Mandala is the Sanskrit word for ‘circle’, often described as a ‘sacred circle’, or ‘magic circle’, in recognition of the power it contains when consciously created. In a exploratory essay on mandala written by Julie Gibbons, it is said that the word mandala can be broken down into ‘Manda’ = ‘essence’ and ‘La’ = ‘container’, indicating that a mandala can also be defined as a ‘container of essence’. In the work I do, the mandala acts as a sacred and magical container of essence. Your own essence.
Since ancient times, across various cultures and spiritual traditions, the mandala has played a powerful role in depicting, containing and expressing the sacred (Susan Filcher, 2009). This circular geometric configuration of symbols is often employed to focus the attention of practitioners and adepts, as a spiritual guidance tool, for establishing a sacred space, as an aid to meditation and trance induction, and an artistic representation of higher thought and deeper meaning used in spiritual, emotional, or psychological work (Joshua Mark, 2020, and “Mandala”-Wikipedia).
Sand mandala drawn meticulously over many days by Tibetan Buddhist monks are thereafter destroyed in minutes, as a contemplation of the nature of impermanence. (Image: The Atlanta Journal Constitution)
However, mandalas can also take many different forms, from stone carvings and domed cathedrals to ritual dances and movement of the seasons. It is a form that is embedded in mother nature, and can be seen in the embryo, the iris of the eye, and every cell in our body; in the earth, the sun and the moon, flowers, fruits, snowflakes, tree rings, seashells and even cobwebs and ripples on a pond. The atom, the building block of all matter, is itself a sphere. In Sacred Geometry, the circle/sphere is revered as representing wholeness, oneness, dynamism or continuous movement, eternal cycles of life and change, unity, harmony and perfection, inclusivity, boundaries and protection. It is said the first thought of God is represented by a circle, which exists by itself and then created a replica of itself (www.destinationdeluxe.com). While the sphere may be one of the simplest forms in Sacred Geometry, it is also the container that can hold all of the other forms. All measurements are equal in a sphere. It is a figure that is complete in its entirety (www.barcodesinc.com).
A mandala generally represents our spiritual journey, starting from the outer to the centre or our inner core, through layers. It denotes a movement from the external environment to the inner world; from the macrocosm to the microcosm; and from the physical to the metaphysical. It is a process of unveiling a mystery lying deep within the hidden realms of our unconscious minds. It is also said that mandalas in every culture serve, more or less, the same purpose of centering an individual or community on a given narrative in order to encourage introspection and, ultimately, an awareness of one's place and purpose in the world; this awareness then allows for peace of mind (Joshua Mark, 2020). To me, it is a powerful alchemical process of transformation that reminds me of the power of the Magician of tarot.
The whirling Sufi dervishes of Turkey (photo by Bulent Cinar). Sufi whirling is a form of meditative dance which is performed in worship ceremonies, with the intent to reach the source of all perfection. The spinning of one's body in repetitive circles is seen as a symbolic imitation of planets orbiting around the sun.
The Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung was instrumental in introducing and adopting the mandala in the West, particularly in a therapeutic context. Jung, who sketched a mandala everyday himself, believed that humans have a natural, instinctive impulse towards self-healing. Therefore, mandalas were viewed by him to be a manifestation of the self-regulating system of the psyche, which maintains our orderly functioning and, when necessary, restores stability (Susanne Filcher, 2009). He considered the mandala to be an archetype in its own standing that represents wholeness, and therefore significant in the process of growth to reach our full potential which he termed ‘individuation’. The imagery that appears within the space of the circle, and how it is constructed as a whole is symbolic of the state of the psyche and the individual’s progress in their individuation, to become an authentic individual. Jung surmised that this inborn urge to grow towards wholeness is governed by a psychic centre in each of us that he called the ‘Self’, which holds the blueprint of our self-development. The mandalas we create spontaneously therefore have their source in the dynamism of the Self. When witnessed with respect, the messages of the mandala can become conscious and more easily be integrated by our egos in the individuation process, while enabling us to learn more about the deep inner guidance of the Self. This allows us to be more fully informed about our needs and wants when making decisions in any aspect of our life (ibid).
