NAME OF METHOD/TOOL/TECHNIQUE
Dotting mandala technique
TARGET GROUP:
Educators, teachers, care providers, etc.
AUTHOR'S/ ORGANISATION'S NAME
Abbott, Kayleigh & Shanahan, Matthew & Neufeld, Richard. (2013).
LINK TO METHOD (IN ENGLISH)
BRIEF SUMMARY
Physical manipulation of materials is another beneficial aspect of art to reduce stress. When experiencing stress, many people show motor symptoms of anxiety such as restlessness. One coping strategy is to “occupy one’s hands” in an activity. Art making, art appreciation, and kinesthetic manipulation are documented stress reduction techniques. Abbot et al. (2013) hypothesized that art making in particular is effective because it involves both the expression of creativity and kinesthetic manipulation. Mandala is a Sanskrit word that means “circle.” In Tibetan Buddhism, the purpose of the circle is to promote meditation, concentration, and integration by narrowing or restricting the visual field to the center (Jung, 1973). Jung was the first to use the mandala as a therapeutic tool (Duong et al., 2018). The word mandala is now typically associated with circular, geometric design. Mandalas (in Sanskrit refers to “circle” or “discoid object”) have been a part of Eastern religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Jainism and Shintoism, for hundreds of years they represent somehow the universe. They are also used as meditation tools as well as consecration symbols of prayer. Only in recent years that mandalas have been found to promote psychological as well as physical well-being or wellness, especially for those who are experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression. They are eventually incorporated into art as therapy and counseling. Generally, mandala art therapy can be divided into three different forms: 1) mandala meditation, 2) mandala drawing, and 3) mandala coloring. A dotting mandala is one of the drawing forms where a person uses various tools for different sizes of dots and creates a colorful, original mandala.