5 Benefits Of Mandalas

Do you already know the benefits of mandalas? The word mandala comes from Sanskrit and means “sacred circle”. These representations in the form of circles are used in different cultures such as Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and in some indigenous tribes, as an artistic element or as a means for the person to meet oneself.

According to the beliefs of some cultures, mandalas are related to the energies of life. For example, in Eastern cultures each color is believed to be associated with a chakra. These energy centers are connected with our being, with the environment, and support our well-being. Therefore, mandalas also favor us. They are a wonderful technique that brings us great benefits.

Main benefits of mandalas

Mandalas promote relaxation

Drawing and coloring mandalas helps with concentration;  therefore, they are an excellent exercise in calming the feeling of stress and clearing the mind. Some of the benefits of mandalas are as follows:

• They provide balance.
• They bring peace and serenity.
• Looking at them gives a feeling of tranquility.
• They help with concentration.
• They facilitate mindfulness.
• They allow you to let go of thoughts and let creativity flow.
• The arrangement of the figures conveys a feeling of balance.

Mandalas are designed to free us from worries because they favor concentration in the present moment. Therefore, they are a powerful relaxation tool.

deep connection

Mandalas facilitate the connection with our deep self, thus promoting self-knowledge. They are a wonderful exercise in reflecting on our place in the world and the relationships we have with others.

These artistic representations encourage us to connect with our deepest strengths and the universe through the energies that flow with every shape and color.

Mandalas, on the other hand, are a form of meditation that helps us focus our attention. In this way, they promote harmony, because through their shapes and colors, energies flow, transforming negative aspects into positive ones, bringing balance to our lives.

We cannot forget that the arrangement of the designs of the mandalas from the center to the outside  allows the person to connect, release, rebuild and relate. All this through the projection and selection of colors and figures.

Creativity

Mandalas are an artistic representation of free design, that is, we can draw them as we like. Now, if we don’t want to draw them, we can also buy coloring books and notebooks. As we see, there are many options.

An interesting aspect of mandalas is that they are related to creativity because they allow you to use colors and shapes with complete freedom. In other words, they facilitate the creative process and are a source for generating new ideas. Furthermore, each figure and color represents unconscious aspects of the person. Some of its meanings are as follows:

• Red: passion, sensuality, strength, power and aggressiveness. First chakra.
• Orange: pleasure, glory, vanity, progress and energy. Second chakra.
• Yellow: joy, desire and novelty. Third chakra.
• Green: hope, self-control and nature. Fourth chakra.
• Blue: tranquility, seriousness, respect and communication. Fifth chakra.
• Violet: meditation, creativity and oscillation. Sixth chakra.
• White: peace, harmony, kindness, gentleness and shyness. Seventh chakra.
• Black: depth, mystery, authority, dignity, security, sadness and grief.
• Circle: dynamism and connection to the cosmos.
• Cross: unconscious and conscious, union of heaven and earth.
• Triangle: transformation and vitality.
• Square: stability and balance.
• Labyrinth: search for the center itself.

Mandalas to decorate

Mandalas can also be used to decorate our home or workplace. Some decorative ideas are as follows:

• Paint mandalas on stones and use them as ornamental objects.
• Weave a mandala and use it as a blanket.
• Put a mandala tapestry on the wall.
• Make decorative frames.

Therapeutic benefits

Mandalas were recognized in psychology as a therapeutic element. Swiss psychologist Carl Jung suggested that they are representations of our mind that facilitate concentration, transformation and assimilation of unconscious aspects. He believed that we can project what we feel and think about mandalas.

Also, different areas of psychology talk about the benefits of mandalas. Transpersonal psychology views mandalas as an exercise to promote deep connection, and cognitive and behavioral psychology as a tool to improve higher functions such as memory, attention, perception, and visual and motor coordination.

These representations are also used in other areas. For example, in occupational therapy, since through cognitive stimulation they favor the performance of daily activities. Furthermore, they are used in educational settings to facilitate concentration, attention and discipline.

As we can see, there are many benefits we can get through mandalas. These artistic representations are a source of relaxation, release, and possess deep creative power. Why not try it?

references

• Añaños, E., Estaún, S., Tena, D., Mas, TM and Valli, A. (2008). Psychology and advertising communication. Barcelona, ​​Spain: Bellaterra.
• Dahlke, R (2004). Mandalas, how to find the divine in you. A book to meditate, draw and color the different mandalas. Barcelona, ​​Spain: Robbin Book.
• Martínez Cruz, MC (2008). The mandalas: those great unknowns, 1 (3), 1-7.