REFLECTIONS

Do you carry photos of family or friends in your wallet or purse? Do you have them displayed in
your office or home? Have you ever wondered why? Busy as we are most of the time, focused on
the coping patterns and survival subroutines of daily living, pictures help us remember who we
love and how we feel in their presence. They give us a sense of rootedness and connection, help
us feel supported in times of uncertainty or distress, inspire us to acts of generosity and good will
and help us keep our values clear.
What about mirrors? How often do you pause in front of a mirror to see if your tie is straight, if
your hair is where it belongs, or if your makeup is well applied? You catch a peek as you get
ready to confront the social world and, secure in the knowledge that you've done the best you can
with what you've got, you charge off to face the day.
Photographs and mirrors give us reflections of what ordinarily remains outside our awareness or
field of view. They help us stay connected to loved ones, and to ourselves. Mandala art operates
in a similar manner but, instead of giving us reflections of the external world, mandalas can help
us see what is going on within us, in our heart and soul. They can help us remain connected to
our Selves in fundamental ways and can help us understand the meaning of important life
experiences when we learn how to create and interpret them.
BACKGROUND

Mandala means 'circle' in the Sanskrit language, and mandala art refers to symbols that are
drawn, sketched or painted in a circular frame. Mandala art has been used throughout the world
as a process of self-expression, in the service of personal growth and spiritual transformation.
Tibetan Buddhism has employed mandala art for thousands of years to capture the images of the
countless demons and gods which it believes both plague and uplift humanity. Navajo sand
painters use them in their healing rites. Many native people use the Medicine Wheel, a mandala
form, to connect to earth energies and the wisdom of nature.
The very fact that mandalas are drawn round can lead us to an experience of wholeness when we
take the time to make them and then wonder what they mean. In the strict use of the mandala,
there is a central point or focus within the symbol from which radiates a symmetrical design.
This suggests there is a center within each one of us to which everything is related, by which
everything is ordered, and which is itself a source of energy and power. Virtually every spiritual
and religious system known to man asserts the reality of such an inner center. The Romans
worshiped it as the genius within. The Greeks called it the inner daemon. Christian religions
speak about the soul and the Christ within. In psychology we speak of the Higher Self.
SYMBOLIC DIMENSION
How do we begin to connect to this inner center? We need to learn how to work with imagination
to see into the inner self. But when we begin to play with images and symbols, we move from a
cognitive, rational, intellectual and narrow frame of reference and enter an expanded state of
awareness. One of the primary functions of imagination is to help us see how our inner energies
are operating, all at once, in a way the rational mind cannot perceive. Within each of us are a
multitude of drives and desires, hopes and fears, wounds and latent abilities that need to be
acknowledged and consciously dealt with if we hope to continue to grow as human beings, learn
from our experiences, and move toward the synthesis of our biological, personal and spiritual
potentials.

We cannot see into the unconscious directly, however, and so we need some kind of mirror with
which to see the dynamic forces that operate within us. Mandala art provides such a mirror.
Where once we might have experienced ourselves as a fragmented collection of subpersonalities
and warring elements in opposition to one another (father-vs-professional, for instance, body-vs-
mind, emotions-vs-reason, sexuality-vs-spirituality, etc.), through mandala art we can see how
these parts fit complementarily together in the wholeness we truly are within. This is a critical
point of view, and when we begin to take all of ourselves into account, when we begin to honor
and balance the dynamic forces within us, we can act in the world in ways that honor our
essential wholeness, get our needs met, and allow us to share with others the very best within us.
PSYCHOSYNTHESIS
Psychosynthesis is a psychological and educational approach to human development first
articulated by the Italian psychoanalyst Roberto Assagioli (1888-1974). Offering both a
conceptual model for understanding how we can heal, develop, and transform consciousness and
practical tools to achieve these goals, Psychosynthesis refers to a process directed toward the
integration and harmonious expression of the totality of human nature--physical, emotional,
mental and spiritual. One of the fundamental concepts in Psychosynthesis states that the human
unconscious can be understood to involve three levels, and mandala art can help both explore
and document discoveries made on these three levels.

