Mandalas are everywhere, they have become a notable fashion trend and there are even designs for tattoos, however the meaning and usefulness of these figures go beyond what you could imagine.
The word “mandala” comes from Sanskrit and means “sacred circle.” These colorful circles in various Eastern cultures are a means for people to find themselves. Since they are related to the energies of life and its cycle.
Psychological advantages
The advantages of coloring mandalas on a psychological level are very varied, since they help maintain concentration, combat anxiety and depression, as well as relax, providing peace and serenity.
Filling in or even drawing these compositions induces states of calm in those who do it, which is why it is highly recommended in times of stress or sadness, as it makes us more tolerant and understanding.
The simple action of painting activates both hemispheres of the brain, developing cognitive abilities. If you have problems falling asleep, mandalas can help you since they are so relaxing that they improve insomnia problems. Furthermore, each shape and color reveal unconscious aspects of people.
Depending on the colors you choose, they will influence your mood in different ways.
In addition to being a wonderful legendary technique that provides us with multiple benefits, mandalas have been recognized in psychology as a therapeutic element.
Coloring mandalas gives us the opportunity to work on our attention levels and achieve a greater state of relaxation, whatever our age. In fact, today we can find a wide variety of coloring books for adults in bookstores, an increasingly growing trend that has become a publishing phenomenon.
During our childhood we carry out many leisure activities with the sole objective of having fun or entertaining ourselves, but as our obligations grow along with the phrase “I don't have time” they make us separate these types of activities from our daily lives. And furthermore, this causes us to be more stressed, since we do not usually disconnect.
Many of us, when we were children, enjoyed hours and hours with our colored pencils giving life to our favorite characters, landscapes or even our own drawings. We did it without judging the result, focused solely on the pleasure of coloring.
By coloring mandalas we take a journey towards our essence, illuminating areas of ourselves that until then had remained hidden. In this way, we allow the wisdom of our unconscious to emerge.
Mandalas and their history
Mandalas are geometric figures that have many variants and that appear in practically all cultures. They have their origin in India and their literal translation is 'sacred circle'. They are a symbol of healing, wholeness, union and integration.
In many cultures, drawing and coloring mandalas is a spiritual ritual that facilitates “inner enlightenment.” However, for Carl Jung, one of the most important Swiss psychiatrists in history, circular figures offered a healing effect that provided peace and tranquility.
“Only gradually did I understand what the mandala really is: formation-transformation. The eternal pastime of eternal meaning.”
-Carl Jung-
Mandalas can vary in color and design, but basically they are made up of a center and different figures in the four cardinal points. In this way, it is believed that on a psychological level they can represent the entirety of our being. According to some defenders of this practice, each person responds to them instinctively, regardless of their age, gender, race, culture...
The magic of mandalas, and at the same time their therapeutic power, consists of letting ourselves be carried away by the unconscious, without worrying about the final result of the drawing. That is, without judging whether it is looking good or bad, pretty or ugly... We just need to be present and concentrated, giving ourselves the freedom to color as we please.
Coloring mandalas is not a child's thing
Coloring is an activity that we usually associate with childhood. As we become adults, we put away colored pencils and markers, except to underline notes or reports. However, this hobby can be very beneficial as we have seen previously. Not only because it generates well-being and tranquility, but because it also stimulates different brain areas related to motor skills, senses and creativity.
“Painting makes the adult feel like a child again, it transports them to generally happier and calmer times. Remembering some of those moments helps us relax and even see the future with greater optimism.”
Despite what we may have learned in our lives about art and color, there is no right or wrong way to color. One of the positive aspects of painting is that it is very easy for everyone, even if you lack artistic training or experience in the subject.
“Coloring can be a complex activity, full of nuances; or on the contrary it can be something as simple as the simple desire to color.”
-Lacy Mucklow-
In this way, coloring can be considered an act of meditation in itself because it helps us focus our thoughts on the activity we are carrying out and connect with our creativity. In moments everything fades and only we are present with the colors and the drawing.
Many studies have shown the positive effects of coloring mandalas on the human psyche. Psychologists and art therapists recommend this activity and even practice it, experiencing its benefits in first person. This is why coloring books for adults are such a bestseller.
For people who want to enjoy the benefits of this activity, they should know that coloring mandalas also helps us connect with our inner child. Therefore, if you feel like you need extra help to manage stress or anxiety, don't hesitate to practice this type of exercise.
“Coloring is the new yoga. Like many other fashions, it comes from outside our borders, from countries like France or England where it is a huge success. A fashion that relaxes and helps us disconnect.”
-Esther Bazan
Due to the advantages of practicing this activity, a large number of art therapists design mandala coloring books for adults, since they know its multiple and extraordinary benefits. Coloring these geometric drawings helps us reduce stress, achieve a state of calm, focus on the here and now and, above all, connect with ourselves.
Try this therapy, it will help you a lot to control anxiety and depression levels, it also helps during this quarantine to be at home.
PRONAPRESA
"Because prevention is better than cure"
