);

SGCrystalHealing

Category: Mandalas

  • Choosing Crystals for Mandalas

    Choosing Crystals for Mandalas

    I was recently asked how I go about choosing crystals for my mandalas and I decided to write about it.

    Am I Choosing Crystals for Mandalas or do the Crystals Choose Themselves?

    I’m never really sure if it’s me choosing the stones or if it’s the stones coming forward to me. Maybe it’s a bit of both. I kind of fell into using the crystals with mandalas as I had never planned on them turning into the second ingredient for my mandalas.

    When I had started out drawing mandalas, I had already had the idea for digital coloring pages. I even shared this with my teacher at the time to pursue so I never thought I’d follow that breadcrumb.

    How I draw them today, I’d never have seen that developing. This is probably a good thing because if you had told me then, I’d have not believed that crystals and mandalas could work so well together.

    Choosing Crystals for Mandalas

    How I Choose the Crystals

    Before I draw, I meditate. This has always been step 1 for me and you can read more about how I draw Oracle Mandalas here.

    I always ask what stone to draw when it comes to my mandalas, and if I don’t know what to stone to use, it will come to my mind during meditation.

    Other times in the middle of doing something silly like showering or watching TV, then I will get a “download” and I just know what stone to use. This is how my first Crystal Mandala was born. I was watching The L Word and Malachite popped into my head with the idea of drawing it as a crystal mandala.

    I have had instances where I just drew for no reason at all and once I’ve completed the sketch, I have known what stone is going to work well with the drawing. Here, a lot of my research and work with crystals come into play because they’re an aspect of my life interwoven into all that I do.

    While I am completing a mandala, most of the time, I will know what stone to draw next. It will pop into my mind and then remain there. Weeks can go by and the stone sticks in my mind. It kind of serves as a reminder that this is one to go with, so I do. If I don’t know, I do the meditation as mentioned above.

    In Conclusion

    Many know by now that crystals really can complement almost every avenue of your life and journey. Mandalas are no different.

    There is no secret to working with crystals, except to use them with honest intentions. If you listen to them, they’ll share the “secrets” with you. That is what I do: listen, then draw. I’m simply sharing what they share with me.

  • How to Use Oracle Mandalas

    How to Use Oracle Mandalas

    Many may wonder how to use oracle mandalas and I realised that this was something I had never spoken about. This post will shed some light as to how to use your Oracle Mandalas for better self-connection.

    What Are Oracle Mandalas?

    Let’s start here shall we!

    Mandala is a Sanskrit word which means “circle” or “discoid object and it is a geometric design that holds symbolism. It’s what I deem as sacred in many cultures, such as Hindu and Buddhist cultures. In places like China, Japan and Tibet, it is said that a Mandala represents different aspects of the universe and that they can be used as tools in meditation or prayer.

    The Mandalas that I draw could be considered as healing mandalas as they are drawn intuitively. They are meant to deliver guidance, insight, calm and understanding into yourself.

    How to Use Oracle Mandalas

    How to use Oracle Mandalas can be broken down into these three methods:

    • Colouring them in.
    • Placing them in your sacred space or on your desk as a reminder.
    • Using them in crystal grids.

    For many of my mandalas, I also suggest crystals that would complement it. If you have them in your collection, you can use them with any of the above-mentioned methods too. Alternatively, you can use any crystal that speaks to YOU when you look at the mandala. Don’t forget to energetically clear or cleanse it before use. Once you have your chosen stone/s, meditate with it for 10-15 minutes. HibiscusMoon offers a great guide for how to meditate with crystals.

    For each of the above-mentioned methods, it can be complemented with a good meditation. Meditation helps ground you and bring you back to the present moment, helping you to set the tone for whichever method you’d like to use.

    Coloring in

    "How to use Oracle Mandalas: Coloring In" depicts a beautiful mandala titled Blooming, coloured in with purple, pink, green and orange colours.
    Oracle Mandala Blooming coloured in with purple, orange, green and pink colours

    Colouring in is the most simplest method, and maybe the most fun!

    After your meditation and with your printed copy of the mandala, you simply begin to color. You can use any colors you wish so don’t overthink it. Just color! Of course, you can be very intentional and use similar shades of the suggested crystal or colors associated with a Chakra for the Chakra Mandalas.

    Once you’re done, simply sit back and witness. Notice if there was anything that comes up for you while you were coloring or when you’re done. Journal about that as well as how the mandala made or makes you feel.

    If you notice that you used very similar shades, look up what those colours can mean.

    Placing them in your Space

    "How to use Oracle Mandalas: Placing them in your Space" depicts a beautiful mandala titled Listen on a desk with an orgone Pyramid. The mandala has been coloured in with green, blue , red and yellow colours.
    Oracle Mandala Listen placed on the desk for constant reminder to listen.

    You don’t need to print an A4 copy of the mandala, you can print it smaller and then place it in your sacred space or upon your altar. This is a beautiful way to keep the message of the Mandala with you to remind you of what you’re working on or calling in.

    Also, it’s something pretty that you can add to your space to complement the energy of the space. It doesn’t need to be “woo-woo”.