A simple description suggests that the lower unconscious represents the past and in it is stored
those experiences, memories, elements and dynamics that remain repressed or unresolved. The
middle unconscious represents the present, and in it is stored all information, patterns, and
dynamic energies functioning in the current stage in life. The higher unconscious represents the
future and can be thought to contain all the unutilized talents and potentials waiting to be
developed. The concept of the Higher Self expresses the presence of an inner guiding principle,
the genius within, the divine spark to which the "I" aligns in cooperation with the unfolding and
evolutionary process.
Practitioners of Psychosynthesis to assist individuals and groups in the soul-work of
transformations of consciousness so that they can align with the guidance and inspiration of this
Higher Self and thus find the energy and wisdom necessary to understand more deeply, work
more creatively, love more authentically, and successfully meet the challenges which confront us
at each stage in life.
HOW TO CREATE A MANDALA
There are many ways to create a mandala, but first we must lightly draw a circle on a sheet of
paper or on a canvas. We can fill the circle in spontaneously, letting the drawing emerge step by
step in a creatively unpredictable way, like doodling. Or, we can fill in the circle with special
images that have come to us in deep relaxation, meditation, through the use of visualization
techniques, etc. Within the circle we can capture important scenes from everyday life, or objects
of fascination from the world of nature. Filling the circle in is the first step.
Mandala art is a tool of integration for many reasons. The creation of these symbols involves
many parts of us. Our body is involved in the mechanical act of drawing, and we experience our
own nervous system in a new way in the fine movements required by the act of drawing. Our
mental patterns are reflected in the specific forms and structures that emerge within the circle.
Our feelings are reflected by our use of color.
When the mandala is complete, we have an interesting, often beautifully wholistic snapshot of
what is going on within us and of our present reality. We can then look at the symbol with
curiosity and wonder, figure out what the structures, colors, and interacting elements mean and
thereby gain an expanded view of how our lives are working.
THE VALUE OF MANDALA ART
What is the value of mandala artwork? First of all, by drawing these symbols, we shift our
attention from external preoccupations and concerns and connect to our own inner space. This
inward attunement is often quite relaxing, refreshing, and energizing.
Second, mandala art is a private process of self-confrontation and self-expression for which we
need not depend on a guide or therapist or outside consultant. In the search for the meaning of
our experiences in life, we can sit down anytime we want to, draw a circle, fill it in, capture a
reflection of what is going on inside and figure out what it means.
Third, through the mandala we can discover where our energies are blocked, where our
resistance lies, in what roles and patterns we are stuck. Or, in compelling and graphic ways, we
can celebrate our successes, portray the things which have inspired or touched us in life and, in
this way, learn the most from them.
Fourth, mandala art can help us connect to, accept, love and learn from the very center of
ourselves, the Higher Self so to speak, which struggles to live ever more freely and creatively in
the world. One of the greatest challenges in life is to discover and nourish the deep springs of
inner wisdom that flow within us, and spending time with mandala art encourages our inner
genius to awaken, communicate, and express itself directly.
Fifth, mandalas can help us see the larger cycles that operate in our lives if we do them regularly,
then review a series of drawings that have developed over time. Last, mandalas are powerful
images to share with others. Through them we can share our inner realities with family and
friends in honest and open ways, whenever we choose, and by this encourage our loved ones to
share with us their depths as well.
We need to find ways to connect to our inner depths, to heal our wounds, and nurture the growth
of new potential within us. Mandala art is one of the most creative, direct, and transformative
ways to accomplish these important goals.

Arguelles, J. & Arguelles, M. (1995). Mandala. Boston: Shambhala Publications.

Brauen, M. (1997). The mandala: Sacred circle in Tibetan Buddhism. Boston: Shambhala
Publications.
Cornell, J. (1994). Mandala. Wheaton, IL: The Theosophical Publishing House
Fincher, S. F. (2000). Coloring mandalas: For insight, healing and self-expression. Boston:
Shambhala Publications.
Jung, C. (1972). Mandala symbolism. R. F. C. Hull, trans. Princeton, NJ: University Press.
Tucci, G. (1970). The theory and practice of the mandala, Alan Houghton Brodrick, trans. New
York: Samuel Weiser, Inc

Make Your Own Mandala

One of the best ways to understand what Mandalas are about is to make your own. One of the most frequent
objections is, "But I'm not an artist... I can't even draw a straight line." This is ideal, because the mandala is built on
a circle, not a straight line!
Of course, that's rather simplistic, and any art training you might have can come in handy for aesthetic purposes, but
the reality is that practically everyone can make a mandala. The easiest way to start is to simply draw a circle and fill
it. So that's what this first exercise will do.

