What is a mandala?

To become aware of the mandala is to be conscious of what is going on around us. It is this consciousness that helps us see our connection to the world and to one another. The pattern found within the mandala can help us describe the nature of our being, as well as the nature of our cosmos. The study of the mandalas often include contemplating the core of reality, what is the "true center" of the world in which we live. The mandala can serve as a structure within a variety of ideas and beliefs that can be shared. The mandala connects, rather than divides. Mandala is an ancient Sanskrit word which means circle. Another description of a mandala used by Tibetan Buddhists is "an integrated structure organized around a unifying center."

Mandalas are tools for spiritual meditations. A mandala can be sacred as when used in spiritual ceremony or practice, or it can describe the basic structure or design of an object or entity. Powerfully conveying the idea of wholeness and unity, the circle is a symbol employed in many religious traditions. It has been used for thousands of years as a pattern to illustrate spiritual ideals and concepts. Mandalas continue to be used in healing and in ceremonial rituals, as well as in art forms to represent spiritual concepts. The mandala requires no adherence to a specific belief system nor does it necessarily imply a set of beliefs when used in conversation or creative activities; it is a tool that can be comfortably used in a variety of settings. In the early Twentieth Century, Carl Jung observed that mandala-making was used in many cultures to represent wholeness and healing. Jung's work drew attention to the process of mandala-making as a way to facilitate healing through creating art, as well as by giving expression and form to something that does not exist.  Mandala-making is also used for personal growth, to quiet the mind, or to give expression to spiritual ideas. Mandalas provide a centered structure from which to explore and to put order in our lives as a whole. 

What will we be doing this Friday?

At this cafe, we will be creating our own personal mandalas. So, please bring paint, brushes, glue, images, patterns, geometric shapes, quotes or anything else that speaks to you.