Mandalas What is a Mandala What is a

Mandalas

What is a Mandala?

What is a symbol? • A picture that means many things like…. :

What is a Mandala? • Originated in Tibet 2000 years ago – Tibetans use it to calm themselves and think about the meaning of life • Intricately illustrated • Used for meditation • Show individual or cultural uniqueness • Many cultures use it – Aztec – Asia – Native Americans

Aztec Calendar – Timekeeping – Religious uses

Taoist Yin-Yang Symbol • To show opposition and interdependence

Native Americans Sand painting Medicine wheels

Why a circle? • What are some things a circle can symbolize or represent?

Why a circle? • Represents harmony and wholeness of life – Universal shape: eye, sun snowflake, moon, circle of friends, the atom, cells, nucleus • A simple representation of WHO YOU ARE – Using symbols that represent you • Peace, love, friendship, etc

. You are going to create your own symbolic picture representing aspects of your life! Your own mandala

Visualizations • Close your eyes • Picture the scenes I’m going to describe • Open when I say • Write or draw what you thought about

Visualization #1 • Think about a significant day in your life. – – Who was there? Where were you? What was happening? Why is the day so important to you?

Visualization #2 • Think about a series of favorite locations of your childhood. • Why is each place special? What does it represent? – Dad’s lap? – Grandma’s kitchen stool – A secret hiding place under a tree

Visualization #3 • Envision the people closest to you. – – Who are they? See their faces View their actions What have they done or what do they do that makes them special?

Visualization #4 • Think about the objects in your life that are most important to you. – What are they? – Feel yourself holding them – How do they make you feel? – Where did you get them? – Why are they special?

Visualization #5 • Think about a difficult time in your life. – What was going on? – Why were you struggling? – Who was there to help you? – How did you respond the challenge?

Visualization #6 • See your life as a journey. – What does it look like? • Bumpy road • River • Where did the journey begin? • Where has it led you? • Where is it heading? • How has the trip been • What part was really important, a defining moment?

Rough Drafts • Most important symbol in the middle • Think of connecting design • Unifying theme • Symmetrical pattern