Mandalas 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