Broadly speaking, there are two types of people: the very creative and those who feel they don’t even know how to draw a tree. Of course, between both extremes there are endless positions. Perhaps your strong point is not creating from scratch (which is not easy at all, by the way), but if unleash your imagination using colored pencils or your favorite markers.
Spending hours coloring a mandala is a relaxing activity with few complications that we can all do at home. Also, it can be a great hobby to do alone or with the family and it is very cheap, which is always a plus.
Although at first glance it may seem simply an image to color, the mandala hides a great story that speaks of spiritual connection and personal development.
The origin of the mandala: a trip to India
To know the birth of the mandala, we must travel to India. The word comes from Sanskrit (ancient Indian language) and its translation is “circle or wheel”
According to Word History, the term and image first appeared in the Rigveda, the oldest text in the Vedic tradition dating between 1500 and 1200 a. C (There is debate about the exact moment of his birth).
what are mandalas
As we have mentioned, mandalas are related to decorated circles, although their image does not have to be exclusively like that. In the aforementioned medium, they point out that a mandala can also be “a square that encloses a circle or a series of circles, a single square, a circle that encloses an image (such as a star or a flower) or a rectangle that encloses a circle”. An example of the variety of images is the iconic Celtic Cross, which some scholars consider to be a mandala.
On the website of the Dialnet Foundation, of the University of La Rioja, they highlight that in the contemporary world, the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung (l. 1875-1961) pioneered the most innovative work on the meaning and purpose of the mandala . For him, the center of the mandala symbolizes the “self”. If you want to know more about his studies, Jung published a book called “The mandalas and their symbolism”.
what are they used for
Its objective is to direct the observer from the edge to the interior in order to generate, among others, a reflection related to self-discovery and personal developmentan analysis of the meaning of life, the nature of the universe or the reality of God (in its religious aspect).
In Psicoactiva they highlight that Buddhists have used the mandala throughout the centuries as aid for meditation. In addition, the experts at Mundo Psiclogos emphasize that coloring a mandala has endless benefits for our health and that of children.
Among all the good things that it brings us, psychologists emphasize that it promotes relaxation, improves the ability to concentrate, reduces stress and anxiety, we let our rational part resthelps the expression and identification of emotions, promotes personal acceptance and self-knowledge, works creativity, we dedicate time to ourselves, stimulates the immune system and connects us with our inner child.
If you want to get started in the world of the mandala, these books are good allies
This mandala coloring book for adults is made up of 30 handmade designs, suitable for those who seek easy challenges like the most pro in the matter. Colorya proposes this edition in A4 format and spiral binding so there are no hassles when colouring. 12.39 euros on Amazon.
Colorya Mandala Coloring Books for Adults – A4 Size – Mandala Coloring Book for Adults – Premium Quality Paper, No Medium Bleed, Single Sided Printing
In the El Corte Inglés catalog we find the book “365 mandalas to color: Relax by coloring a mandala every day and let yourself be inspired by its mindfulness messages”. In this case, the mandala designs come accompanied by inspiring phrases for each day of the year. €12.25.
365 mandalas to color: Relax by coloring a mandala every day and be inspired by its mindfulness messages (Paperback)
Finally, we are left with the work “150 Mandalas: A coloring book for adults”. Of this book we emphasize that it has a digital copy (PDF) as a gift so that You can print each mandala as many times as you want or even color through your tablet. €9.99.
150 Mandalas: An adult coloring book with 150 beautiful mandalas in various styles for stress relief and relaxation
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Photos | Unsplash, El Corte Inglés, Amazon