Mandalas have been used for thousands of years in Eastern cultures such as Hinduism and Buddhism. The word itself is means circle in Sanskrit, they symbolise the universe itself and are considered the form of perfection, harmony and infinity.
Psychoanalyst Carl Jung brought the mandala to the Western World. He was amazed by their ability to promote personal growth and clarity. Recent studies argue that five minutes of colouring is just as effective as traditional meditation.
Meditation
Colouring a mandala is an active meditation. When focusing on this task, thoughts are easily able to pass by. We are able to tap into our subconscious mind and let go. Colouration as it’s been coined, enables you to practise mindfulness by being in the present moment. Choose colours intuitively, each has its own meaning you can unlock.
Relaxation
The simple act of colouring is reminiscent of childhood. Repetitive simple patterns have a calming effect on the mind and help reduce worries and stress. Feel the woes of adulthood peel away and enhance creativity. It’s also a great way to unwind at the end of the day.
Exercise
Silatha would like to offer you a beautiful mandala to colour yourself and feel the benefits. Try this exercise before colouring to boost the power of the exercise.
- Close your eyes, take a deep breath through the nose and count to four. Hold you breath, then slowly exhale through the mouth. Repeat three times. hold it a little bit
- Make an intention to relax and listen to your heart while colouring.
- Stay with this idea as long as you need, when you’re ready open your eyes and come back to the present moment.
- Start colouring the mandala, choosing colours intuitively and allowing your mind to be still
Stop reading this article here. When your mandala is fully coloured come back and read the interpretation below.
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Unleashing your inner truth
Once you finished colouring your Mandala, it’s time for interpretation. The art of drawing and colouring taps into our subconscious mind and can tell us a lot. The colours used symobolise our inner needs.
Look at the colours you’ve used predominantly and reflect on how this fits with where you are at.
- Red - safety, grounding, abundance
- Orange - creativity, emotions, social relationships, beauty
- Yellow - drive for power, will, energy, control, rationality
- Green - love, trust, hope, balance, compassion
- Blue - communication, self-expression, listening, speaking, writing
- Indigo - intuition, imagination, clarity
- Purple - alignment, serenity, transformation, spirituality
- Brown - grounding, stability, family
- Black - mystery, wisdom, individuality
- White - purity and spirituality
Having taken time to understand this symbolism, use it as a starting point for growth. Think about what areas of your life need your attention and set goals to move your life in the direction you wish.