If you’ve thumbed through a stack of adult coloring books, you’ve probably seen the use of mandalas, a Sanskrit word for “sacred circle” that’s a circular form of art.
Surprised by how many adult coloring books featured mandalas and appear to be influenced by Eastern religions, I hired a researcher to help me better understand the history and meaning of mandalas.
I ask for your grace. I’m just beginning to wrap my head around all of this, but what I’m discovering so far just might surprise you:
1. Mandalas have a long religious history.
Circular designs, have been part of spiritual practices around the world for thousands of years. Almost every culture has revered the power of the circle.
“The word mandala is a Sanskrit term that means ‘circle’ or ‘discoid object.’ A mandala can be defined in two ways: externally as a schematic visual representation of the universe and internally as a guide for several psychophysical practices that take place in many Asian traditions, including meditation,” according to the Ancient History Encyclopedia.
This brief entry provides an overview of the history and use of Mandalas: [1]
Mandalas are objects of devotion in Tantric Hindu and in Tantric Buddhism (Vajrayana Buddhism) and they are also used in Jainism. In some traditions like Tibetan Buddhism, the role of mandalas is so strong that it could become an architectural structure and even whole temples may be built as giant mandalas.
The methods used in creating mandalas are very precise and merged with different rituals including the chantings of sacred formulas. Mandalas may be based on or include a variety of geometric shapes using patterns that have evolved from different symbols.
The Tibetan Buddhist Kalachakra, also known as the Wheel of Time, is one of the most famous mandalas and symbolically illustrates the entire structure of the universe.”[2]
2. Mandalas display deeper stories or meanings.
Some mandalas, according to the Ancient History Encyclopedia, are associated with a symbolic palace. “In the centre of the mandala lies the palace, which has four gates oriented to the four quarters of the world and is located within several layers of circles that form a protective barrier around it. Each layer symbolizes a quality (e.g. purity, devotion) that one must obtain before accessing the palace.”
Mandalas may represent a particular deity or even a cluster of deities. When more than one deity is present, the main one is in the center while the others surround.
3. Mandalas are designed to draw people closer to deities.
Ancient History Encyclopedia notes:
“In the many traditions where mandalas are used, there are different rites where the practitioner, at least metaphorically, establishes a dialogue with the symbol or deity at the core of the mandala by moving progressively from the outside towards the centre.
Once within the centre, the practitioner connects with the central symbol or deity and he or she is able to perceive all manifestations as part of a single underlying whole and gets closer to the goal of enlightenment or perfect understanding.
“The Vajrayana Buddhist school (Tantric Buddhism), has a very complex set of rituals. In order to help the disciples to gain enlightenment, they use a wide range of physical disciplines and tools including mandalas. This school believes that achieving enlightenment by traditional methods requires a very long time, even many lifetimes, while the methods used in Vajrayana can deliver the same result in just a single lifetime.”
I still have a lot to learn about the history and meaning of mandalas, but what I’ve found so far helps me become more intentional about the coloring books that I select and enjoy.
Please understand the information above is not to be used to criticize or shame anyone or provide ammunition by Internet trolls. This is not meant to make you suspicious of circles or squares or geometry. This post is simply designed to help educate you as you make decisions of which adult coloring books you enjoy and understand the underlying spiritual components.
That’s one reason I’m grateful for the emergence of Christian Adult Coloring books that provide a much needed opportunity to slow and calm while reflecting on the wonder of Scripture and transformative power of God’s Word as we draw closer to Christ.
Live Loved: An Adult Coloring Book can be pre-ordered in time for Christmas at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Christian Book Distributors, Lifeway, Family Christian Bookstore, and more.
The project features:
New cover design + thicker paper + new stitching + additions to original artwork.
Check out the new cover!
We have a limited number of copies of the ORIGINAL Live Loved that we’ll be selling, but once they are gone, they are gone.
Order an individual Live Loved coloring book, here.
For bigger savings, order a 10-pack of Live Loved coloring books here.
And don’t forget to post pictures and stories from your artwork using the hashtag #liveloved. We can’t wait to see!
Using kind and gracious words, I invite you to share what you’re learning about the eastern influence on adult coloring books in the comment section below.
[1] Cristian Violatti, “Mandala,” Ancient.Eu, September 7, 2013, http://www.ancient.eu/mandala/, Accessed September 16, 2015.
[2] Cathy Malchiodi, “Cool Art Therapy Intervention #6: Mandala Drawing,” PsychologyToday.com, March 17, 2010, https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/arts-and-health/201003/cool-art-therapy-intervention-6-mandala-drawing, Accessed September 16, 2015.
