The Magic Of Mandalas To Relieve Stress

In recent years, mandalas are acquiring great importance as they help respond to the Western world’s need to reconnect with one’s own essence and what is authentic. And while it is an artistic expression full of colors and shapes, they are also a very beneficial activity. For this reason, there are many people who draw or print them to paint them and wrap themselves in their ancestral charm.

The word mandala comes from Sanskrit and means ‘sacred circle’. Hence, it is a representation of the circle of life for both Hinduism and Buddhism. And, talking about mandalas is talking about mysticism and the flow of energies, but what we are looking for today is to convey to you one of its most famous uses: that of relaxing and, therefore, helping us to combat stress through the healthy exercise of color them with pencils or paint them with watercolors, among other pigments.

The mysticism of mandalas

The different colors that mandalas have favor a certain type of energy. Within the Tibetan people, for example, this type of artistic manifestation is very common. In them the spiritual world, nature, love and, also, healing converge. That is why, within this rather mystical perspective, mandalas have the following purposes:

• They fill the home with positive energies, since they promote harmony and prosperity.
• They help transform negative energy into positive; therefore, it  is also believed that they can act as healers.
• They represent vital balance, peace and calm. Visually, they are an artistic manifestation that calms us down and allows us to reduce anxiety and stress levels, mainly.

The mandalas and the colors

It is interesting to know what the meaning of the colors in the mandalas is. Do you want to know what each hue conveys inside these attractive shapes? Remember that mandalas are inscribed within the Hindu or Tibetan culture, hence we talk about chakras.

• Red. It represents the first chakra and transmits us the strength and value of love and passion. Also of pride.
• Orange.  It is the second chakra. It is the color of ambition and optimism, of the strength in oneself to achieve purposes and objectives.
• Yellow.  Third chakra. What does the color yellow tell us? It speaks to us of intelligence, of good work and also of personal liberation.
• Green.  Fourth chakra. Gives off the values ​​of hope and healing. It also offers us a balance between love and reason.
• Blue.  It is the fifth chakra. As you can already guess, the color blue is the reflection of calm and peace, also of tolerance.

• Indigo.  It is the sixth chakra. It helps us to communicate with the inner self so that problems can be solved with balance and good work.
• Purple.  It is the seventh chakra. A magical color. Conveys imagination and spirituality.
• Rose.  Eighth chakra. A pleasant color that surrounds us with love and friendship, as well as charm.

Mandalas to relieve stress

You may be interested to know that, in recent years, mandalas have acquired great importance at an educational level, especially among the little ones. Its inclusion in the school routine is considered to promote concentration and relaxation in children,  as well as to help them express feelings through the choice of colors. It also allows them to improve their fine motor skills.

The choice of colors forces you to keep your attention on the activity. Of course, there are very diverse mandalas, whose design can be more or less difficult, depending on the case. In this sense, painting a mandala can take half an hour or even a couple of days. In that time you can be with yourself, with your thoughts, with your feelings.  It is a way of connecting with ourselves and silencing the turbulence in the environment. 

In the case of adults, the benefits that mandalas can provide are also very interesting, since they are not very different from those of children. Of course, what really varies is the level of difficulty of the design. The most prominent benefits, for adults, are the following:

• They promote relaxation and tranquility.
• They favor concentration on the “here” and the “now”.
• There are those who are inclined towards dark colors, something that will result in a particular mandala that will reflect their mood. So, at the end of it, you become aware of your emotions through those colors. In the case of children it is very illustrative.

In the main image we give you an example of an empty mandala, ready to paint. Although you can also create your own designs. And if you prefer, you can also print them, or buy a book with a particular theme. And remember, mandalas are an option with which you can not only develop your artistic gifts, but also help you improve your cognitive and emotional abilities.

They are also ideal for your children, to help them focus their attention and fine motor skills. They are sure to love it and appreciate it! Without a doubt, mandalas go beyond simple aesthetic beauty.