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croll through Instagram or Pinterest and it’s likely that pretty soon
you’ll encounter a mandala. These circular designs could be sketched,
created from natural materials or even crocheted but – whatever
they’re made from – they’re undeniably eyecatching.
In such forms, these mandalas are a Western adaptation of an older
culture. The name mandala is Sanskrit for ‘circle’ but specifically refers
to circles within a square arranged around a central point. From that central point,
the mandala is developed with lines and geometrical patterns. Mandalas represent
the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism, where beautifully intricate designs
are used in meditation. It was the Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung
who is credited with introducing mandalas to Western thought, interpreting the
circle and its pattern as an expression of the self.
While some mandalas are undeniably complex, the underlying concept is
straightforward and can be done at whatever level suits you – just look at the many
examples pictured here. They can be drawn or painted, made in a notebook or taken
to a large scale in chalk, or even in sand. Take it slowly and enjoy the process – and
that there’s no pressure involved or one certain way that they should look. You could
hold onto your mandalas (or a photo of them) and use them for future ref lection.Makeyourmandala
ADAPT THESE BASIC STEPS
FOR WHATEVER MATERIAL
YOU’D LIKE TO USE1 Measure out a square of any size, and
mark the centre point.
2 You then need to draw a series of circles
centred on this point. You could use a
compass for this, or use circular items, such
as plates, to draw around – if you do, skip
to step 7. If not, mark out an equidistant
series of dots (for example, marking a dot
every 1cm) in a cross shape, moving north,
south, east and west from the centre point.
3 Lightly join the dots to make a cross.
4 Now draw a second sequence of dots,this time on the diagonal axis through
the centre point (moving NE, SW, NW
and SE, if you were looking at a
navigational compass).
5 Lightly join these dots in lines, too.
6 Now join the dots that are equidistant
from the centre using curved lines to
create the rings of a circle. Don’t worry
about these being flawless, these lines
are only for guidance.
7 On to the patterns... Begin in the
innermost circle. If you make a mark on
one side of the circle, be sure to replicate
it on the other side so that your design
remains symmetrical. Slowly work your
way outwards, building layers of pattern.
8 Keep adding more layers. You can go
back and add in more details, colours and
patterns, as your mandala evolves. Only
you get to decide when it’s ‘done’.PROUDLY
HOMEMADENEST (^) | WEEKEND PROJECT