| Like the rest of the global village, Indians also | | | | get expressed inside the circle, using whatever lines |
| experience anger, that raw, powerful emotion that | | | | or colours that come. Don’t censor yourself and |
| seems to take over our lives, consuming our | | | | don’t think, just let go." |
| thoughts. | | | | Participants find drawing mandalas is something that is |
| Indian people use an art therapy technique, drawing | | | | easy to do, and is a novel way of revealing your true |
| "mandalas", to help calm and express their rage in a | | | | feelings, break down some boundaries and show that |
| careful and controlled way. | | | | you are in control. And of course, if you are in |
| Mandala, is the Sanskrit word for "circle". Within this | | | | control, you can take steps to solve the problem |
| circle the Indians say there are no rules, a space in | | | | that was causing the anger. |
| which you alone exist. A place where you can let | | | | The Benefits of Drawing Mandalas and What They |
| your feelings come out as a swirl of colours and lines. | | | | Might Mean |
| The Times of India recently featured an article on | | | | The primary reason for drawing a mandala is to be |
| how this process works. | | | | an oulet for anger, but sometimes people see a |
| How Mandalas Work | | | | certain significance in what they have drawn. |
| Participants find that once they finish drawing an | | | | If you do give mandalas a try, have a look to see |
| angry mandala, they are tempted to draw a new, | | | | if your drawings are full of "fighting spirit", passion |
| happy one, since their anger has been released | | | | and frustration shown by heavy, jagged, red lines? |
| through artistic expression. If you suffer from anger | | | | Are the drawings made up of more gentle, softer |
| management issues, perhaps you should give it a try. | | | | colored, curved lines, showing you are more |
| Participants like Manju Mohinani says: | | | | depressed and apathetic about your situation? |
| “You get lost with the colours and the | | | | Red, brown or black are the typical colours for |
| movement of your hands and thus you express | | | | angry mandalas. The shapes and their position are |
| yourself clearly without even realising it. The best | | | | also quite indicative of inner feelings. The overlapping |
| part is that when you do mandalas you are not | | | | shapes and black crosses and show a lot of |
| thinking, you get so lost in the drawing. You | | | | anger. Anger spills over when your drawing extends |
| don’t feel that you are working on yourself, its | | | | beyond the confines of the circle. |
| so easy and so much fun." | | | | Mandalas provide a way of dealing with turbulent |
| Manju is a real advocate of drawing mandalas - it's | | | | events in our lives, providing an almost childlike way |
| the way she as dealt with her anger for years, | | | | to express yourself and have fun. You might find |
| stating that she just takes out paper and crayons | | | | that the drawing helps you understand a little bit |
| and lets go. Once the drawing is complete, she feel | | | | more about the cause of your anger. |
| at peace with herself again. | | | | While there are plenty of other therapies, none are |
| Drawing Materials is All That's Needed | | | | quite as much fun as mandalas .Using a crayon to |
| Drawing a mandala is very simple. All you need is a | | | | scribble on a simple piece of plain paper takes us |
| sheet of paper and a box of crayons or coloured | | | | back to those carefree childhood days. It’s a |
| pencils, the kind used in schools by children is fine. | | | | satisfying and fun therapy. And remember, you do |
| Mandalas are not an art, so you do not need to | | | | not have to understand your drawings, just the |
| worry about how they look or whether you are | | | | process of drawing the mandale is enough to relieve |
| doing them right or wrong. You're not trying to | | | | the burden of anger. |
| create a masterpiece, the point of the drawing is to | | | | So, the next time you find yourself getting wound |
| express how you feel. | | | | up, instead of grumbling and grizzling for weeks, |
| Manju says: | | | | just grab solme coloured pencils or crayons, place |
| "to sketch an anger mandala , just sit and feel your | | | | out a sheet of paper and let go. You will not only |
| anger. When you feel, it clearly takes up the colour | | | | deal with your anger, but have a wonderful time |
| that fits the best. Then draw a circle on the paper | | | | doing it as well. And the best part, you will relish |
| and let the feelings emerge on their own. Let them | | | | every moment. |