Mandala Creation and Symbolism

Mandala Symbolism

Mandala is the Sanskrit term for circle, the root word Manda meaning essence, La meaning container. It is a concentric energy circle, the nothing and the all, the Source of Creation, the dynamic relationship between Heavenly and Earthly forces. It is the origin, the centre behind all visible nature, eternity, potential. ‘God is an intelligent sphere whose centre is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere’.

A Mandala represents unity, wholeness, completion, integration, harmony and transformation. It is the reconciliation of the Now, combining the absolute and the eternal (the centre) with the world of form and matter (the outer). Our Earth is a living Mandala, subject to the infinite process of growth and transformation.

The circle is one of the oldest symbols, marking the beginning of human culture and Mans attempt to understand his environment, the cycles of Nature and the wheel of life and rebirth (feminine). The square represents form, and the ability to manifest our creations in the material world (the masculine aspect).

Our journey is towards wholeness; each human is a Mandala. We must reach our own centre and unlock the energies contained within. ’We must remake ourselves within the eternity of our own body’. This means connecting with our inner knowing, our intuition, our soul or ‘Eternal Self’ – all the experiences and lifetimes we have that remain as energy and cellular memory.

In Natal Astrology our chart becomes a Mandala of our individual life. Chakras are our etheric centres, circles or wheels of energy, and form lotus Mandalas. We are a microcosm; our spine is the axis of the world. The Mandala connects us to the creative power of the Universe (as above, so below). We participate in the organic process of becoming whole through self-realisation.

We become an energy field – our aura or resonance expands as we develop. ‘We are the greatest source of energy, we need to regenerate and heal ourselves’. As we expand (our aura), we have a more harmonious connection with the cosmos (as we raise our own consciousness through experience we raise the whole, we are ever-evolving towards perfection). ‘We must make ourselves beautiful and divine, in order to attain the sight and beauty of divinity’. We begin to understand the divine nature of all things, transcending polarity (duality) and the ’I‘ or ego, to arrive at ‘I Am’. Just as our dreams are an unconscious connection with our inner world, Mandalas allow us to bring knowledge to consciousness.

The most complex development of Mandalas in artistic form has been by Tibetan Buddhists (Thangkas and Yantras). Sand Mandalas are a form of contemplation and worship where Man experiences his relatedness to cosmic rhythms. The path itself is the goal and when completed they are destroyed, so another may be created. There are many examples of Mandalas in all ancient cultures. Native Indians crafted shields from feathers and hides, believing they would receive protection from the Gods, good health, prosperity and happiness. These were Mandelas and are used as family crests, to pass on spiritual traditions.

The Yin and Yang symbol shows contrast, yet forms the whole of existence as opposites unite. The Aboriginal Tjuringa Stone forms a map of initiation, showing the way back to the centre, the dream-time. Eight cardinal points and a ninth centre point form a complete cycle and ‘God’s Eye’, a cross with the path of the sun through each direction giving rise to the seasons. In Muslim belief the centre is a fountain of paradise which pours forth, surrounded by a rim of fire in which all is burnt as ‘lesser realms of consciousness radiate from the central garden of the essence’.

Sun discs are amongst the earliest symbols of man; the circle of the sun, the giver of life, radiates with force and movement, it is in constant motion as it rises and sets. The recording of cycles, the moons phases and the tides all mark an important stage in the development of mankind, with communities in tune with the creative forces of Nature. The Aztec/Mayan/Incan sunstone records the ages of man, it is a calendar and a metaphysical history. At the centre is our present age ‘Ollin’, the time of great transition, the cataclysm, surrounded by symbols of the four previous ages, the celestial band of light, strength and beauty, and the outer band of fire serpents, light and darkness joining as one.

Stonehenge forms a Mandala; the inner Sarsen circle was constructed with 30 upright stones, the outer Trilithins circle had 56. The passages between allowed movement of the stars and  heavenly bodies to be seen, forming a calendar and astrological guide.

All sacred or religious structures follow the Mandala principle. The Egyptian and Mexican pyramids, temples in India, Buddhist Stupas, Islamic Mosques, Pagodas in China and Japan, the Tipis and Kivas of North America. Some of the most highly developed are the church cathedrals of Greece, Byzantium and Medieval Europe, orientated towards east, the sunrise and resurrection.

Religion seeks to demonstrate the reconciliation of opposites, the centre is God, I Am, and God is the circumference our outer world. Chatres Cathedral (1220 AD) in France has one of the finest rose windows (organic circular Mandalas) and the most famous Labyrinth. The walker meanders through each of the quadrants several times before reaching the goal. An expectancy is created, and a rosette awaits in the centre of the four arms of the cross symbolic of enlightenment, of connecting with the wisdom within our heart, our home. The Celtic Cross combines the cross of time and space, the four cardinal points, the world of form and matter with the representation of God, the Infinite, a merging of Celtic Heritage and the New Testament. Celtic weaves express the devoted connection to the deity.