Most mandalas have an intuitive, irrational character and, through their symbolical content, exert a retroactive influence on the unconscious. They therefore possess a “magical” significance, like icons, whose possible efficacy was never consciously felt by the patient.
~ Carl Jung
A mandala drawn by a patient of Dr. Carl Jung, during the therapeutic process. (Image: Jungcurrents.com)
Mandalas also express healing energies, as beautifully illustrated by Susanne Fincher in The Mandala Workbook (see below for the reference). Therefore, the mandala becomes useful for us as a psycho-spiritual healing tool at both individual and collective levels. Over the years, the mandala concept has been vastly expanded beyond the psycho-spiritual realm, and has been adapted for a wide variety of purposes, from tattoo art to story-telling. Mandala has been popularized recently in the form of adult colouring books for stress relief. While this can be considered an effective modern use of this tool that has made the ‘magic circle’ accessible to the masses, its uses and effects can be far more therapeutic, healing and transformational. And it is one of these forms of Mandalas that I was led by the divine to discover, quite unexpectedly.
If you are interested in learning more about the history, evolution and benefits of the mandala, as well as in learning to work with mandalas yourself, given below are some excellent resource materials that will help you get started.
Fincher, Susanne F. 2009. The Mandala Workbook: A creative guide for self-exploration, balance, and wellbeing. United States of America: Shambala Publications. https://www.amazon.com/Mandala-Workbook-Creative-Self-Exploration-Well-Being/dp/1590305183
Gibbons, Julie. “The Sacred Geometry of Mandala Art Drawings & Designs.” Julie Gibbons Creative. https://www.juliegibbons.com/the-sacred-geometry-of-mandala-art-drawings-designs/
Mark, Joshua J. “Mandala.” World History Encyclopedia. Last modified October 13, 2020.https://www.worldhistory.org/mandala/.
Wikipedia contributors. “Mandala”. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Last modified January 17, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandala
My Journey with the Mandala
I was always a very visual person, had a pretty wild imagination and an inexplicable interest in metaphysical symbols. I started drawing mandalas quite intuitively many years back (probably during a stressful period which I cannot clearly recollect), without even knowing what they are or their significance. As I drew them (initially only with pencil as I was afraid to use colour!), I had an awareness within that this circular geometric shape has more to it than what meets the eye, that it contains some power which can be felt and understood only with one’s subtle senses through a deepening of awareness; an awareness that illuminates with each mandala you create and engage with. I was doing it only sporadically, but whenever I did engage, I was fascinated by how the mandala brought to light certain parts of my self and psyche that I was never conscious of, and gave me a deeper or alternative understanding on parts that I was already familiar with. But little did I know that it would gradually lead me to discover a whole new world of wholeness, healing, centering and balance! Over the years, the mandala slowly and surreptitiously started to get integrated into my reality and my energy field. I found myself taking mandala workshops, referring often to the mandalas in my interactions, and even using the mandala in my work.
One day I realized that I am actually channelling information and messages from the divine and even from people who have transitioned to the other side, through the mandalas I was creating. These messages included quite profound spiritual concepts such as ‘duality/polarity’, ‘the creation of perspective’, and a message from Archangel Metatron. Admittedly, it did take me quite a while to accept this and fully trust the process as well as the information I was receiving (and the fact that an ordinary person like me could actually do it!). However, bit by bit, with validations I was receiving through different sources, I became more confident in following – and embracing – my intuition and inspiration, and the mystic magic that the mandala truly is. Today, the magic circle has brought me to a place where I create Suwa Mandalas for others as well as myself, tapping into the energy grids of both individuals and collectives, to facilitate healing, awakening and transformation.
