Mandala

The word mandala comes from Sanskrit and means "holy or magic circle." The symmetrical connection among several circles and squares creates many different shapes and patterns that are used in meditation and to aid concentration.

Originally the mandala was used to depict the order of the uni- verse-it was a cosmogram. The circle represented the heavens and the squares, the four corners of the compass. Its cosmi power was transferred to architectural designs and the construction of temples.

The best-known mandalas in the West are those created in Tibet, where the center is often a lotus flower with a god figure inside. The symmetrical shape of a mandala conveys a sense of harmony and balance, which creates an intimate sense of peace and tranquility.

A mandala can be painted on a wall or on silk fabric, or carved out of wood, and may be created according to one's own intuition or imagination. Mandalas are also painted with colored sand or powder on the floor. Sand mandalas are done for very specific rituals and at the end of the ceremony are destroyed and given back to nature.

Applications:

• As a picture or wood carving, hung on the wall to invite cosmic energy
• As a floor design at the entrance or hallway, to attract cosmic energy into the home
• As a floor design in the center of the house, for peace and tranquility.

Ba Gua Areas:

• Knowledge
• Career

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