Mandalas in Nature

Mandala (Sanskrit maṇḍala “essence” + “having” or “containing”, also translates as “circle-circumference” or “completion”, both derived from the Tibetan term dkyil khor) is a concentric diagram having spiritual and ritual significance in both Buddhism and Hinduism.[1][2] The term is of Hindu origin and appears in the Rig Veda as the name of the sections of the work, but is also used in other Indian religions, particularly Buddhism. In the Tibetan branch of Vajrayana Buddhism, mandalas have been developed into sandpainting. They are also a key part of anuttarayoga tantra meditation practices.
In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of aspirants and adepts, as a spiritual teaching tool, for establishing a sacred space, and as an aid to meditation and trance induction. According to David Fontana, its symbolic nature can help one “to access progressively deeper levels of the unconscious, ultimately assisting the meditator to experience a mystical sense of oneness with the ultimate unity from which the cosmos in all its manifold forms arises.” [3] The psychoanalyst Carl Jung saw the mandala as “a representation of the unconscious self,”[4] and believed his paintings of mandalas enabled him to identify emotional disorders and work towards wholeness in personality.[5]
In common use, mandala has become a generic term for any plan, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically, a microcosm of the Universe from the human perspective.

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Here are some Mandalas which occur in Nature.

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Awaiting to view contributions by other lovely members…

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Within her web
The spider waits


Img srce1   2

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So beautiful Bhatta, thank you
I love spiders webs, as I was going out one morning this week I spotted a beauty on the wing mirror of my car all covered in dew, just wish I'd taken a picture!
Thank you Meenakshi

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Bhatta, Meenakshi & Tai - what fun! My most favorite artist is Mother Nature. I put a cross post on Dreams of Artists too.

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nature offers so many examples of mandalas…

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This one requires some imagination. I am assuming that a photo taken from above the tree would provide a beautiful mandala. 

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beautiful tree, would love to admire it from above - just perfect…

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how did you get that image Tai. Is it part of your photo program or is the flower in water? Looks great.

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Thanks Jen - It's part of the programme on Picasa - I used the photo collage setting, layering 2 photos together - my water feature in the conservatory and a pink clematis flower - it's all a bit hit and miss, knowing which pictures will go well together!!

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a poppy..

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daisy mandala

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So artful!  I love these pictures you create Tai! This bottom one of the daisy mandala has such motion surrounding it.  Thanks!!!