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Mandala, which means magic circle in Hindu, is an ancient way
of displaying energy. It is an Eastern art form used to depict
conflicting and harmonious forces within a circular boundary. I
have found the mandala to be a useful tool for stimulating
thoughtful conversations and creative solutions. The basic
form of the mandala is a circle divided into four sections
with a smaller circle in the center. Carl Jung saw the mandala
structure in every culture that he experienced, and so can you.
You can see it in European cathedrals, old government buildings,
Native American Art, in the design of great cities like Paris
and sometimes, in your dreams. Jung believed that drawing mandalas
helped his clients knit fragments of their personalities together.
Mandala Drawing Tips
When you write down a dream and seek to discover its meaning,
you are assimilating unconscious content. When drawing mandalas
you experience the same gift. If you're thinking that there
is no artist inside you, if pencils or inks are unwieldy, foreign
objects in your hands, try a different medium like rubber stamps,
or finding pictures and words in magazines that speak to you,
and arrange them inside your magic circle. The imagery summoned
from your deepest self is more importand than the means used
to portray its significance. Here are some tips for drawing
mandalas:
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| 1. |
Suspend your inner judge. There is no right or wrong mandala. |
| 2. |
Before you start, close your eyes and see what fills your mind. |
| 3. |
Draw a circle freehand, with a compass, or trace a plate. |
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Fill the circle with your visions, or let your inner hand move your pencil. |
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Identify the top of your mandala by placing a "T" wherever it belongs. |
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Date and title your work. |
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When you're done, gaze at it a while. Mandalas are like a dream,
something that emerges with no conscious intent - a true mystery
that cannot be dupplicated no matter how many are drawn. Interpretation
is possible when you compare your mandalas to each other, asking
yourself what they mean, identifying associations with the colors
and symbols - much as you would with the dreams that wake you in
the night.
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