How can mandalas serve as an effective tool for all women in healing, coping and living.
By Ashmi Sheth
26 May 2020
Verticals: Arts & Culture, Health, International
Across cultures, disciplines, age groups and beyond time – “Mandala” seems to be intrinsically attractive, a truth we surrender to – in times of distress and self-confusion. Consciously or unconsciously, circles have garnered a biased extent of attention by the human mind transcending beyond cultures and ages. “Mandala” is a Hindi word derived from Sanskrit, meaning “circle” (more specifically, a magic circle; Singer, 1994) or center.
According to Gestalt psychology, Kohler (1992) suggests, simple, closed forms, such as circles, are more quickly perceived and recognized as meaningful. Circles are registered by the eye and passed directly to the visual cortex without intermediate processing (Horowitz, 1983). Because circles look the same whether right side up or turned upside down, the brain does not have to do intermediate processing to recognize a circle, as it does, when identifying a square or some other form that has been rotated. This ease of identification gives circles an advantage over other forms competing for our full attention. The psychological order created by drawing, a circular mandala extends outward, to help us orient ourselves within our present life situation (Wertheimer, 1959). At the same time, circles are believed to help individuals focus inward. Thus, mandala is considered to be a symbol of “wholeness” and “unity” and is used as a tool for spiritual growth and psychological self-realization.
Mandalas are found amongst the most ancient art forms created by human beings. Rock carvings found all over the world incorporate the circular form and its variations such as spirals, crosses, concentric circles. Although frequently found in Tibetan Buddhist culture, mandalas have also been prevalent in Western culture, including European artwork (Jaffe, 1964), and have clear affiliations with Christianity (Edinger, 1987; 1992). The use of mandalas have been found in early Navajo and Pueblo American Indian cultures (Clarke, 1994). Some ceremonies use circular movement to create an ecstatic state of mind. Eskimos incise a circle in a stone with repetitive, rhythmic movements for long periods of time in order to bring about a trance. Such widespread use of the mandala – whether in drawing, from nature, or as a spiritual meditative technique, demonstrate the strong association of the ‘circle’ with the human mind. The ‘circle’ as a motif is believed to resonate with the deeply felt human intuitions.
Scholars have confirmed the benefits of visual art making for women experiencing a variety of psychological disturbances. Research shows benefits of mandala art making for individuals experiencing psychological trauma, abuse, mental disturbances, emotional and even physical pain, to chronic illnesses such as cancer. In a patriarchal society, where women are often socialized into accepting ‘subordinate status’ and performing ‘subordinate roles,’ mandala making can serve as an effective tool to self-discovery, insight and subsequent enhanced self-esteem. The use of mandalas as a therapeutic tool was first mentioned by Carl Jung (1972). During Jung’s many years as a psychotherapist, mandalas were often drawn, painted, modelled, or danced by his patients as well, usually in times of crisis or transformation (Jung, 1963). Jung has also shared case studies of using mandalas with his female patients. (The Collected Works of C. G. Jung, Vol. 9, Part I). in a chapter titled “Concerning Mandala Symbolism” in the same book, Jung shares his experience of viewing a huge mandala (about ten feet ac) drawn by a woman on the floor of the mandapam (porch), in coloured chalks, at the great temple of Madurai in southern India. When asked about the drawing to a pandit, Jung states, that the pandit could offer him no information about it, and “only the women who drew such pictures knew what they meant.” “The woman herself was non-committal; she evidently did not want to be disturbed in her work,” Jung remarks. He also observed that elaborate mandalas in red chalk could also be found on the whitewashed walls of many huts. Thus, the connection between mandala creation and woman’s unconscious does neither seems novel nor a surprising one.
Mandala making can also help women effectively cope with major life transitions such as entering motherhood or accepting menopause. Gullemin, while studying ‘drawings as a research method,’ explored the drawings made by women, which portrayed how they understood and experienced menopause. A group of female nursing students who were given the activity of creating a mandala and explaining it through writing, reported deeper self-reflection, experiences of rational thought, critical reflection and social awareness, along with experience of ‘socialization’ that is associated with nursing education. Mahar points out to self-awareness as an important aspect of emotional learning, and states that the nursing students need opportunities throughout the curriculum to engage in self-reflection. Her research thus provides a case for activities such as creating and explaining mandalas to be included in nursing education curriculum, which would support private self-reflection as well as critical reflection, and also be within the comfort zone for those students who might be uncomfortable with a completely verbal activity. She asserts, “the mandala should be viewed by nurse educators as both a transformative and culturally sensitive learning strategy that can be used to address the need for emotional learning.”
Mandalas can also be made from stones, sand, clay, or even “found objects.” The underlying aim is to create a “circular pattern,” that is often repetitive, leading to a meditative state called “the zone” or “flow,” which focuses your mind and temporarily pushes aside all your worries and relieves your stress. “People’s drawings in the circles represent what they thought at that time of the drawing, allows them to forget the confusion they are experiencing, and helps them withdraw into themselves by making them concentrate on the act of drawing itself. Mandala art therapy can thus help psychiatric inpatients integrate the different parts of their selves, understand the essence of life, and lead a life that is more centered on themselves” (Jung, 1973). Art psychotherapists use the mandala as a basic tool for self-awareness, self-expression, conflict resolution, and healing. Within the realm of art therapy, the mandala generally refers to any art form that is executed within a circular context. It can be symmetrical, asymmetrical, abstract or just scribble – but inside a circular boundary.
Art therapy is increasingly being used around the world to complement cancer treatments as part of a wellness programme. A Hong Kong cancer support organisation offered three-day mandala making workshop for breast cancer patients. The workshop showed positive results for most of the participants – some reported that it helped calm and quieten their thoughts, for some, the activity provided a distraction from the stress, emotions or pain related to their illness, while some reported that this form of creative expression led to self-discovery or self-healing. Most importantly, many participants reported that the experience of mandala-making activity helped them view their disease or life from a different angle, and helped them develop a positive attitude toward their disease. Mandala art therapy can thus help psychiatric inpatients integrate the different parts of their selves, understand the essence of life, and lead a life that is more centered on themselves (Jung, 1973).
Results from a research also suggests that mandala drawings, as an assessment tool, can give physicians a non-invasive approach to broadening breast cancer treatment. The authors further state that “this approach guides the physician to extract valuable information that may be blocked by conscious processes.” Another research confirms the positive effects of Mandala art therapy on ‘boosting hope’ – which they define as “a positive energy that can help patients overcome their illnesses”— in psychiatric patients (people suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, and major depressive disorder.
Mandalas have been created by Indian women, in the form of ‘Rangoli’ and/or ‘kolam’ since many years, and they do have their own religious and spiritual significance. The research studies cited above help us to confirm its efficacy and allow us to remind ourselves of the beautiful and simple tools that we often have handy, but often ignore or are unaware of. Practiced since ages and now empirically confirmed, the mandala can be an effective tool for women coping with the smallest day-to-day stresses, to women struggling with mental or emotional disturbances, to women battling with chronic diseases like cancer. A whole body of literature related to mandalas an spirituality is not even touched upon here, as this article focuses on the psychological benefits of mandala making. As an artist and an art therapy enthusiast, I urge you to dive into the soothing mandala curves, and I’m sure you’ll come out lighter, stronger, brighter, and calmer.
Note: An important warning needs to be mentioned here, that mandala making is only one of the activities used in art therapy. Mandala making neither explains or demonstrates the full capacity of art therapy, nor is confined only to the field of art therapy. It is a tool used by various practitioners – from spirituality to therapy.
