Sacred Geometry, Mandalas, and Mathematics…
How many different shapes do you see in this image? There are circles and triangles and hexagons; oh my! A little closer look might reveal more intricate shapes…
I encourage everyone to draw this image. It may be messy at first, but you’ll start to see how these shapes are all pieced together. And you might discover more shapes during your artistic voyage!
Drawing Mandalas have been a big part of the Hindu and Buddhist history. The word “Mandala” is a Sanskrit term for “circle” and can be thought of as a schematic visual representation o
f the Universe. These images have been used in meditation: symbolizing the journey around (or in) the space one wanted to discover in greater detail. That space can be the around the Earth, in the Universe, on even in one’s own Mind. By visualizing a path to traverse around the Mandala, one is thought to have a clearer mind on how to move through the Universe as a whole.
Mathematics is about communicating the patterns that one observes about the Universe with great precision; thus the more practice one has in creating these detailed diagrams, the more likely one notices the details within our beautiful, yet complex, Universe. Mental discipline is a useful tool when it comes to mathematical thinking… Some people draw these mandalas with immense accuracy in the sand; then, once done, smooth out the sand as if no image was there in the first place. The emphasis here is in the process. The act of drawing is what’s important, thus when the image is done it’s immediately erased. The lesson is to show us how to let go of things we work so hard on; to be okay with washing away the hard work we have done. To practice being adaptable! So draw on young explorers and produce your perspective with critical specificity!
Thank you to those who took my class: FractalRock!