The Benefits of Coloring Mandalas
Coloring mandalas gives you the opportunity to develop your attention and achieve a greater state of relaxation, whatever your age. In fact, nowadays you can find a great variety of coloring books for adults in bookstores. This is a growing trend that has become a publishing phenomenon.
During childhood, we experience many leisure activities with the sole purpose of having fun or entertaining ourselves. But as we grow older, we have more obligations grow and begin to use the phrase “I don’t have time.” This keeps us from enjoying fun activities in our day to day lives. It makes us become more stressed since we don’t usually allow ourselves to disconnect.
When we were children, we spent hours and hours with our crayons, creating our favorite characters, landscapes, or even drawings from our imaginations. We drew without judging the result, focused solely on the pleasure of coloring.
Due to the benefits of practicing this activity, a large number of art therapists design mandala coloring books intended for adults, since they know the many extraordinary benefits. Coloring these geometric drawings help reduce stress, achieve a state of calm, focus on the here and now and, above all, connect with ourselves.
“Each mandala is unique and unrepeatable… It’s the vibrational expression of this moment, of this NOW.”
-Celina Emorg-
When coloring mandalas, we illuminate areas of ourselves that, until then, remained hidden. Through this journey, we allow the wisdom of our unconscious to spread its wings.
Mandalas and their history
Mandalas are varied geometric figures. They originated in India and their literal translation is ‘sacred circle’. They’re symbols of healing, wholeness, union, and integration.
In many cultures, drawing and coloring mandalas is a spiritual ritual that facilitates an “inner illumination.” However, for Carl Jung, one of the most important Swiss psychiatrists in history, the circular figures offered a healing effect that gave peace and tranquility.
“Only now did I gradually come to realize what the mandala really is: ‘Formation,transformation, the eternal mind’s eternal recreation.”
-Carl Jung-
Mandalas can vary in color and design. However, they’re formed by a center with different figures in the four cardinal points. Because of this, it’s believed they can represent the totality of our being at a psychological level. According to some advocates of this practice, each person responds to them instinctively, regardless of their age, gender, race, culture…
The magic of the mandalas, along with their therapeutic power, consists in letting oneself be carried away by the unconscious, without worrying about the final result of the drawing. That is, without judging whether it’s going to turn out beautiful or ugly… We just need to be present and focused, with the freedom to color however we want.
Mandala coloring isn’t for children
Coloring is an activity that we usually relate to childhood. As we become adults, we no longer use colored pencils and markers. However, this pastime can be very beneficial. Not only because it generates well-being and tranquility, but also because it stimulates different brain areas related to motor skills, senses, and creativity.
“Painting makes yeadults feel like a child again, transports him to generally happier and quieter times. Remembering some of those moments helps us to relax and even to see the future with greater optimism.”
Despite what we have learned during our lives about art and color, there is no right or wrong way to color. One of the positive aspects of painting is that it’s very easy for everyone.
“Coloring can be a complex activity, full of nuances; or on the contrary it can be something as simple as the simple desire to color.”
-Lacy Mucklow-
In this way, coloring can be considered an act of meditation in itself. It helps us focus our thoughts on the activity we’re doing and connect with our creativity. Everything fades away and we’re only focused on the colors and the drawing.
Many studies have shown the positive effects of coloring mandalas on the human psyche. Psychologists and art therapists recommend this activity and some even practice it, experiencing its benefits firsthand. This is why adult coloring books are bestsellers.
For people who want to enjoy the benefits of this activity, they should know that coloring mandalas also helps us connect with our inner child. Therefore, if you feel you need extra help to manage stress or anxiety, don’t hesitate and give it a try.
“Coloring is the new yoga. Like many other fads, it comes from outside our borders, from countries like France or England, where it is a success. A fad that relaxes us and helps us to disconnect.”
-Esther Bazán-
https://exploringyourmind.com/5-benefits-of-mandalas/