Busy Entrepreneur? Color Mandalas for Meditation and Relaxation

“From Native American and Tibetan sand paintings to Gothic rose windows and Hindu yantras, mandalas are used as symbols for meditation, protection and healing.” – Clare Goodwin, 1996

I admit, I am a bit obsessed with mandalas, but science and history are backing me up on this one. Coloring mandalas has become part of a regular mindfulness practice in my life and this practice has had a positive impact on growing my business, too. If you are a busy entrepreneur who is struggling to find creative time to meditate and relax, then read on! There is something about the act of coloring that keeps my hands occupied and allows my mind to settle, especially when work and family are wearing me out.

Have you noticed the coloring craze and the abundance of mandala coloring books in the marketplace? I have even seen them in the magazine stand at the local grocery store. What are mandalas and why is coloring them different than coloring other images? A mandala is a sacred space, usually a circle, which reveals some inner truth about you or the world around you. In Sanskrit mandala means both circle and center, implying that it represents both the visible world outside of us (the circle- whole world) and the invisible one deep inside our minds and bodies (the center- healing circle).

In creating a mandala we open ourselves to all the possibilities that exist inside and outside of us. A mandala can take any form and there are many natural mandala forms to be found in nature. Mandalas capture a moment in time, embodying it as a circular picture or object. The circle is a potent and universal symbol of wholeness and eternity. The earth we walk on is a circular globe and the sun, moon and stars are all circles.

In the last century, the Swiss psychologist C.G.Jung developed the use of mandalas as an aid to psychological understanding. He drew a mandala every day to express his innermost thoughts and feelings. Each time he noticed that the circle he had drawn contained a snapshot of his mental, emotional and spiritual state of being. It was as though the images were reflecting his inner self. He also realized that the expression of the circle was universal, transcending time, place and culture – children spontaneously draw them, as do adults when they doodle, for example.

About 10 years ago, I stumbled across a beautiful coloring book and picture book about mandalas at Barnes & Noble. I knew instantly that I had to buy it and spend time coloring the mandalas. My kids saw me coloring and soon you could find all three of us snuggled up on the couch watching a movie and coloring together.

Over the years my mandalas have evolved and I often create my own but there is still something so freeing and joyful about a coloring book, especially one full of mandalas! There are links at the end of this post to some of my favorite mandala coloring books and places online to print mandalas to color.

What I noticed most about coloring mandalas is how I feel during the process. I find my mind wanders and makes new associations. I feel calmer and I frequently come up with new ideas for my business while coloring. I also use them together with affirmations or mantras to add a layer of meaning and intention to the physical actions I am taking in my business.

I admit, I am a bit obsessed with mandalas, but science and history are backing me up on this one!

Why color mandalas?

Cathy Wong writes, “Mandalas are not just something to look at or meditate on… Coloring a mandala using pencil crayons, crayons, paint, or pastels combines the benefits of meditation and art therapy.

People who color mandalas often experience a deep sense of calm and well-being. It’s a simple tool that doesn’t require any expertise, but it can be remarkably soothing and nourishing. Mandalas not only focus your attention, but allow you to express your creative side, which many of us neglect in our daily lives.”

I loved her simple description! Coloring mandalas is both meditative and healing. Perhaps you don’t think of yourself as a meditator or you worry about being able to sit still and calm your mind. Trust this process. You don’t need any special tools or skills, you just need some quiet time to focus and to relax.

Coloring mandalas should be playful, quiet and enjoyable. If you do want more information about the healing power of mandalas, see the links at the end of the document.

Instructions for Coloring Mandalas

That sounds funny, do you need instructions to color? Probably not, but I want to create the space and structure for your coloring experience. We are going to be coloring with intention!

Supply list:

• A printed copy of a mandala coloring page or a coloring book.
• Colored pencils or markers. You will want sharp tips on your pencils and fine point markers.
• A blank journal or notebook of some kind that you will use for this 8 week course.
• You computer, phone or mp3 player to listen to music. This is optional. You can follow the simple instructions below for settling into the moment.
• A candle for creating a sacred space and time.

If you feel like treating yourself to some nicer art supplies, here are some of my favorites for coloring mandalas:

• Prismacolor pencils – they have a creamy texture, brilliant colors and blend beautifully
• Tombow Markers or other craft markers with dual tips – fine point on one end, brush tip on the other end
• Sakura Gel Pens

Let’s get started!

Make sure you have at least 30 minutes to complete this activity. You might want to light a candle or listen to soft music while you color, so have that nearby. A cup of tea or fresh water are nice as well.

Step 1. Print out, on cardstock or plain paper, one of the mandalas available on the websites listed below.

Step 2. Collect your pencils or markers and mandala, candle, music, and the guided visualization (optional.)

Step 3. Find a quiet, brightly lit spot to sit and color. A table is great or if you want to go outside, use a clipboard to hold your mandala.

Step 4. Close your eyes and sit quietly for a moment, taking three or four deep breaths. Then breathe naturally for several minutes. As you breathe, breathe in peace, breathe out stress and tension. Breathe in peace, breathe out peace and tension. Do this until you feel fully present in the moment. Slowly open your eyes and look at your colored pencils or markers.

Step 5. Select 3 to 5 colors from the set in front of you. Set the others aside. I tend to use many shades of the same color when I do this. I might feel that I need green and blue, like in the mandala at the beginning of this document and focus on only those colors. There is a reason we gravitate to certain colors.

Step 6. Start coloring and don’t stop until you have completed the mandala. Pay attention to the shapes of the mandala. Color carefully, focusing on staying in the lines.

Step 7. When you are finished coloring, spend a few moments looking deeply at your mandala. Breathe in the colors and the shapes and notice how you feel. Close your eyes for a moment. Open them and look at your mandala again.

Step 8. Now take out your journal and answer the following questions:

When I started this process, I felt …

Now I feel…

I picked the colors __________, ____________, and _____________ because…

When I look at the mandala, I see…

After coloring the mandala, I …

What else do you want to share about this experience? Write it in your journal.

Step 9. Allow yourself a few moments to return to normal. Feel yourself back in your body. Collect all of your colors and supplies and put them away, blow out the candle, turn off the music and return to your day knowing that you can come back to this space at any time just by returning to your breath and looking at your beautiful mandala.

I like to paste my mandalas into my journal with the notes I made about them so I can return to them. Or, you can hang it on your wall where you can see it every day.

“A Mandala when hung in a room or sacred space, also acts as a visually beautiful energy portal or ‘Feng Shui’ piece radiating out the energies that are most needed to activate personal and spiritual growth. When experienced over time, it will support the manifestation of the highest outcomes required by the Soul. If there are any blockages, limiting patterns, or belief systems still being held by the viewer(s) that would prevent this, the energies channeled into the mandala will also assist the gentle release of these.” – Christine Rainbird

Step 10. Do it again!! The next time you are feeling scattered, disconnected or overwhelmed, pick a different mandala and color again.

Links to online coloring pages that you can print and color:

http://printmandala.com/

http://www.hellokids.com/r_262/coloring/mandalas-gallery-coloring-pages/

http://www.coloring-book.info/coloring/coloring_page.php?id=209

Resources

Books available on Amazon.com that I recommend include:

World Mandalas: 100 New Designs for Coloring and Meditation by Madonna Gauding. This one includes some history and beautiful illustrations.

Coloring Mandalas 1 by Susanne F. Fincher (she has multiple volumes and they are all wonderful.)