If you’ve been following me recently, you’ll notice I’ve been going a bit mandala mad recently. I simply can’t stop creating this images and each one speaks to me and gives me some much needed insight.
The word Mandala means both ‘center and circumference’ in Indian traditions and means ‘magic circle’ or ‘a complete cycle through time’ in Sanskrit. The creation and use of mandalas have been around since ancient time and they come in lots of different forms, from lots of different cultures. I especially like natures very own mandalas, of which you’ll find many when you look around you. But there are also carvings, buildings made in the shape of mandalas, paintings, medicine wheels and even things like the signs of the zodiac, the seasons on the year and the cycle of life itself are all thought to be mandalas in motion.
They are thought to symbolise the ‘Self’ and be a representation of the nature of our psyche. For this reason when working with mandalas we often have times of clarity, insight, understanding and connection with the sacred.
I think everyone is starting to realise how incredibly healing drawing mandalas, using colouring books or creating beautiful pieces of art actually is. When we are creating, we are present in the moment, we are not thinking about what happened in the past or what might happen in the future, we are just in the ‘now’. This is being mindful and thus healing without even trying. It brings down stress and anxiety, helps us heal and when you are finished you have created something beautiful. Really, what’s not to like??
What I love about what I do is teaching people how cheap, easy and fun it can be heal. The same goes for mandala’s, they don’t cost anything to create, help us get our emotions/troubles/fears/goals/passions out and they give us insight and greater awareness of our self and our life.
If you don’t feel ready to create your own mandala’s then check some of the beautiful adult colouring books that are out there now, or dust the knitting off, start some embroidery, doodle, play a musical instrument or sing a song! Whatever creative thing you choose to do your mind will thank you for it!
I love these mandala quotes:
The mandala can be considered as a chalice for receiving all the contents of consciousness – Joan Kellogg
Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference nowhere – Blaise Pascal
I’m running my first creative healing workshop at the end of this month (August 2015), where you will learn how to make non toxic candles and perfumes, have a lovely raw lunch and then spend all afternoon creating our own mandalas and learn how we can use these to live in health and harmony. I simply can’t wait to run this workshop, it’s going to be so much fun, help us grow and heal and encourage us to get out there and get creating!
For more information on this workshop check out my events page here.
I also made a short video about the workshop here.
Thinking about health coaching? Then feel free to book a free discovery call through my website here.
Check out my new book Living a Life Less Toxic (how to live in a less toxic mind, body, home and environment) here.
