Links to Nature, History and Art. Mandalas Links to Nature, History and Art. Today we are going to discuss - Mandalas http://www.artnetwork.com/Mandala/

The word - “mandala” originates for the Hindu Sanskrit, classical language of India means “CENTER” and “CIRCLE The word mandala is from the Hindu Sanskrit, which is the classical language of India. Mandala literally means center and circle.

A mandala can be described as any form of circular geometric design that contains symbols of a person’s inner self, guiding principles, and overall ideas about the world.

The significance of objects within a mandala are conveyed by shape, size, and color; they can be abstract designs or specific images of people, places, and ideas that are central to a person’s life.

A Mandala conveys a relationship of the center to its circumference (surroundings) together they represent wholeness The mandala, by its nature, conveys the notion any center is tied to its circumference and any circumference is always determined by its center. Together they represent wholeness. The center and periphery appear separate, yet one does not exist without the other. http://murraycreek.net/labyrinth/piscesgridrmandala4sm.gif

Mandala- The figure circular design in layers radiating from the center center symbolizes that which is beyond our understanding circumference reflects its potential as well as boundaries A mandala is a circular design arranged in layers radiating from the center. The center of each mandala symbolizes that which is beyond our linear concepts of time and space: the eternal now that is constant, yet always dynamic. The Mandela's circumference, on the other hand, reflects its potential as well as its boundaries. http://murraycreek.net/labyrinth/piscesgridrmandala4sm.gif

Living Mandalas (Examples in Nature) Planet Earth Solar system Cells in living organisms Iris of the eye Snowflakes Bird’s nest Ask students for examples in the world around them, before looking at the list on this slide

A Tibetan Buddhist Mandala: The mandala is a symbol of a man or woman in the world, a support for the meditating person. In the Center is the symbol of Buddha Buddha is surrounded by lotus blossom of eight petals on a bed of jewels The mandala is illustrated as a palace with four gates, facing the four corners of the Earth The “walls of the palace” are represented by four square colors The four gates are guarded by four angry door keepers Four outer circles each representing a layer of protection Mandalas represent the totality of our being or self. The eminent Swiss psychiatrist C.G. Jung (1875-1961) made psychological studies of the mandala and used it in treating patients. Jung and his patient would draw a mandala, starting the design at the center and continuing outward. Taking turns, the patient drew, then doctor, then patient, until they felt the mandala was complete. Jung believed that they are our “eternal mind’s eternal recreation,” the path of our center, the voice of our unconscious, and the mirror of our becoming whole. Because they reflect the human psyche, each of us responds instinctively to mandalas regardless of age, ethnic background, culture or gender. Drawing and coloring mandalas is a form of meditation which brings to our awareness messages from the subconscious. Coloring mandalas can help us become more focused when we feel scattered and more peaceful when we are struggling with personal issues. This activity is often used by school psychologists and teachers to calm hyperactive children and creatively engage others who are bored. http://www.jyh.dk/indengl.htm

Mandalas - An Art Form All mandalas have the following characteristics: center cardinal points that are contained in a circle some form of symmetry They can be simple or complex Mandalas have been known to all cultures throughout history. Individual designs vary greatly but they always have the following characteristics: a center, cardinal points that can be contained in a circle, and some form of symmetry. They can be very simple or extremely complex as in ancient Tibetan religious designs, Navajo sand paintings, and huge stained glass windows in medieval cathedrals. Mandalas are also reflected in the design of shelters such as Native American tipis, Inuit igloos, and Afghan yurts. Old European towns with a church and market place at their center from which cobbled streets fan outward to protective wall are classic mandalas.

Links in History Hindus Meditation European cathedrals Windows Aztec Stone Calendar Traditionally mandalas have been used by spiritual leaders, shamans and healers as a source of wisdom, a form of meditation, and to reflect universal consciousness. The Navaho of the American Southwest have a healing ritual in which multicolored sands are used to create circular patterns. The mandala appears in many cultures. Mandalas can be found in the rose windows of medieval cathedrals of Europe. The Aztecs of Mexico created magnificent stone mandala for their calendar. At its center was mask of the sun god. Surrounding the mask were symbols depicting an earthquake that the Aztecs thought would end the world. Around that was a band with the signs for the days of the Aztec year. Move on to the Aztec History Information. www.mexconnect.com/mex_/aztecsunstone.html

Making a Mandala Find images that express aspects of YOU! Use a Pie Template to Select Parts of Each Image. Mirror the pie shape template

Objectives Learn about the basic history of Mandalas Create one mandala that is a about yourself and one that is about something important to you Each mandala must have five or more layers The object selected for the center must mean something to you or represent something about you It must be difficult to get into the center Write a short paragraph describing your mandala

Idea Work Sheet http://www.teachervision.fen.com/classroom-management/lesson-plan/6041.html

Student Images

My Mandala By Brittany M. “My Mandala is about the some of the beautiful features of earth. On the outside is the ocean that protects the butterflies and tulip. The water gets lighter in color as it moves into the inside because the water is becoming calmer. The stars show how beautiful the night is, and the diamonds are there because the are found on earth. The butterflies are flying around the flower to represent how it looks on earth.” http://www.pocanticohills.org/Tibet/bm.htm

My Mandala By Nathan “This Mandala indicates basketball skills. This Mandala is suppose to make your basketball skills better and give you more luck. It looks colorful, it has a protective layer and it has the source of meditation in the center.” http://www.pocanticohills.org/Tibet/nf.htm

My Mandala By Veronica “My Mandala is guarding my most favorite and precious thing in the world, a cat. The cat represents my 1-year-old kitten that was killed. The pyramids that protect my kitten are there because I read a book that said pyramids are tombs that protect the dead. The electricity outside the pyramids keeps nosy people from disturbing my kitten. The ocean is there to protect the rest of my mandala. The red sky near the ocean is the sunset.” http://www.pocanticohills.org/Tibet/vg.htm