Mandala Painting ~ FULLY BOOKED

Mandala Painting – A Path Toward Wholeness

An introduction to the artistic and spiritual practice of mandala painting

I have been making mandalas for most of my adult life, in one form or another; but my fascination with creating them geometrically sprang from studying Geometry in Nature while home educating my children.

My eyes were opened to the incredible precision of mandala-like patterns in natural forms; the ‘fiveness’ of a flower echoed within the geometry of its fruit; the golden spiral of a snail being identical in geometry to a spiral galaxy or an unfurling fern. Within nature we see reflected divine beauty; an inherent order to things which may seem lacking in the turbulence of daily life.

We can consider the creation of a mandala as both an artistic and a spiritual practice, because it involves a prayerful kind of attention observing and working in this way. It’s also a therapeutic practice, because creating a mandala can really help you feel more balanced and centred in yourself.

‘zentangle’ colouring books are popular at the moment; advertised as a form of ‘artistic meditation’ for a similar reason – to follow the intricacies of a pattern requires mindfulness, patience and quiet time. Creating your own mandala design allows you to follow your own lines and patterns, to produce a painting that holds an intention or symbolism that is meaningful to you. In this way it can become a personal shield or a focus for meditation. It can reflect a time of year or an elemental quality. Maybe it represents a healing process or a dream you’ve had…

This workshop is an opportunity to study and practice the art of mandala painting. The day will include guided meditation, an introduction to sacred geometry, discovering geometry in nature, mandalas in different cultures, as well as practical drawing and painting. The aim is for students to paint their own unique mandala design.

A mandala can be perfectly simple or elaborately complex in colour and construction, sometimes incorporating symbols and sacred geometry. Whether simple or complex, the creation of a mandala can be a deeply satisfying process, providing a way to work artistically that can help us feel more centred and connected with ourselves and within the world around us. Mandala therapy!

Beginners welcome, all materials provided – though I encourage you to bring your own tools (compass, ruler, brushes) if you have them.

Suitable for ages 14 upwards.