(Continued from Home page)
C. G. Jung wrote extensively about the use of mandalas for psychological integrateion in his book, "Mandala Symbolism". In it there is a series of colored mandalas that a patient drew, exploring the symbolism of her subconscious. Her mandala started in a landscape as a round shape being struck by lightening. It evolved into a collection of mandalas, each exploring her different states of mind.
The word mandala is from the Sanskrit, "Circle." The Asian Buddhists, Tibetians, Indians all have a long history of creating mandalas. I saw the sand mandala here in Portland that was made by Tibetian monks. The various areas and colors all carried different symbolism. After the exhibit was over, they swept it and threw the material into the river. Throwing the sand back into the water signified the impermanence of life and the great cycle of all being, springing from the central creator and going back to the same.
Check out Ghee Beom Kim's page http://geometricarts.googlepages.com on GeometricArts. Our universe is constructed of mathematics, and he has created wonderful mandalas and other artwork using these formulas. He has an artistic touch as you will see, in the simple artistic statements he makes that show the beauty of math in visual form.
DarrowGraphics http://www.darrowgraphics.com/NEWMAND_flowers_1/index.htm has taken flowers and arranged them in symmetric circles to form pleasing mandalas.
There are as many possibilities and styles of mandalas as there are people. I suggest you try it yourself and see what sort of images you will create.