Mandalas, Carl Jung, and the Practice of Art Therapy
The mandala—a circular, balanced design—appears across cultures as a symbol of wholeness and harmony. For Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung, the mandala was more than an art form; it represented the Self, the totality of our inner world. In art therapy, mandalas are a gentle tool for reflection, emotional regulation, and self-discovery.
Why Jung Valued Mandalas
Jung noticed that people often drew circles or symmetrical designs during times of stress or transition. He believed these images symbolized the psyche’s natural movement toward balance and integration. Creating or observing a mandala, he said, could stabilize the mind and help bridge the conscious and unconscious.
“For Jung, drawing a mandala was a ritual of centering—a conversation between the inner and outer world.”
Mandalas in Art Therapy
- Grounding and calming: The circular form naturally soothes and focuses attention.
- Externalizing the inner world: Mandalas give shape to emotions that are hard to express in words.
- Insight and integration: Colors and patterns can reflect aspects of the unconscious.
- Containment: The circle provides a safe boundary for exploring difficult feelings.
Try These Simple Mandala Exercises
1. Ten-Minute Grounding Mandala
- Draw or trace a circle on paper.
- Set a 10-minute timer and begin filling the circle from the center outward using lines, dots, or colors.
- When finished, breathe deeply and notice what emotions or images arose.
Prompt: “If this mandala could speak, what would it say?”
2. Emotion-Mapping Mandala
- Choose a feeling you want to explore—anxiety, grief, joy, or hope.
- Divide the circle into sections for different aspects of that emotion.
- Use color, texture, or symbols to fill each section.
- Afterward, reflect: What surprised you? What feels meaningful?
Prompt: “Point to a part of the mandala and say, ‘This part is…’”
3. Ritual Mandala for Transition
- Write what you are leaving behind on one side of the page, and what you are moving toward on the other.
- Create a mandala that holds both energies—perhaps two colors meeting in the center.
- When complete, reflect or say a simple sentence of closure or intention.
Prompt: “What does the center hold for you in this moment?”
For Therapists and Facilitators
- Focus on the process, not the product.
- Offer grounding before and after creative work.
- Use open questions (“What stands out to you?”) rather than interpretation.
Reflection Questions
- How did making the mandala affect your body and emotions?
- What colors or patterns appear often for you?
- What personal meaning might your mandala hold today?
Creating mandalas can be a way to slow down and listen. As Jung observed, forming a circle mirrors our inner movement toward balance and meaning. Whether used for calming, reflection, or exploring life transitions, mandalas are a gentle pathway into the Self.
