Mandalas

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Mandalas
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What is a Mandala?

• The word "mandala" is from the classical Indian
  language of Sanskrit. It is loosely translated to
  mean "circle," however, a mandala is far more
  than a simple shape. It represents wholeness, and
  can be seen as a model for the organizational
  structure of life itself--a cosmic diagram that
  reminds us of our relation to the infinite, the
  world that extends both beyond and within our
  bodies and minds.

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The Mandala

• Describing both material and non-material
  realities, the mandala appears in all aspects of
  life the celestial circles we call earth, sun,
  and moon, as well as conceptual circles of
  friends, family, and community.

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The Mandala in Nature

• From micro to macroThe "circle with a center"
  pattern is the basic structure of creation that
  is reflected from the micro to the macro in the
  world as we know it. It is a pattern found in
  nature and is seen in biology, geology,
  chemistry, physics and astronomy.
• On our planet, living things are made of cells
  and each cell has a nucleus -- all display
  circles with centers. The crystals that form ice,
  rocks, and mountains are made of atoms. Each atom
  is a mandala.
• Within the Milky Way galaxy is our solar system
  and within our solar system, is Earth. Each is a
  mandala that is part of a larger mandala.
• Flowers, the rings found in tree trunks and the
  spiraling outward and inward of a snail's shell
  all reflect the primal mandala pattern. Wherever
  a center is found radiating outward and inward,
  there is wholeness--a mandala.

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A cross-cultural pattern

• The mandala pattern is used in many religious
  traditions. Hildegard von Bingen, a Christian nun
  in the 12th century, created many beautiful
  mandalas to express her visions and beliefs.

• In the Americas, Indians have created medicine
  wheels and sand mandalas. The circular Aztec
  calendar was both a timekeeping device and a
  religious expression of ancient Aztecs.
• In Asia, the Taoist "yin-yang" symbol represents
  opposition as well as interdependence. Tibetan
  mandalas are often highly intricate illustrations
  of religious significance that are used for
  meditation.

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What type of balance is used here?
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And here?
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But, how do we begin a Mandala?

• Using a pencil, you begin by drawing a circle,
  then using radial balance, break the circle into
  equal sections.
• Sections can be made using geometric or organic
  lines
• Geometric lines being straight, angular, precise,
  looks man-made
• Organic lines being free-form, loose,
  natural-looking

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• Sections then need to be filled with additional
• patterns and designs being very careful to keep
• the entire circle well-balanced.

Planet Earth is surrounded by 6
angelsBirth,Life,Death,Body,Mind,SpiritAll
connected, as we are...If every tear shed for
this tragic day flowed freely, surely the river
would have washed all of the hate from this
world. The rainbow encircling our universe is a
symbol of God's promise, never ending love for
us... A reminder to be kind to each other...
Peace To All
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Accepted Media

• You may use
• colored pencil
• pencil
• ink (black only)
• Mixed media (a mix of the three above)

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Requirements

• Your mandala must be
• Neatly and precisely completed
• Show good radial balance
• Show good color choices---use a color scheme that
  enhances the mood which you want to convey
• Show control of the media used
• Completed and turned in by end of class on