I’ve noticed mandalas fill adult coloring pages all over Pinterest, Margaret, and I have also questioned their meaning. Thank you for educating us and reminding us to guard our hearts and minds, and giving us a godly alternative.
I’ve had my “live loved” Scripture coloring book for months and have not been able to start it, even though it has “how to use this book” in the guide. The thick paper and beautiful pictures are too perfect to mess up. Pray for me to get into it and use it as a quiet time tool. Thanks!
Maybe if you pray as you color it will become uneven more beautiful experience of communicating with God. And you won’t be “messing it up” as much as making it even more rich with meaning that reminds you of what God is teaching you through the Scripture.
y there so useless
I’m having a hard time with this, and I’m sure I’m not going to put my thoughts into eloquent words. But isn’t a mandala on paper just that – a piece of paper with a drawing? If I color a mandala and use that time of relaxation to pray or praise…or spend time with my children…or a women’s prayer groups…or whatever, doesn’t the condition of my heart matter more than what I’m coloring?
We had an issue a few years ago at our church where our elders wouldn’t let a group of Christian ladies practice yoga to instrumental music in our building because of the Eastern roots of yoga. I think you can make nearly anything a “spiritual practice” that ties back to Eastern philosophy…or you can make it a quiet time to commune with God.
Correction – the yoga group was playing instrumental hymns and praise music.
hannah, you are so brave to speak your mind and heart. i agree with you. people that live a life of fear, instead of love, will see evil demons everywhere! it’s a trap! they should try thinking with your God-given head and heart, instead of following some silly idea that a (likely) white male preacher/priest says is the devil working in suspicious ways. fear kills and does a lot of psychological damage to innocent souls. love will always nourish and point the way to the Truth (with a capital T).
I love patterns. I can get lost in them, their beauty, their creation. I can’t close my eyes to the idea of the mandalas now that you’ve pointed it out, but I still think they’re beautiful. But I guess the same could also be said for many of the celtic images in the colouring books I see, and in the cables I knit on a regular basis. I love patterns, but I recognize that these are all man-made patterns. Beautiful, but still imperfect (especially my knitting). There is only one perfect being out there (no matter now perfect the circle is) and I choose to draw close to Him instead.
I, too, love a good coloring page. This post was really interesting because I have never thought of the Eastern influence found in these circles. While I am kind of in agreement with Hannah, that this is only paper, I also think, like Shawn, that this knowledge should inform our decisions. If I have alternate choices, I will choose something else to color.
I must have missed the answer to Why Mandalas are so Popular…
Interesting research, but we’re left to puzzle out for ourselves why adult coloring books feature so many of these designs . Was that intentional?
they are popular because they are beautiful designs that everyone is drawn to. are you suspicious of everything popular? that would be living in FEAR. where is your trust? your heart? LOVE will conquer all and not because some fearful person tried to poison our minds with blogs like this. get a grip, people.
u hit that nail right on the head, iif u do not find enjoyment in coloring pretty pics then CCERTAINLY REFRAIN
thanks so much for the insight- had to shred quite a bit- rather be safe and not open myself up to anything of the enemy
who is the “enemy”? who is “other”? God is ALL. everything, everywhere. God does not know “other” (i.e., something that is not of God) so what are you talking about?
This sounds just like Eastern philosophy: God is everywhere and in everything. This is not supported by the bible and it is called Pantheism.
Hi Margaret,
It is quite the topic. The same with Yoga. I have a friend who explained very well the problems with eastern practices. Here is the link. http://edhird.com/2013/04/05/yoga-more-than-meets-the-eyes/
But personally I don’t like the language used in such practices – “being in the zone” – meaning emptiness. If we are with Christ, we are never empty. So I feel full when I paint – because I am learning Scripture, thinking about creation, asking for inspiration and dexterity while painting.
There are many historical backgrounds to these practices – even the labyrinth was actually to keep evil in – not find God.
I think we need to focus on Jesus at all times. It might be okay for a strong Christian to practice these but what are we saying to non-Christians – that this is ALL okay. I think not.
We are told in Scripture that we have to watch out for deceivers. I would pray lots about these practices before I would consider joining in.
Blessings,
Janis
you HAVE been deceived … that is for sure! who started this nonsense that mandalas were “evil”, “unchristian”, somehow a problem? do you believe every witch-hunt you see? do you not notice what is false? yes, you should all pray that you stop living in FEAR and have faith that your heart (in God) will lead you. ridiculous notions!
Please stop insulting people.
