What is a Mandala?

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:33:40 +0100

A mandala is a purposeful visual composition incorporating different symbolic and geometric patterns that can lead to shifts in consciouness and energy flow. In addition to their pleasing and intriguing aesthetic value, mandalas are useful for exploring oneself and one's place in life and in the evolution of consciousness. Mandalas provide a powerful way to unlock paths to inner wisdom, self-discovery, and the cosmos. Different peoples and traditions, since the beginning of history, have drawn, built, and used mandalas for a wide array of purposes. Among these, mandalas have been used as tools for meditation, expansion, relaxation, concentration, and divination; also, they have been used for creating sacred space and for keeping, measuring, and warping space/time.

Mandalas are also employed to foster peace and well-being, and to protect people, houses, temples and cities. They can also serve as illustrations, visual representations, or even "maps" of the heavens and the passage into divine realms and the inner planes of existence. Some mandalas also represent different energetic structures, including chakra systems. They are useful for unblocking, restoring, and facilitating the conscious use of energy currents. Traditional mandala work includes contemplating the mandala and mentally constructing and deconstructing the figure with one's eyes closed. Other approaches range from visualizing oneself inside the mandala, to simply looking at it and exercising awareness of how one's point of view changes. Some mandalas will literally draw you in if you give them a bit of time and openness.