Assemble your materials

You will need:
 a large sheet of drawing paper, 14x17
 firm surface or clear table on which to work
 colors of your choice (crayons, colorpencils, or markers are easier and require less clean-up)
 a large dinner plate, frying pan lid, or other circular shape
You will probably discover quickly that the following suggestions will help:
• Turn off the radio and television
• Put on a tape or CD of pleasant instrumental music (classical, New Age, or similar)
• Find a time and place where others in the house are away or quiet; let them know they should not distract
you for about an hour.

Quiet Your Mind

You may already have a favorite form of meditation process, prayer, or other technique that you use to quiet the
outside world and enter the sacred space within yourself. If your religion devotes its attention to a named god or
goddess, please follow the concepts of your own faith in finding a peace inside.
For those who don't regularly follow a spiritual pathway or religion, I would suggest a very simple way of relaxation
called "The Mindfullness Meditation" (from Journey Into Healing (Deepak Choprah; Harmony Books, 1994):

The Mindfulness Meditation

The Mindfulness Meditation technique is a simple meditation procedure that can create a
deep state of relaxation in your mind and body. As the mind quiets down but remains
awake you will experience deeper, more silent levels of awareness.
1. Start by sitting comfortable in a quiet place where you will have a minimum amount of
disturbance.
2. Close your eyes.
3. Breath normally and naturally, and gently allow your awareness to be on your
breathing. Simply observe your breath, trying not to control it or alter it in any conscious
way.
4. As you observe your breath, you may notice that it changes of its own accord. It may
vary in speed, rhythm, or depth, and there may even be occasions with your breath seems
to stop for a time. Whatever happens with your breathing, innocently observe it without
trying to cause or initiate any changes.
5. You will find that at times your attention drifts away from your breath and you are
thinking about other things or listening to noises outside. Whenever you notice you are
not observing your breath, gently bring your attention back to your breathing.
6. If, during the meditation, you notice that you are focusing on some feeling, mood, or
expectation, treat this as you would any other thought and gently bring your attention
back to your breathing.
7. Practice this meditation technique for fifteen minutes.
8. At the end of fifteen minutes, keep your eyes closed and just sit easily for two or three
minutes. All yourself to come out of the meditation gradually before opening your eyes
and resuming your activity.

Drawing the Mandala

As you finish your meditation or prayer, you may wish to offer a word of thanksgiving to your God or to the
Universe at large for the gifts of paper and colors with which to do this exercise. You may also wish to request
guidance -- it is VERY common for mandala artists to feel an inner compelling to draw a shape here or fill in a
shaper with a particular color, and they have come to understand that is one of the ways the prayer for guidance is
answered... you might not see a flashing image in your head, but a quiet urge to use one special color, or to draw a
particular shape or design inside your circle.
First, place your plate or other round shape flat down on the paper and with a light color or pencil, trace around it.
Your task is only to fill the circle with whatever you feel belongs there. Fill it with whatever shapes, colors,
combinations feel right to you. There are no rules here, and only very few guidelines. Also, there are no accidents --
what seems like a squiggly mistake at first can become one of several ripples on water, or smoke wafts of winter
winds.. or whatever you feel it should be.
You will be drawing rather quickly, simply allowing your inner spirit to express onto paper. Try not to censor
yourself, or to allow "rules" to interfere. If you feel like drawing a green cat under a purple moon, go right ahead.
Also, there is no need to be concerned about if your drawing LOOKS like what it symbolizes to you. An oval shape
with a long tale and four legs and pointy ears can be a cat... or a wolf... or a stuffed animal. It is whatever it tells you
it is, and nothing else matters at this point.
You will notice after 30 minutes or so that the mandala seems to be telling you, "stop". If you feel compelled to
continue on, you may do so. Or you may feel more comfortable setting it aside for the day and coming back another
time, starting over with the meditation time to relax your brain once again.
Once your mandala is finished, date it. If you have worked on it over several days, right down the date of each day it
was worked on.
Post your mandala to the wall where you can see it regularly. Each day spend a few moments simply looking at it,
and allow it to explain itself to you. As you get new thoughts about what it might mean, write these observations in
the margins around the edge of the paper.