create your own nature mandala ~ mindfulness art activity

autumn leaf nature mandala by Rosa Phoenix ~ a simple mindfulness art activity for all ages

create your own nature mandala with autumn leaves and flowers ~ easy mindfulness art activity for all ages

Have you ever created your own mandala?

What is a mandala?

A mandala is an art form within a circle shape. The word “mandala” is a Sanskrit word meaning “circle.” 

The circle can represent many things: the earth, the cosmos, cycles, wholeness and balance.

The circle form lends itself to balanced, symmetrical designs that radiate out from the centerpoint of the circle.

Natural mandalas exist in nature. Think of flowers, the rings of tree trunks, or a spiraling nautilus shell, for example.

a flower is a mandala in nature

Mandala-making is often thought of as a spiritual, meditative art form. Various spiritual traditions have used mandala-making as a mindfulness art activity, or a spiritual art activity. 

According to Wikipedia, “In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of practitioners and adepts, as a spiritual guidance tool, for establishing a sacred space and as an aid to meditation and trance induction.”

circle rings inside a tree’s trunk

When you look at these mandalas, and if you spend time meditating on them, it’s apparent that these types of designs bring about a sense of balance, peace, stillness and centering.

The central point, from which designs or patterns radiate outward, can be used as a place to focus your attention and awareness. Having this fixed point of focus for your eyes can help keep your mind still, aiding in the process of meditation.

painted mandala in a temple

The mandala can represent perfection with its perfectly balanced, harmonious and symmetrical composition. In a world that often feels chaotic, meditating on a harmonious, balanced work of art can bring about peace and tranquility, 

menhdi henna painting of mandalas on the hands, representing chakra energy centers

What about creating a mandala? This, too, can be a centering, relaxing and mindful art practice.

Art creation is inherently a mindfulness activity, as it brings one into the present moment through sensory experience, it encourages focused attention, and it can bring you into an experience of relaxed, peaceful bliss.

Creating art in the form of a mandala is even more of a mindfulness art activity, because of the mandala’s qualities of centering, harmony, balance, and the spiritual traditions that it comes from.

In the Western world, psychologist Carl Jüng was one of the first people to introduce the creation of mandalas as a technique to help in relaxation, depression and stress disorders.

Mandalas can be created from different materials. They can be painted, sculpted or created as digital collage.

Some well-known examples are Tibetan Buddhist sand paintings, that are painstakingly created in ceremony over the course of many days, than are ritualistically destroyed, a meditation on the impermanent nature of the material world.

spiral shape in a shell, a mandala in nature

I love incorporating nature, and natural materials, into mandalas that take the form of eco art or earth art. Here’s an example of a nature art mandala I created using autumn leaves and flowers!

nature art mandala with leaves and flowers by Rosa Phoenix ~ mindfulness art activity

The element of nature calms and soothes the nervous system. It allows us to contemplate the beauty of the world, with all of its incredible patterns, systems, shapes and intricacies.

Gathering natural materials to create a nature mandala can calm, relax and ground you, and it can be a mindfulness art activity in and of itself.

As you enter a natural space, you let go of the everyday concerns and engage with the present moment. You enter the mindful Here and Now.

Nature activates the senses.

You scan your environment with your eyes, you smell the air and different plants and soils, you feel the earth beneath your feet, and as you find items to collect, you use your sense of touch, receiving information through your sensitive fingertips.

gathering brightly colored autumn leaves to make a nature art mandala

A walk in nature becomes a treasure hunt of finding interesting objects that attract through their colors, shapes and textures.

When you observe natural materials closely, you can appreciate what a living miracle each small organism is, playing its small part in the whole universe.

Gathering must be done mindfully and conscientiously. Respect the earth and living things.

Ask permission to take from the plants, and thank them, too. Cut, rather than pick, to avoid damaging the plants. Gather only what you need, do not take in excess.

Mindfulness is about being in right relationship with all of life.

Not dominating and exploiting, but being loving, caring and respectful, and giving back whenever possible.

How can you give back to the earth, with the intention of mindfulness?

Make your nature mandala an offering back to the earth.

Art created with mindfulness is imbued with a loving spirit. Let the earth know your intention to honor it with art, and your intention will be felt and appreciated. Other offerings may be given to plants, such as water, tobacco, your breath, prayers, or songs.

When you engage in creating a mandala as a mindfulness art activity, keep your intention in mind while you are creating. Use the art-making process as a way to focus on your intention. You can use prayers or chanting, or write your intentions on pieces of paper that you incorporate into the artwork.

spiral art mandala meditation tool by Rosa Phoenix ~ mindfulness art activity made with air dry clay

Here’s another type of mandala that I created with air dry clay.

It’s a spiral-shaped sculpture that I use as a mindfulness meditation tool.

It has a groove in the shape of the spiral that I can trace with my finger. I can trace it inward, to help me bring my focus inward for meditation. Or I can trace it from the inside to the outside, to help me to find connection with the world outside of myself.

Creating this spiral mandala meditation tool is a great mindfulness art activity using simple materials. The tactile sensations of molding the clay brings you into the present moment. Molding the clay into the smooth forms is a meditative mindfulness practice as well. After the clay fully dries, then you can sand and paint it.

Traditionally, mandalas are based on sacred geometry.

Here’s a YouTube channel of an artist who creates mandalas using sacred geometry.

This artist, Zak Korvin, creates mandalas using sacred geometry. This is a beautiful mindfulness art activity that only requires paper, pencil, pen, a ruler and a compass.

Not only is this a focused and beautiful way to practice art and mindfulness, but the history and science of sacred geometry is fascinating. Some of these sacred geometry symbols correspond with chakras, sounds or vibrations.

Meditating on these can help you to align with these healing energies and make your meditation practice more meaningful.

Have you made your own mandala before? Have you used mandalas for meditation? Let me know in the comments below.

Happy creating!