Reference: Mandala, José and Miriam Argüelles.

Psychology and Healing

Carl Jung popularised Mandalas in the Western World with his studies in Individuation by working with his patients drawings and dream symbolism to help uncover Psychological issues through ‘Archetypes’. As a reflection of the internal state, structures of the soul are expressed  ‘that surpass the individual and are bought into the encompassing rhythm of cosmic life’. Mandalas are used to heal emotional imbalances, to stimulate both sides of the brain, and to take the creator on an inner journey, akin to walking the labyrinth.

Our energies tend to be scattered by our experiences and reactions to our environment, we need to come back to our self. As the mind concentrates on creating it liberates itself from mental obsessions, a self-integrating ritual that unifies energy and brings healing, centring and growth. ‘No matter what occurs outwardly we may remain in balance’.

Energy and Power

Colouring a Mandala is a ritual in itself, a dance or journey. We are invited to spend time going within. It connects us to creation, to ‘Source’ energy, sharing in the creative principle by making choices and connecting with unlimited variations or possibilities. It becomes a form of meditation as focus is drawn inwards, to our intuitive inner world, to then allow outer expression. It is an engine of change; there is a transformative power, energy is released as we tap into our own creativity and realise the power within us.

Following Creative Pursuits

When do we have time to paint or draw – is it seen as a distraction or a chore? Sitting down and dedicating ourselves to a creative pursuit – a simple pleasure – yet often forgotten as we seek our leisure. The television easy, entertainment on tap, so many choices vying for our attention, when we want to relax.

The last thing we think of is an activity, we’re so used to focusing on that which we see – on external stimulus that draws us towards another world, the domain of characters living lives that remind us of our own and engage our emotions. The books that carry us on a journey of our own imagining, as we conjure images to go with the words on the pages that transport us to another place.

All instructive, rewarding, and bringing us fulfillment as we grow – building our vision of the world we live in, and enlarging our perception to encompass a greater view than the walls of our comfort zone allow.

Our horizon expands as we let our mind wander off on various tangents of thought, following the ups and downs of the central figures whose lives we are getting to know. Celebrating their good fortune and groaning at their stupidity – we are reminded of our own take on humanity. We consider how we might behave differently, and we can see the consequences of our heroes and villains actions quite clearly. Social behaviour and the morals of our society – all woven into the scripts that allow us to float above our lives and assess them, without actually having to live through the experiences we become so involved in. Imploring us to watch the sequel, or to tune in to the series – to find out what happens.

We have one foot in the present and another in the future – trying to guess outcomes, drawn into cleverly created scenarios that try and keep us in the dark, the red herrings capturing our interest and activating our mind to use our powers of reason and deduction – to logically dissect a plot, and to find all the clues we have been given to help us piece together the whole picture, fragment by fragment, until we are feeling ‘fully informed’ and satisfied by our new knowledge of the workings of the story we are preoccupied with, after all, we love a challenge.

We like to prove we are right, that we worked it out, that the answer was there all along, staring us in the face. It amuses us to triumph yet equally, to admit we’ve been duped, and how gullible we’ve been to believe what we’ve been shown. Following a lead that has led us down a false trail – a completely plausible one that has only distracted us from the truth of what has been going on.

How easily are we led? Our lives are filled with situations where we follow others and seek opinions and advice. We like reassurance, to find a common thread, to be in line with popular thought, and trends that dictate what is therefore acceptable, or not – outmoded or antiquated vs. current leading edge state-of-the-art or highly recommended, with stars from the critics.

Our daily diet includes our need for acceptance – to be seen as acceptable to others – whoever they may be, and wherever we may find them. With the internet it has been possible to delve deeper; to cast the net further and to harness the power of ‘word of mouth’ like never before. Where we once might have stood alone on an issue we can find many voices. If we considered ourselves strange, we soon realised the world is populated by weird and wonderful versions of our own expressions. If we thought ourselves too small or insignificant to matter, or to make a difference, we now find we can all make an impact.

Freedom has come in the guise of new media as many choose to celebrate their uniqueness and encourage others to do the same – finding acceptance not in just ‘following the crowd’, but in revealing who they really are, and realising ‘we are all the same’.

We all want to be who we need to be without hiding behind a front, or fearing criticism, or feeling like we’re not being heard. We’re social animals – we like to share. We’re political animals – we’re instinctively driven to care. We’re all innovators – each and every person has something to contribute that adds to the growing chorus, the pool of collected knowledge; the consciousness of humanity that continues to evolve as its own giant experiment in action – creating and recreating itself in its own image.

The reflection constantly beaming back to us – we learn by seeing the consequences of our actions. We grow by feeling the impact of our choices in our own lives, and by seeing them impact others. We alter our course, constantly refining it until we find satisfaction. Always seeking to find a sense of inner peace and balance, the sense of achievement that fills us with contentment – or the switch that allows us to let ourselves off the hook for a minute and to stop doing, and allow ourselves to settle into being.