Hi Magaret,
Recently I was shopping with my 7 yr old grandaughter who enjoys drawing and coloring so she was naturally drawn to the table where these coloring books were dusplayed. I had only seen them before at the hospital where my oldest grandaughter is being treated for leukemia and someone gave them to her to help her pass the time. I had my grandaughter pick a couple of them, I believe the Holy Spiirt prompted me to leaf through them. I noticed a couple of hindu symbols and decided to read the intro pages. Sure enough it gave tbe hindu history of it! I decided not to buy them and explained to my granddaughter that they were not something God would have her do because it had idols in it. I bought her one with Christian illustrations instead and she was pleased. Unfortunally, mant Christians would think I am being “legalistic” or paranoid, but in my heart I believe God was protecting my granddaughter’s mind and spirit. I came across your website through a favebook link and I was pleasantly surprised that I am not the only concern about the pagan spirirual content and intent of these so called “calming” adult coloring books, and encouraged to know I had indeed been led by God’s Spirit to not purchase one for my grand child. Now, Imust pray my oldest daughter doesnt develope an interst in coloring the ones she was given. Thank you for sounding the alarm and I pray God’s people will hear and refuse to purxhase the Mandalas coloring books. Blessings Alma
oh, God forbid, they come from Hindus! you are a bigot! God created the Hindu and the christian, alike. who are YOU to label them “other”? i call out YOU as the blasphemer! but, oh how self-righteous you must feel, stopping the poor innocent mind of your granddaughter from following her pure heart. you are teaching her to live a life of FEAR. i know of growing up in such a climate that it can do enormous psychological and emotional damage to a young mind. you reap what you sow!
Stop insulting others. If that is all you can do, I am sure you can find a better place to do that. What you are doing is very unchristian.
Thank you for this thoughtfully written article. I only have one adult coloring book – your Live Loved – but I have seen so many with what you have described. Before, I just thought they were pretty designs – almost like a kaleidoscope. Maybe there really is more to it and the last thing I want to do it mislead someone else, especially my children. Maybe it’s not anything but ink in paper. I agree with another comment which said “given the choice, I’ll choose something else.”
DV, you are wrong about God making Hindu’s …. God made Indian people, many of which chose to follow Idol Hindu Deities…. Your comment of “who is the “enemy”? who is “other”? God is ALL. everything, everywhere. God does not know “other” (i.e., something that is not of God) so what are you talking about?” is a completely ‘New Age’ philosophy.
I thank Margaret Fienberg for such a good, well researched and impartial article.
CHRISTIANS ….. PLEASE DO NOT BE MISLED BY THOSE WHO CLAIM MANDALA COLORING TO BE HARMLESS…. This is just another assault from the Enemy upon the righteous.
May God bless everyone reading this good article and that nobody be misled by the liberal comments of someone with corrupt New Age views.
John 3:161599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
16 [a]For God so loveth the world, that he hath given his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth [b]in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Thank you so much for the information concerning Mandalas. I really enjoy the adult coloring books, but I have learned that they too can come between me and the Lord Jesus if I am not careful. I must always remember to put Him and the study of his word first and foremost in my life, because Satan will use even harmless things to try to separate us from Jesus. And don’t worry about being called a “Legalist” when you taking a stand for the truth. There is a big difference in being a “Legalist” and a “Loyalist”! Remember: Deception is so terrible because those who are don’t know it or it wouldn’t be called “deception”. No wonder when the disciples asked Jesus about the ” signs” of His “coming , and of the end of the world?” that the first words out of His mouth were, “Take heed that no man deceive you.” Matt.24:3,4 It is so very dangerous to live by “I think….” we professed Christians should live by “God said”, then leave the results with Him. Also remember: No-one ever spoke the truth more lovingly than did Jesus, and the leaders in His church killed Him for it.
Might I suggest Wacky Wonderful Layered Mandalas !
Purchase it on Amazon for the best experience!
Enjoy!
I find most adult coloring books too frustrating to relax with because of the tiny numerous, busy shapes. I much prefer childrens coloring books for relaxation if I am to color. As far as mandalas, yoga, etc., my pastor teaches that the art is fine as long as you separate the art from the philosophical teachings behind it. So coloring a mandala would be ok along with a meditation on a scripture like that about God being the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. That’s a circle. Yoga is ok as an exercise but if you are really believing in the hindu philosophies and chakras and all that then no. And this pastor is a karate black belt himself. So do what you are comfortable with and what God is leading you into or away from. I have a coworker whose pastor encourages people to study and even dabble in other religions, so they can come to understand why they chose Christ. The result is that everyone in his church has returned.
My own suggestion is, dont participate in anything without Gods protection over you. We do live in a fallen world and things can go really badly if you are exploring without His protection. And if He tells you to leave it alone, you’d better. We all have our own unique path to God so follow His guidance for you.