Learn: Mandalas Are Heart’s Path Tools

On Instagram, I follow artist Connie Hozvicka who posted an image of a mandala she'd been drawing. "Hmm," I thought to myself, "I ought to learn more about mandalas." A few days later, I found myself participating in a two-hour mandala workshop presented by Circle of Wellness Consulting.

Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning "circle." In Buddhist and Hindu traditions, mandalas are symbols of "wholeness" or "completeness." Mandalas can also be recognized in circular symbols all over the world, including in Christian, Native American and Celtic traditions as wells as in labyrinths, nature and the zodiac.

Mandalas for Meditation and Self-Discovery

my workshop mandala

Mandalas can be used as tools for relaxation or meditation. You can find mandalas for meditation in books including Healing Mandalas, The Art of Mandala Meditation and The Mandala Book. You can also view and purchase mandalas online at Mandala Visions, Hither Woods Mandalas and from many other sources.

Psychiatrist Carl Jung found that our inner wisdom can emerge through creating personal mandalas. (Read more here.) Mary, one of the workshop presenters, described that creating a personal mandala can:

• clear or create space for our authentic selves to come forward.
• develop a relationship with our inner selves. 
• help us get in touch with our intuition.

Mary explained how research has shown that using mandalas can help reduce anxiety, produce relaxation and encourage emotional healing. Studies of nurses have shown that mandalas can help them communicate better with patients and also reconnect with their passion toward their work.

Mandalas as Heart’s Path Tools

Mandalas can serve as tools for discovering and living our hearts' true paths. In order to build a foundation of mindfulness and self-awareness, focusing on a mandala might serve you well. And to listen deeply to the wisdom of your heart, you might try your hand at creating a personal mandala. Watch for next week's post that will describe what's involved in creating your own personal mandala.

What's your experience with mandalas? Leave a comment below or connect through the community Facebook page or via twitter.

___________________

 

If you’re seeking your heart’s true path, sign up to receive information about a future in-person Heart's Path Discovery Session. Heart’s Path Discovery Sessions offer a set of guideposts for discovering and living your heart's true path, a strategy for finding what activities you love and then living with intention and with a greater sense of meaning.

 

Comments

[Lisa]

I love the synchronicity of your post Heather! Earlier this week I worked with a coach using MARI -- Mandala Assessment Research Instrument, a process created to get a glimpse of a person's psyche and subconscious when the ego falls away so it's seeing your life path from an enlightened perspective -- can I tell you it was the coolest thing ever! Thank you for posting on this topic and as you said, mandala's are a great tool to develop greater self awareness.

[Alanna]

Heather - thank you so much for posting about our workshop! We offer this because we experienced ourselves how powerful these little circles are and we feel compelled to share this tool with others. The MARI sessions are an amazing experience too that uses mandala creation and theory. You did a wonderful job of describing mandalas in your blog! Hopefully it will find the right people at just the right time...

[Learn + Explore + Share]

Hi, Lisa and Alanna! I know I've just scratched the surface here about using mandalas. Thanks for your insights about MARI. I look forward to learning more!