a sense, in tossing it to the wind, they are generously sharing the beautiful parts of themselves with the world around them.
Each mandala truly is a piece of artwork. They are composed within a circular (although sometimes invisible) frame and the designs within that frame are symmetrical. These designs range from simple to intricate and some have spiritual symbols within like the lotus flower, the yin-yang, monks in meditation, the Christian cross and Star of David. All are beautiful and can teach us lessons about ourselves and the world we live in.
Now, we all can have access to these beautiful creations and color them for ourselves. Websites like, http://www.junemoon.com/free.html offer free mandala coloring pages for those of all ages. They have many patterns in black and white for you to print off and color for yourself.
Susanne Fincher has written a couple of books in a series called Coloring Mandalas. In her books she gives history of the mandala as well as discusses their current uses. Then, she has dozens of beautifully designed mandala coloring pages, along with a description of what each mandala means. Each mandala is completely unique and artistically created. When you color them, you are injecting your own uniqueness, your own spirit into them.
In coloring your mandalas, you will be amazed at what you can learn about yourself, humankind and the divine. It is best to do this when you have time to truly focus on it. If you follow your mandala from the outside of the circle and gradually spiral in toward the center, you will become aware of your own beauty, creativity and essence. If you are going through a difficult time in life, focus on your mandala and ask, “What can I learn from this?” The answers are already inside you. Your mandala just helps to focus your mind and provide you with the truths you already know in your heart.
