DREAM FORWARD
Every January, there seems to be a strong desire for self-improvement filling the air, and with that tends to come a slew of resolutions: eat healthier, exercise more, swear less. While all are certainly not bad ways to start a new calendar cycle, there is an undeniable element of cliché associated with making a New Year’s resolution. Physical improvement is a great thing at any time of the year; however, internal well-being should be accorded equal priority, irrespective of the date. In an era where mental health is given much attention, the need to undertake psychological resolutions should be at the top of one’s list. This is where harnessing the power of mandalas can teach one a thing or two about oneself. Through mandala practice, looking back will allow you to dream forward.
The term “mandala” is of Sanskrit origin, meaning “center and circle.” Cave drawings, predating the invention of the wheel (another manifestation of a transporting circle), depict circles with a central dot. This shape has existed across diverse cultures and within numerous religions. “Wherever we look there is evidence of mandalas,” professes Renate C. Hume, the renowned multihyphenate and author of Personal Mandala Readings. Examples include the design of rosette windows in Christian churches, Native American medicine wheels, and Aborigine circles drawn in the sand. “The concept is a natural one,” she elaborates, as “we are attracted to a center that is ‘still,’ while the rest of the world is swirling around us.” Consequently, the mandala is symbolic in shape and explorative in concept.
The practice of mandala begins with drawing a large circle—your universe—fitting just within a square. At its center lies a smaller circle, while the outer section of the larger circle is divided into four parts diagonally. In each section, you draw what speaks to you. Each quadrant represents a direction and a corresponding phase of life: “youth” to the east, “adult life” to the south, “wisdom age” to the west, and “support belief systems” to the north—representing the highest level of understanding—with the center circle being “you in essence.” The circle inside a square illustrates the contradiction between our circular inclinations despite living in a square world—you’re probably reading this article on a square screen or page in a room with four corners, which contains doors and windows of the same shape, in a building comprised of cubical spaces. Poetically, the mandala’s geometric design aims to help you find your organic center nonetheless.
“The mandala is an all-embracing, timeless symbol of human experience,” Renate asserts. “Its concentric structure suggests a passage from the outer to the inner experience. The mandala is one of the most potent symbols of mankind. It can be a representation of the cosmos or a representation of the psyche. C.G. Jung found that his clients were able to access their unconscious when they drew their dream experiences in a circle.” This is much like how one goes about creating a “Personal Mandala.” Renate explains, “In a Personal Mandala, one starts out with a journey inward, looking back on one’s life, dreaming forward, but also getting in touch with the very essence of self. In addition, one may contemplate what kind of emotional, spiritual support one has adopted for needy times.” When doing a private session with Renate, “the process entails a quiet journey initially, followed by private feedback based on the universal meaning of symbols, colors, numbers, placement, and ‘accidentals.’ The average session takes about an hour and a half.”
Yet mandala is a practice that can be incorporated into daily life, personally, alone, in the comfort of one’s home, and at your own pace. Similar to how journaling aids in processing experiences, mandala allows you to reflect on your current feelings through art, fostering personal growth by revealing aspects that might otherwise remain hidden in your unconscious mind. To begin, one must first prepare the previously described circle outline on a square sheet of paper. The color and texture of the paper selected hold significance as well. “For giving your experiences (remembered or dreamed) an expression,” Renate advises regarding the upcoming drawings, “I recommend the use of colored pencils, crayons, pastels (both oil and chalk), or anything you are comfortable with, as long as it does not take days to dry.” You need to be able to finish the work in a single sitting.
Then, take a deep breath—the kind that goes deep into your belly. Consciously relax your shoulders, easing away excessive thoughts. Embrace the stilling of your mind and begin reflecting on your life. Pay mindful attention to the sensations in your belly. “You can approach your mandala with a particular question in mind and follow the path of ‘looking back—dreaming forward’, always with your question in mind,” Renate suggests. For example, inquire: “Who am I right now? What is it that supports me? Where am I headed based on where I come from, and what do I dream about and believe in?” Do not analyze what comes up—just continue to listen to your belly. “Whenever you find yourself ‘thinking’ instead of ‘listening,’ take a deep breath into your belly again.”
“Whatever comes up, please give it an expression: a stick figure, a symbol, or just a color,” encourages Renate, noting that you shouldn’t use any words. “As you go around the timeline of your personal Mandala, you start out by looking back. Eventually, you reach the point of ‘now’, which is when you switch gears. You stop looking back and begin to dream forward.” There is no right or wrong method to draw your Personal Mandala. Renate keenly points out, “The important part is that you listen to yourself and give yourself the time to allow pertinent events to float up into your consciousness.” Upon completion of your Personal Mandala, “take a moment to thank your unconscious mind for providing you with the information that is pertinent to your life at this very instant.”
A single mandala session will undoubtedly be a life-altering experience. However, practicing mandala on a regular basis can aid individuals in gaining a better understanding of themselves. “Remember, this is not about art; this is about being authentic!” Renate emphasizes. Moreover, this is not a marathon—take all the time you need to quietly complete your mandala. Whatever comes up is pertinent to the present. “An authentic Personal Mandala is a representation of where you are at this very moment in time, a ‘snapshot’ of you, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.” Much of the essence of mandalas is about intuition and trusting your instincts, but we live in a world that often questions both. Engaging in mandala practice can help us build confidence in our inner selves because, as Renate reiterates, “You are the one who is giving yourself these messages.”
Mandala teaches us the importance of listening to ourselves and honoring our gut reactions. “To draw Personal Mandalas on a daily basis is a great tool for self-discovery, even if you don’t venture into any interpretations,” Renate imparts. But exploring the symbolism within your mandala can reveal deeper messages you are receiving from your unconscious. Renate’s book, Personal Mandala Readings, offers insights into these explanations. Alternatively, searching the internet for more information or picking up a good dream interpretation book can also shed light on these meanings. “The feedback will offer much insight and illumine meaning and purpose of your life,” Renate believes. No two mandalas will ever be the same because we change from one moment to the next. Mandala is a manifestation of that gift of life, and when we listen to its teachings and dream forward, it can influence our trajectory in unimaginable ways. If truly embraced, the mandala can reveal your core essence.
Editorial Director Lauren Barisic
Photos courtesy of Renate C. Hume
