Mandalas: Circles of Healing
by Kaycie Marler
C
reating a mandala or using one for of creation that is reflected from the micro
meditative focus is a journey inward to the macro in the world as we know it. All
toward wholeness, balance, harmony living things are made of cells and each cell
and inner truth. When used as a tool for has a nucleus. Atoms, the building blocks
meditation, healing, or self-realization, the of nature, found in crystals that form ice,
mandala takes us to the center of our being rocks, and mountains are mandalas. Earth,
which is innately connected to our outer which lies within our solar system, which
world- the whole circle of creation. As we is within the Milky Way, is a mandala that
connect with our Higher Self, our Divine is part of a larger mandala in the unfolding
Nature, we are better able to live our lives of the cosmic universe. Nature is made up
in harmony with the world around us. of the primal mandala pattern from flowers,
to rings found in tree trunks to the spiraling shape of a snail’s
The mandala, Sanskrit for sacred circle, has been used shell. Life is a circle within a circle – wholeness – a mandala.
for thousands of years in many spiritual traditions as a form
of meditation, healing, and transformation. Mandalas are Whether in nature, architecture, our circle of friends and
found in both religious and secular cultures to illustrate family or our spiritual practice we can appreciate the mes-
wholeness and truth. Hildegard von Bingen, a Christian nun sage of the mandala – we are all connected, we are already
in the 12th century, created many beautiful mandalas to whole and at the very center of our being we are the
express her visions and beliefs. Native Americans have cre- living Truth.
ated medicine wheels for healing and Tibetan monks create
sand mandalas which are often highly intricate illustrations of Kaycie Marler is a social worker, art therapist and Reiki
religious significance that are used for meditation. Mandalas Master with 12 years experience in the mental health field.
are also seen in architecture from Buddhist stupas to Mus- Her mandala artwork has been shown at the When Gallery,
lim mosques and Christian cathedrals and labyrinths. From Truth or Consequences, NM. Visit her website at harmony-
Stonehenge to the spiral shapes carved into rocks thousands mandala.com.
of years ago the circle has great significance in understand-
ing our world and ourselves. Amrita Yoga Center in Hot Springs will host Circle of
Oneness: A Sacred Heart Mandala Retreat February 13 to
The circular mandala pattern is found in nature and seen 15. This retreat will be a journey inward through the art of
in biology, geology, chemistry, physics and astronomy. The the mandala, meditation and yoga. Contact 501-520-5588 or
circle or “circle with a center” pattern is the basic structure AmritaYogaCenter.com.
January 2009 9
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