I’ve been thinking about sand mandalas and rangolis (there are many other names for those, that’s the name I learned while travelling in Karnataka)… Both are beautiful, ephemeral drawings made with coloured sand (and for rangolis, flowers too). What are Rangolis and Sand Mandalas? For those who don’t know, sand mandalas are a meditation practice of Tibetan Buddhism (that follows a strict ritual procedure); rangolis are drawings made on the threshold of homes or home shrines and they have many symbolic meanings, one being keeping the evil eye at bay and welcoming gods (and people) into the household. So, though the rituals and meanings change a little between the two, I see a connection. And there are many aspects of both that I find interesting: For me, it’s about the time-old philosophy that the journey is more important than the destination. It is a material way of sharing this knowledge. And it also teaches us the importance of doing whatever task we undertake with dignity and patience and love. Trying to be at our best for the pleasure of it, not because we will be socially rewarded. Rangolis are also done as a daily morning household ritual. It’s beautiful having […]
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Once, beauty surrounded us in our daily lives. Cities were built with care, full of character. Streets were lined with trees and buildings were meant to be beautiful (think of Gaudí in Spain). But today, these ideas have been forgotten. Our cities have grown greyer and nature is full of garbage and pollution. Even our homes are increasingly smaller and impersonal. In this shift, something deeper has been lost. We’ve not just forgotten outer beauty, but gentleness too. Yet our need for beauty hasn’t disappeared. It’s simply moved. In the absence of it in our surroundings, many of us turn to ourselves. We seek it in our own bodies, sometimes obsessively. “Beauty enhancement” has become the norm: nail art, hair dye, cosmetic procedures. These are not inherently bad. The issue isn’t with the procedures themselves or with the people making them. The deeper issue is this: human beings need beauty. When we’re no longer surrounded by it in our daily lives (in nature, in architecture, in art or in kindness) we search for it elsewhere. And often, the only place left is our bodies. I’ve started to think about this when I was young… My first trip to India at […]
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Mandala have been found all across cultures and thought out human history. We find them from East to West in so many different cultures: Dreamcatchers and Medicine Wheels of Native Americans, Aztec Calendars, Cathedral Rosettes in Europe, Buddhist Sand Mandalas… These patterns are more than just beautiful designs, they carry deep spiritual and cultural significance. What is a mandala for? Mandalas ask from you to be patient. Tibetan monks, for instance, spend hours creating their sand mandalas only to erase them once completed. This practice symbolizes that the process itself holds more value than the finished result. Just like in life, the journey is more important than the destination. But it also talks about impermanence, how nothing in this universe is “for ever”. Mandalas are also an invitation to meditation. You can look at the intricate designs and quiet your mind. It allows you to find some inner peace and to know yourself a bit more. Mandalas inspire a sense of beauty and with it, joy. Mandalas also act as links to the divine (Yantra), offering a channel to receive cosmic truths. They are protective symbols believed to ward off negative energies and safeguard the soul. At their core, mandalas […]
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When we think of mandalas, we often picture elaborate drawings – and we’re right, those are mandalas. But mandala-like patterns can be found everywhere in nature: Flowers. Succulents. The human eye. Tree rings. Snowflakes. Spider webs… These are small reminders to pause. To stand in awe of nature – and of the life we’re here to live. We live in mystery. For all our efforts, we don’t truly know why we’re here or how we came to be. And it’s easy to feel uneasy with that truth, so we often hide it behind our to-do lists and constant busyness. But what if we could learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable? To be okay with not knowing?Maybe then, we wouldn’t rush so much. Maybe we’d give ourselves the space to discover more about ourselves, and the vast universe around us. Let nature fill our days as much as possible. Let’s look around and notice all these quiet reminders of mystery and perhaps of our true selves as well. *If you want some daily inspiration, please follow my pinterest account.
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Mandalas are fascinating. You can find them in nature and across many different cultures throughout history. They serve as a bridge between spirituality and art.Mandalas represent the universe, more specifically, the interconnectedness of all things, and they also reflect the inner world of the person who created them.When you look at a mandala, you can find beauty, balance, and a moment of peace. So, who are mandalas for? -For those who seek spirituality in their daily lives. Mandalas connect the viewer with the designer, as it connects one shape to the other and one circle to the next one. It is about feeling interconnectedness. -For those who need an anchor. Mandalas come in any size, it can be kept with your treasures and be there as your soul’s home. When life gets too chaotic, a mandala can bring you back. -For those who need a reminder to stop. Mandalas are wonderful tools for meditation. And if there is no time to sit and meditate, simply pausing to take a few breaths while gazing at its beauty can reenergize and refocus you.. And then, who aren’t mandalas for? -For those you want a quick fix to their problems. -For those who […]
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