Mandalas, encircled images, offer an ancient form of invitation to journey to the center where one finds the Holy. A circle filled with repetitive, sometimes abstract designs draws attention through rings or layers of reality to focus gradually on the stillness the center holds.

Mandala as walking path: Labyrinth

One form of mandala, called a Labyrinth, is an encircled path from an entry at the edge to the center. One may walk the path seeking an answer to a question held within. One may walk remembering what has been, rest in the center, walk out to life waiting now. One may walk in simple desire to journey to the heart of our being. In the center, body, mind, heart, spirit may feel unity of being. One may also hold an image of the circle and finger-trace the path.

Making a Mandala

To create a simple mandala, read the Blessing Prayer near the end of this website. As you read, receive whatever gifts rise in your imagination. Divide the Mandala into 6 equal sections and draw in one section in its simplest form one of the gifts you were given. Repeat the image in each of the other 5 sections in the same way. Then, draw another gift in the first section and repeat it exactly the same in each of the other 5 sections. When you’ve drawn each gift in each section, notice the over-all patterns created in the repetitions and between the forms drawn.