Therapeutic Mandalas
ART THERAPY WORKSHOPS
with intuitive mandala drawing
For us, Mandala Art Therapy is the most enjoyable, playful and colorful form of self-knowledge and exploration of psycho-emotional dynamics. In our personal experience, we have have discovered how drawing mandalas can be a very easy and revealing technique in self-knowledge!
We organize group therapeutic workshops, online and in person, where we meet to explore the therapeutic side of mandalas together. Through guided meditation, we access our inner world, which we then express it with shapes and colors in a mandala. No experience or talent in drawing is needed, because in art therapy it is not about that, the emphasis is on the process, not the result. That is why there is no “correct” or “wrong” mandala, and anyone can try this.
In this context, mandalas become a mirror of our inner world, of the hidden parts that were previously formless. We bring aspects of the unconscious to light, and through contemplation and analysis we discover answers and “inner treasures”.
The power and magic of the group manifests itself when we create the Mandala of Mandalas, a mandala made up of several individual mandalas, harmoniously placed in the shape of a flower on an altar. Here, different parts of us that want to receive loving attention are reflected and soulful stories are listened to.
We are waiting for you to discover the amazing universe of mandalas! Follow the EVENTS page to see when the next mandala art therapy meetings are scheduled!
Schedule a 1:1 private mandala art therapy session!
The meeting will be online, and we will guide you in exploring your inner world through intuitive mandala drawing. You will see how an art therapy session works, how mandalas can help you in self-knowledge and we will explore together the psycho-emotional aspects that are revealed through your drawing. We will guide you through the entire process, and at the end you will have a broader understanding of your inner world and you will be left with a message from your mandala. You will then be able to use this technique whenever you need clarity, emotional regulation and connection with your inner self.
Write us a message in the Contact section to schedule an online meeting with us!
Carl G. Jung, about MANDALAS:
“Only gradually did I discover what the mandala is… and that is the self, the wholeness of the personality, which if all goes well is harmonious.” (Memories, Dreams, Reflections, Originally published: 1961)
Mandala as a therapeutic tool in self-knowledge, healing and personal growth!
The simple process of drawing a mandala is therapeutic by itself! First of all, It requires the deliberate decision to re-orient your attention from the outside to the inside world, having the intention to explore your own universe.
The entire process is calm and relaxing, like a meditation in motion and it comes with relief, from the physical to the mental and emotional level. Moreover, while drawing, you create a connection with that part of you which express itself free from mental conditioning, from prejudices, that inner child who intuitively knows how to draw a mandala and which colors go there where the mind is overwhelmed.
When someone draws a therapeutic mandala, he maintains the observer perspective, becoming the witness of his own reactions, thoughts and feelings and simultaneously being also the practical instrument for the mandala to take shape and color. It is like a conscious act of disidentification and letting go of control, with the purpose of self-knowledge, to get to know yourself better. On the other side, the drawing is intuitive, some shapes or symbols appear spontaneously, the colors are chosen according to what the soul aspires, following the principle that there are no right or wrong decisions.
The shape of a mandala is an ideal space to express yourself, due to its circularity and the repetitive character of the elements inside the circle. The circle is known as a fundamental shape from the sacred geometry perspective, being a symbol of the entire Universe, without beginning or end, having infinite possibilities, same as its central point symbolizes the being that sustains it. Furthermore, the repetitiveness and the symmetry are other two factors that make the mandala that special. In the process of drawing it, the fact that you automatically/mechanically repeat the same shape, offers you the opportunity to enter in a sort of conscious trance, where you have the space to observe yourself at all levels; physically, you will be able to see how your body looks like, its position, different spontaneous reactions, the level of tension or relaxation of the muscles, what are its needs and so on. By watching your thoughts without engaging in them, you can observe the type of thoughts that arise in the mind and this can be extremely revealing sometimes. Also the emotional reactions have a lot of information to offer about yourself.
While somebody is drawing a therapeutic mandala, he is also self-centered, with no worries and connected to his intuition. Few are that moments when we really offer us some time to stay with ourselves, to get to know ourselves better and to create a better defined connection with our supreme self, that part of us which is not influenced by the time passing and the changing of our values and identities.
At the end of the experience, a psychological analysis of the personality can be done. Giving the idea that mandala is a physical representation of the human psyche, the final product is like a map, a holistic image of what the subconscious or the unconscious contains. Moreover, according to psychoanalyst Carl Jung, the mandala is a representation of the self, of the whole being.
Depending on different variables, like the openness, the depth a person manages to reach, the psycho-spiritual stage he/she is in and so on, the creation of mandalas with therapeutic purposes can be extremely revealing sometimes, very useful and curative.
This process can be done individually, or in group. The power of a group is also very important! Where there are several with the same intention, a space is created to support the smooth and effortless development of the activity.
Let's practice!
How can we use mandalas in therapy?
1. INTENT - Before you start drawing write down your intention for this exercise.
2. MANDALA DRAWING
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Make sure the space you are in is quiet and free of distractions;
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Start drawing the mandala of your current state.
3. INTEGRATION
When you finished drawing look at the mandala and notice how you feel. Write down everything you think is relevant to this process
Some questions that can help you:
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What's your mandala name?
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What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you look at it?
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If you were to present your mandala to someone, how would you describe it?
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If your mandala were to move, how would it move?
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What energy does your mandala have? Try to describe it.
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If your mandala were to surprise you with something, something you didn't think of when you created it, but you notice now, what would it be? If nothing comes up, imagine what might surprise you?
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If it were to speak, what would it tell you?
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If it wanted to reshape, how would it change?
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What does your mandala need to feel better?
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How does your mandala help you?
4. IMMAGINATION GAME - Write in 5 lines, using the third person, your experience with the mandala. Take into account what thoughts you had along the way, what emotions were present while drawing and how you would describe your body and the feelings from this experience.
Now that you have put your inner states on paper, these words and the mandala become your mirror! Now you can see from the outside what was inside your mind before! This holistic vision brings clarity, a broader perspective that helps you understand yourself better.
To put into color and words contents that were previously formless, to bring into manifest and consciousness aspects of your inner self, to bring to light parts of the darkness ... means to know yourself better! Free yourself! Allow yourself to see and fall in love with yourself!
Together we graduated the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, UBB, Cluj-Napoca (2009-2012), then we continued our studies at the same university, with a Master in Psychology of Public and Clinical Health (2012-2014) and our journey of personal and professional development continued with studies in Transpersonal Psychotherapy, Timisoara (2016 - 2021).
We facilitate self-knowledge workshops with mandalas.
We believe that inner work is a necessary and continuous aspect in life in order to know ourselves better and to evolve consciously, in harmony with ourselves and what surrounds us. We know that mandalas can be an easy, creative and colorful way to explore our inner world. We want to share this therapeutic technique that helps us become more aware and useful in creating a better world.
Follow us on EVENTS page and Facebook for next events!
