Spiritual Tools Series: Creating a Mandala

I thought it would be a good idea to stick with the Buddhist theme this week by talking about mandalas for this Spiritual Tools Series post.  Not only seeking them out, but also creating your own.

A mandala is described as a drawing or map representing the Buddhist or Hindu universe, by About.com's Helen South.  

What does this mean? 

The literal translation in Sanskrit means "circle".  Traditionally, when you draw the outer circle, that represents the spiritual universe.  Then inside you use other shapes to represent other things such as  squares to represent the earth or the physical world, rectangles as heavenly doors, and sometimes even entire deities to represent whichever faith you're honoring.  

Although today, mandalas are everywhere, and most have no religious connotations whatsoever.  But since we're coming from a more spiritual place to create our mandalas, we'll forgo the cutesy "kitty" cartoon style type that is seen today in so many places.  

Instead we're going to make something more personal, something that represents our spiritual journeys, even if you consider yourself an atheist.  Because mandalas are not religious, unless the person making them are coming from a religious tradition themselves, and creating the mandala to represent said religion.  Anyone from any faith can make a mandala.  I will say the world has definitely strayed from the spiritual aspect of them, as we can tell by the quality of drawing in mandala coloring books you can buy on every rack you see.  While these are fun to color in and play with, they aren't true mandalas, because the intent behind making them was not for spiritual expansion, but to make a coloring book picture (although each have their place in the world).

So let's get to it, but first, I'll answer a few questions:

What shape can I make my mandala?

Any shape you want!  They can be free form or the traditional circle style, or you can put them in a triangle.  And the meaning of each shape can mean whatever you want it mean, also.  Our mandalas will be representatives of our own spiritual universes, inside and out.  So they can take on the shape of a star, a circle, a landscape, or totally abstract and freeform.

How big does my mandala need to be?  

As big as you want it.  You can put it on an ATC sized card (artist trading card) or on a huge canvas (or use sidewalk chalk to make one in a parking lot!).  

But I can't draw, how will I make one?

Good news!  You don't have to have a lick of artistic talent in order to draw one.  Not one iota or a single bit.  That's why I made this for beginners.  Even a seasoned artist can use these directions and make one, but so can a total beginner.  You can be very exact in your drawing (I will include a link below to one that is drawn with tools) or you can be go total willy nilly on it.  Making mandalas is for everyone and anyone who wants to draw one, ages 1-1000, any gender, artistic talent or not.

I still don't get how drawing circles and other shapes is considered "spiritual".

Well, let's put it this way: just the act of creating something is spiritual.  Creation is what most religions are based upon, is it not?  Creating anything at all is a spiritual act.  Growing your own food, creating dinner for your family, creating art, building a house, making a birdhouse, etc.  All of these are spiritual acts.  Why do we create things?  In order to nourish ourselves and others.  So creating something in order to nurture is the most spiritual thing you can do.  

Then we have repetition part of mandala creation, which is a meditative act upon itself.  Other repetitious meditative acts are things such chanting, knitting, coloring, rosary beads, counting, drumming, etc.  Each one has their own spiritual benefits, such as lowered blood pressure (calming effects) and visualizations.  And drawing geometric shapes, over and over again, can have the same effects.  And, after you're done creating your mandala, you can use it while you meditate for even more desired spiritual effects.  

Any more questions?  Just post them below! 

So?  Let's get to it!



Creating Your Own Mandala


You download the Creating Your Own Mandala Worksheet here (the circles are not perfect, but hey, it works! LOL)

And you can access the video of how to use the worksheet here:

Creating Your Own Mandala Video from RUU




Here are some other great videos on how to draw mandalas:

*How To Draw A Mandala*
*How to Draw a Mandala (with tools!)* 
*A Beginner's Guide to Mandalas*
*Interesting Mandalas (drawing doesn't start until 5:33 or so)*
*My all time favorite mandala creating video*
*Zentangling a Mandala**Mandala Project Part 1 of 3* (parts 2-3 are accessible through this video)