THE SACRED GEOMETRY OF MANDALAS & MANDALA ART
practised by the Mandala Magic Art Journaling Community.
Learn how to use the sacred geometry of mandalas and mandala art in your creative practice to find meaning and deeper connections.
The Sacred Geometry of Mandalas:
Unlocking the Mystical World of Mandala Art
The sacred geometry of mandalas and mandala art is often used in the Mandala Magic process.
Mandala Magic is a process that combines the symbol of the mandala with the methodology of art journaling. If you are reading this, then you have likely been captivated by the intricate patterns and designs of mandalas. You’re not alone! These beautiful circular designs have been revered in many cultures throughout history, both for their aesthetic appeal and their spiritual significance.
Mandalas are used by Mandala Magicians as a tool for meditation and self-reflection, allowing us to tap into our inner consciousness and connect with the wider universe, as well as practice mandala-making as a form of creative expression.
Here at the Mandala Magic School, we provide an easy-to-follow, robust and repeatable process to help you delve into the many various aspects of Mandala Art, including ever-popular Sacred Geometry Mandalas and much more …
Join the School and we’ll also show you How to Draw Mandalas from scratch, you’ll learn how to create Mandala Coloring Pages for all types of situations, be inspired by the ubiquitous Flower of Life and other sacred geometry symbols, learn to create one-of-a-kind Mandala Designs using personal symbolism and even Mandala Tattoos if that’s your jam!
All this and more, combined with art journaling prompts anyone can use to make more meaning and create deep connections with the world around them.
What are Sacred Geometry Mandalas?
For many artists, Sacred Geometry Mandalas are a gateway into the broader practice of mandala art and journaling that we engage with in the Mandala Magic School.
The term ‘mandala’ is derived from the Sanskrit language and we might understand its meaning as a ‘sacred circle’ or the description of the relationship between the center and circumference or container of a circle.
In many traditional worldviews, the symbolism of the mandala is understood to represent the universe and the interconnectedness of all within it. It is from this viewpoint that the world of sacred geometry and the mandala often intersect.
Sacred Geometry Mandalas are intricate circular designs that are based on mathematical principles and geometric patterns found in nature. These designs are believed by some to hold spiritual and metaphysical significance and as such, they are built into a wide variety of meditation and spiritual practices.
From a more secular worldview, there is a recognition that particular forms and patterns found in the natural world, such as those we can identify in the whorls of a seashell, the symmetry of a snowflake and the tesselations of a honeycomb, create a pleasing sense of harmony that we can replicate in art and architecture.
Whether we believe in a ‘Divine Geometer’ or otherwise, learning about the geometric principles underlining the natural world can help us come closer to reaching a sense of connection with, if not understanding of, the complex cosmological relationships at play in our universe.
The Flower of Life
The Flower of Life is probably the most easily-recognised symbol used in Sacred Geometry Mandala practice and is one of the easiest to learn. It is a geometric pattern that consists of overlapping circles, forming a flower-like shape.
The Flower of Life is said by those who practice sacred geometry to represent the fundamental patterns of creation and the interconnectedness of all living things. It is certainly a pattern that can be found in many cultures and geographies across time and continues to resonate with Mandala Magicians today, providing a focus for meditation and contemplation as well as a useful design structure.
We used the Flower of Life symbol to inspire one of the exercises in our beginner’s course, Circle Magic, so you can begin to create sacred geometry straight away!
Mandala Designs
Mandala Designs come in a limitless array of shapes and forms, each with their unique patterns and meanings. These designs can be simple or intricate, and often feature geometric shapes, symbols, and other motifs. Type ‘Mandala Designs’ into a search engine and you’ll see hundreds of traditional designs pop up in the results, including the Sri Yantra, Tibetan Sand Mandalas, and even Celtic Mandalas.
At the Mandala Magic School, we encourage all of our members to create unique designs, fully tailored to take account of their personal symbolism, their differing cultural background, ethnicity and geography, whilst acknowledging all those who utilize the mandala in their traditional practice.
Our lineage is in the psychological tradition of Swiss psychiatrist Dr Carl G Jung. Find out about the Mandala Magic process and its roots here.
How to Draw a Mandala
Drawing a mandala may seem intimidating at first, but it is a simple and enjoyable process that anyone can do, even if you think that you can’t draw!
Part of the Mandala Magic process is to offer a step-by-step guide on how to draw a mandala. We share many different approaches and many different types of mandala forms, so there is always something for you to engage with, no matter your experience.
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
You will need something to draw with and something to draw on. We also recommend that you have some coloring materials to hand – for instance some colored pencils or watercolor paints.
For geometric mandalas, we also suggest that you gather a basic pair of drawing compasses and a ruler.
We provide full supplies lists with every exercise.
Step 2: Draw a Circle
Although not all mandalas are circles, the circle is the most basic of mandalas and is an essential factor in your mandala art practice, acting as both symbol and container for your mandala.
In our Beginner’s Course, Circle Magic, we dedicate the entire workshop to the practice of becoming confident with circle geometry and the art of drawing circles.
Step 3: Personalize Your Design
What you place inside your mandala design will be unique to your intention for the mandala as well as corresponding to your own personal symbolism.
Within the Mandala Magic School there is a vast array of mandala exercises that allow for an unlimited number of Mandala Designs each and every time you practice, using a multitude of symbols, patterns, forms and motifs.
Step 4: Color Your Mandala
The Mandala Magic process most often encourages you to color your mandalas as part of the process.
For many of the mandala designs you create in response to our prompts, you will consider not only the color palette you choose and the placement of colors throughout the design, but also the qualities of the materials you use to add further meaning to your work.
Mandala Coloring Pages
There’s been an explosion in the popularity of Mandala Coloring Pages as a popular way to relax and unwind. These pages consist of pre-designed mandalas that you can color in, most usually using colored pens or pencils.
Studies from Curry & Kasser, 2005; Van Der Vennet & Serice, 2012; Muthard & Gilbertson, 2016; Yufang & Yongfang 2019 and Carsley & Heath, 2018 indicate that coloring mandalas can reduce stress and anxiety and provide positive psychological benefits.
Whilst there are plenty of books available in retail outlets that are aimed at adults containing Mandala Coloring Pages, here at the Mandala Magic School we encourage the creation of personalized pages for Mandala Magicians to complete at their leisure, and share with friends and family.
Mandala Tattoo
A Mandala Tattoo is a permanent piece of body art that can have significant personal meaning and is a common way for many mandala enthusiasts to engage with the symbol.
Oftentimes, people choose a Mandala Tattoo as a symbol of spiritual and/or personal growth. It can mark a landmark event in their lives or commemorate something or someone that is no longer with them. For many outside of a traditional religious system, a Sacred Geometry Mandala design might offer them a pleasing and harmonious piece of art with a deeper meaning.
Designing your own Mandala Tattoo is one of the ways you can incorporate the most meaningful mandala designs from your work in the Mandala Magic School and carries the benefit of being truly unique!