Our use of color is important, of course, in how we color our mandalas. Blues and greens can sooth and calm us while red, orange and hot pink may help us express anger or frustration. Dark colors may suggest a darker mood while the colors of spring and summer recall happier times. I have used many different color combinations from 3 colors to 20+ colors.
My process involves simply looking at the mandala and the pens that I will use and choosing a color to begin with. I rarely have an overall concept even though ideas such as a flower or a sunset may suggest themselves. In September, 2021, I used a coloring book from color-it Mandalas to Color, for four mandalas based on the four elements of esoteric tradition.
Water
It started the Monday after the weekend when Hurricane Ida devastated parts of Louisiana and was continuing to move across the US. I thought about how the same rain that nourishes can destroy and of the tears of the people I had been seeing on TV that morning.
Fire
My next element was fire which can also be destructive or life-saving.
Air
Air may not be visible but we know of it from its movement.
Earth
My final mandala in this group is earth. Rich brown earth containing minerals and seeds for life.
