The Magic of Mandala: Dive into the Healing Power of Sacred Symmetry

Mandalas can Help Restore Balance

Art Therapists often invite participants to create mandalas to bring about a sense of discovery, focus, awareness and peace. One of the pioneers of psychology and psychoanalysis, Carl Jung, drew mandalas for personal growth and used them with his patients to help them move toward wholeness. He shared, “I sketched every morning in a notebook, a small circular drawing, a mandala, which seemed to correspond to my inner situation at the time.”

Art Therapists use mandalas to better understand the inner world of our clients and to help contain powerful, difficult emotions. Some clients have a meditative experience and produce insightful views of the self and deeper meaning to life’s situations.

The process of making a mandala incorporates both symmetry and flow, and structure with flexibility. As we play and explore through art, within the safety of the circle, the process calls on our ability to be resilient and accept the unexpected. 

The process also engages both hemispheres of the brain, restoring a sense of mental and emotional balance. With both hemispheres engaged, our ability to cope with anxiety and regain a sense of control increases. We feel more grounded and discover the space to heal from loss.

A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology has found that cooperative, interactive mandala drawing nurtures positive feelings, while individual mandala drawing can help detox negative feelings.