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Who said coloring was only for children? Select a quality brand of colored pencils, sharpen them, and spread them out in a glass for easy selection of the tones that resonate with you. Discover the delights of this relaxing, stress-relieving pastime.
So, what exactly is mandala coloring?
The word “mandala” originates from Sanskrit, the sacred language of the Brahmins in India, meaning “circle” or more precisely, “sacred circle.”
Carl Gustav Jung first noticed that individuals going through challenging times spontaneously drew rosette-like designs. His research led him to mandalas, finding that these structured drawings centered around a core helped patients achieve balance and harmony.
This can even be explained scientifically. Coloring a mandala engages both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously. The right side taps into intuition and creativity, while the left side employs its sense of organization, logic and spatial awareness. Balancing both hemispheres brings a feeling of relaxation, peace and recentering to oneself.
Everything starts at a central point, much like the design in front of you. By focusing on the task of filling your mandala with colors that inspire you, you immerse yourself in the present moment. You forget your worries, your mundane routine and your deadlines. This practice is essential for reconnecting with yourself, not to mention the wonderful return to childhood: the joy of opening a coloring book, equipping yourself with your finest pencils, and taking the time to indulge and watch shapes and colors dance under your fingertips!
However, be mindful, as precision is key. Careful application without going over the lines is a good exercise for managing life’s excesses. To enhance your drawing, smudge the pencil strokes with a cotton swab.
Today, it’s easy to choose a pre-drawn mandala coloring book. You can find them in all creative hobby shops and bookstores. You can also print them from dedicated websites, choosing between traditional or more elaborate mandalas.
When it comes to coloring, the choice is yours: you can opt for an inward meditative form by coloring from the outside in, or you can choose to color outward, embracing the world around you and opening yourself up to it.
No matter your approach, there is immense joy in returning to the simple, innocent pleasures of life after a hard day, as this offers a delightful interlude of precision, skill, concentration and total disconnection.
