Colouring Mandala
Colouring books have become popular lately with adults. The simple act of colouring an image provides a calming effect, on the order of meditation, even. By focusing on colouring, you calmly limit attention. You thereby learn to avoid distractions and develop concentration.
Colouring also allows you to use some of that creative ability that we all have. You create the colour scheme that works best for you. Psychologist Carl Jung used mandala-drawing in his therapy with patients, including himself. Jung also, at a period in his life, devoted time by himself after lunch just playing with blocks and toys. He saw the therapeutic value of letting the child run free.
You can colour images of smiling farm animals of the sort offered in children’s colouring books, but you can also find more mature themes. Mandalas are particularly fruitful subjects for colouring. They are generally abstract in design. That means you aren't bound by how things "should" look. Not that red ducks and purple cows would be wrong. Many websites offer mandalas that you can print out and colour. I have a link to one below.
Why a mandala? Although you will find extremely complex mandala designs, you will also find quite simple ones. The range allows for practically everyone’s colouring ability. The mandala directly below would be a good one to start with. The one that follows requires more concentration, patience, and time to colour. Even more lavish and complex mandalas exist for colouring. Choose what appeals to you.
Most mandalas reveal a comforting balance and symmetry. You will feel it as you colour. You need not colour in a balanced way, like using the same colour for mirror opposite elements, but you will probably feel the urge to do so.
You can use pens, paints, coloured pencils, or whatever suits you. I use coloured pencils. I would probably use something else if the mandala were large. Pens and pencils work better covering smaller areas. Paint, pastals, crayons, markers will cover larger areas more easily.
Colouring truly soothes. Keeping within the lines, maintaining even colouring: these acts pull you close to the mandala. I found that when I looked at areas that I thought were done, I would see holes in the colour, or I put a colour where I didn't mean to. A lack of patience, perhaps, blinded me. It’s okay. I can fix it or try again.
The colouring becomes meditative because you persist. You spend time with each element that youi colour. When you meditate, you have times when your mind wanders. Just bring it back to your breath or whatever you focus on.
Treat the colouring like a meditation. You certainly can converse or listen to music as you colour, but try it without. Just to be in the moment of colouring. The practice of mindfulness has a calming effect.
This link will provide you with mandalas that you can download and print:
You can search for more sites. A number of mandala colouring books exist, as well. Mandalas carry spiritual, religious, and New Age meaning for many people. You can ignore that if it rubs you wrong and just colour the mandalas. The act will pull you in. You will see.