Being what, exactly? Being our self without the need to wear a mask, or to please, or proffer an opinion. Being relaxed and comfortable enough in our own skin that we can find no need to justify anything – not even to ourselves. Not thinking of the mounting list of things we might be meant to be doing, but allowing a complete shutdown of ‘rational systems’ and slipping into reverie, a daydream, the observation of our surroundings as Nature reveals itself.

Watching how the wind stirs the leaves. Listening to the sound of their whispers. Feeling part of something greater as the sun sets over the horizon, its rays dancing on the ocean. The waves having started their motion somewhere beyond our capacity for comprehension – the stars too immense to even begin to catalogue into neat little compartments of ‘the known’.

The more we think we know, the more likely the Universe is to throw us onto a new path of exploration. The surer we become of ourselves, the greater the realisation grows. We discover the many dimensions of our self – we become aware of the multidimensional reality that challenges every perception we hold up as ‘the nature of our reality’.

To be real is to be authentic, to be genuine, to be as truthful and as honest as possible. To strip away the extraneous layers or patterns of compulsive behaviour, and to find the essence of what lies beneath – within – the underlying flowing sense of wellbeing that underpins all of existence.

A surety. Something that is already resolved. A feeling that has no counterpart. The ‘found’, because there is no longer any sense of loss. The knowledge that there is nothing to seek, or to be gained, because only peace remains. We are complete, whole, replete – without resolve.

Our will, for a moment, has been set aside, there is nothing to accomplish, nor take in our stride. It is done, so mote it be, all is perfect – the circle having cycled back (or is it forwards?) to its point of origin, or its own end. The full stop, for which we are all prepared.

Our lives always leading us somewhere, from birth to our own demise, as we patiently sit here now, waiting for the surprise. Where, oh where, are we being led? “Exactly what is the point?” the writer and reader said.

To come back to our centre, to give ourselves the time, to count it as important, to recognise its power. To transform our lives from within by uncovering our own gifts and recognising our own motivations and desires. To stop thinking of others for a minute, and to cease thinking at all. To just enjoy the process of creating without any objective, or expectation, or goal.

Experimenting, playing, engaging with our inner child, or just painting. Not wishing we were somewhere else but realising we are someone – one of many, who does things in their own way. Making it up as we go along. Living with our mistakes, and learning to let go of the fear of them. Forgetting about ideals and the image we might have of perfection that lies just beyond our reach, and entertaining the foreign thought that perhaps, if we stop chasing it, we might find it is, was, has always been and will always be ours. If we’re prepared to accept it, that is.

Can we drop our preconceived ideas of good? Can we set aside any doubts about our own abilities? Can we silence any criticism that dares to suggest we are not capable? Can we resist the calling that draws our attention to other things? Can we surrender completely to the enjoyment of doing something that might be entirely pointless in the grand scheme of things, neither furthering our interests, nor social position, nor bringing us any income or approval?

Can we realise that the responsibilities of being an adult weigh heavily and cast them aside – opening our eyes with the wonder of a child? We’ve been taught to fear and avoid many aspects of ourselves, yet what if we are perfect all along? There’s no such thing as failure or can’t – who has the power to measure better or worse, we do of course – we judge everything we do by what we’ve been told, yet when it comes to our pleasure, we can’t be fooled.

When we forget about everything that weighs on our mind, we can reap the benefits of being ‘good and kind’. When we’re kind to ourselves, the critic is removed – with enjoyment of the moment we find love in all we do. We accept who we are, we get involved in our creation, we’re centred in ‘the Now’, in active participation. The more we love each thing we do, the more life loves us – this holds true. As above, so below – what we reap, we have sown.

It’s easy to say ‘we can love ourselves,’ but often we’re not aware of the level of compromise or censorship we impose on the things that fulfill us and have us occupied completely in our own lives, rather than caught in the rapture of a myriad other choices that play out as we view others lives.

Being present is more than avoiding racing towards the future, or dwelling on the memories of the past, it encompasses what we might even consider ‘selfish actions’: giving ourselves the time to listen to our own heartbeat; our own instincts; our own intuition; our own voice that longs to be heard rather than brushed aside in favour of a friends problems or a group consensus. It is only through knowing ourselves, that we can know the wonders of the world.

The more conscious we are, the more we comprehend. As we grow in light and understanding of ourselves we begin to perceive the lives of others in a different way. As we accept ourselves, we find acceptance of others – we recognise them as sisters and brothers. All treading the same path, no matter which one they’ve chosen to take – the road strewn with struggles, and sacrifices to be made, until it dawns on all of us, there’s no journey to be made.

Everything we ever wanted is ours – on a plate. Stop and smell the flowers, or tarry in a glade, it matters not what we do at all, only how we observe it and file it away – each experience comes to guide our way. Love each one for what it is and soon we all shall find the joy that bubbles up inside, when truly we know our mind.

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