    You can even spend some time on a regular basis to meditate with the Mandala. After meditation, simply witness and notice what the Mandala has to share with you. Journal about that.

    Crystal Grids

    "How to use Oracle Mandalas: Crystal Grids" depicts a beautiful crystal grid upon the Ocean Flow Mandala using Clear Quartz Points and a tumbled piece of Larimar.
    A Crystal Grid made on top of Oracle Mandala Ocean Flow using Clear Quartz Points and tumbled Larimar,

    Another way to use these mandalas is to create a crystal grid with the printed mandala.

    Crystal Grids combine sacred geometry like a mandala with the amplifying and complementary energies of crystals to send your intention to the Universe for manifestation or healing.

    A crystal grid can be as intricate or as simple as you’d like. It can also be more intuitive where you place and use crystals chosen intuitively, or you can give it more structure and research your crystals. Your imagination is your limit.

    My Favourite way to Use Oracle Mandalas

    My favourite way to use my own mandalas is to draw them. Being able to take the time to connect with a crystal to draw its energy like for the Crystal Mandalas, or to allow the process to flow and draw something with love, is one awesome experience.

    I store all of the digital copies of my Mandalas and there are often times when I’ll page through those images and find one that speaks to my heart. Sometimes this happens when I page through my sketchbook too. Even I need a good wink from the Universe at times 😉

    My method of use is the process and you can read more about how I draw my mandalas here, but I have been known to use of the above-mentioned methods too.

    Your imagination is the limit for how to use oracle mandalas and there is no right or wrong way. However, there is a right way for you so have fun with it!

  • How I draw my Oracle Mandalas

    How I draw my Oracle Mandalas

    How I draw my Oracle Mandalas – this is something that many people wonder about when they see my mandalas. Many know I work with crystals and that I draw my mandalas using crystals but they don’t know how I combine them to create magic. I share a bit of my process.

    Before I Begin to Draw

    Before I begin to draw, I meditate. Meditation is the starting point of everything for me. Without the meditation, it’s like running a marathon without shoes on.

    If I know what stone is going to support the drawing, I’ll meditate with it to get an idea of what to draw. Sometimes though, I don’t know what stone to use and after meditation I’ll just begin to draw. Once I begin, I get an inner knowing of what stone is going to complement the drawing. I’ll then grab that stone and work with it for the rest of the drawing. I trust my intuition and it’s never led me astray with my crystal choices.

    Meditation allows me to tap into the crystal and allows me to let the crystal show me what to draw. Of course intention comes into play here too, as it always does.

    During meditation, sometimes I get an idea of some detail to the mandala, such as shapes and swirls. Other times, it may be actual images, like with the Rose Quartz Mandala, I saw softness. Images such as a feather, soft touches of fingers brushing the skin, kisses, as well as a flower opening and closing. When it’s images like this, it can be harder to interpret what the stone is telling me, I’m not going to lie.

    How I draw my Oracle Mandalas - the Process

    Drawing an Oracle Mandala

    After meditation, I get out my sketchbook and pencils to begin drawing. To give you a glimpse into my tools:

    • My Sketchbook is the A4 Dala Visual Diary bought on Takealot but I also have/use the A5 one. I love these because they are hardcover and spiral bound.
    • Croxley Create 11pc Mathematical Instruments tin is what I use to create the base of my mandalas with the compass and protractor. I bought mine from Checkers but I’ve linked to the Takealot product if you need to SEE it.

    Once I put pencil to paper, I let the pencil guide me and I don’t usually think too hard about it. I go with what I saw in meditation and simply draw.

    What is unique for me, is that because I let my intuition and the crystal guide me, often I can feel when the “ink runs dry” . When this happens, I cannot draw anymore. It’s really strange to experience, but my mind goes blank and it’s like there’s nothing there anymore. I liken this a lot to free association writing where you just write, except here I’m drawing. Even when I want to continue drawing, I simply can’t. Times when I have pushed through, I end up changing those elements because they don’t feel right when I return to the drawing.

    Once I’ve completed the mandala sketch, I ink it, scan it and begin the digital process.

    Why I Love Drawing Oracle Mandalas and using Crystals

    I’m notoriously always busy and rarely sit still. Drawing allows me to be without my busy cage and routines. It allows me to simply be and flow, with no real rules except the lines I draw as my base of the Mandala.

    Crystals talk to us in different ways. For me, they allow me to draw them and their energy, like with my Crystal Mandalas. Alternatively, they allow me to complement them with the affirmation and my Mandala such as with my Oracle Mandalas. Crystals, the pen and the paper are my tools; I channel the action with drawing.

    Drawing fills my cup and as I’ve grown on my journey, I realise that it’s important for me to take time to draw. It brings me joy to draw. Also, it makes me happy that people can find guidance and clarity when they use my Mandalas (read more on how to use Oracle Mandalas here).

    How I draw my oracle mandalas relies on getting quiet, trusting my intuition and taking the time to draw. It’s a simple method that anyone can do because crystals can support you with whatever you decide to do. Try it.