The Mandala Book: Patterns of the Universe Hardcover – December 7, 2010

Initially, I just thought it'd be a book with pretty pictures. Yes; it does have gorgeously breathtaking pictures, but this book is much more than just a coffee-table book. It goes through the many ideals and philosophies behind the mandala as an art form. It covers the religions that have used mandalas; how the mandala is a symbolic representation of you, others, and the Universe; the shapes that are used in mandalas and what they represent. The book goes through chapters; from an introduction to mandalas, to understanding the concept of mandalas; to teaching readers about the symbolism surrounding different shapes- from different types of circles, to the dyad, to the triangle, and square, and pentagon, and hexagon... It then wraps up with patterns that can be found in nature. Finally, there's an afterword, and the book ends with drawings of examples of mandala patterns. I'm also really glad that it is a hard-cover book because I know I'll be referencing to this book many more times in the future. With a whole 297 pages of knowledge and pictures, I'm sure you'll find value within this book. This is a wonderful book to buy if you'd like to learn more about mandalas; if you're a zentangle artist that is looking for inspiration; if you're a spiritual artist or someone who uses a lot of symbolism within your work; and even if you're not an artist, the images and ideas within this book are worth a buy. I made a video of me flipping through the book here:http://www.everythingis-art.com/2014/10/themandalabook.html

I have to regress for a minute and tell you I am new to mandalas, but I researched many books before deciding which books I could use as tools to help me understand the world around me better. I think I am a pretty observant person, but I have found in reading this book and another that mandalas have made me more aware of how I have looked at things and how I can improve myself and my life. It's a process that I'm enjoying while incorporating some of the thoughts Lori Bailey Cunningham included in this book. The photos are beautiful and she open your eyes to understanding mandalas and seeing them all around you in your everyday life. This is not a coloring book but a palette of life to be used along with your meditation practice. Consider this book as a history lesson into a world for a broader visual advantage! Another book I will suggest with it is the "Mandala Sourcebook 150 mandalas to help you find peace, awareness, & well-being by David Fontana & Lisa Tenzin-Dolma." These two books are both different approaches to looking at mandalas, but they compliment each other. Two purchases that I really enjoy having.

I don't usually give reviews on books. Having said that, this is a beautifully written book with basic but informative text about sacred geometry, the golden ratio, Phi as well as the natural laws of the universe and how those laws apply to the most basic of life forms on our planet. It is beautifully illustrated with wonderful, high quality color photographs in simple and easy to understand terms. It is sectioned into the varied shapes that make up our natural world: circles, squares, triangles, hexagons, spirals, waves and so on. The beauty of the mandala as it is birthed from each of these building blocks is gradually revealed in an interesting and inspiring format that illustrates how the Mandala is everywhere in our natural world if we only take the time to notice. It is side-complimented with quotes from famous philosophers, poets, inventors etc., and it is a wonderful edition to my personal library. I am inspired to begin creating mandalas! I definitely recommend this book for everyone, including children and especially to intuitive artists such as myself. I am very pleased I purchased it and thank you, Lori Bailey Cunningham! You did a wonderful job with this book.

I accidentally saw I was getting this before Christmas and thought from the glimpsed cover that it would be just mandalas. It’s much more than that. It’s full of lovely pictures and accompanying chapters about various patterns and numbers in nature and the visual world in general. Right up my alley. So for not being surprised I very happily was.

What a great find and a labor of love! Years ago, I taught a drawing class that highlighted fractals, Mandelbrot set, Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Mean and found that the text and examples expanded my understanding. The images are of the highest quality and the content is well researched. This book expanded my knowledge of the miraculous world of nature we live in and inspired me to create mandalas in my design projects.

This is a very informative, interesting book that introduced me to mandalas and how to see them in everyday items, plants and all the designs in nature.

I have always been fascinated and curious about patterns in nature and the sacredness of the mandala. I thought this book was just going to be filled with wonderful inspiring pictures. It was! It went beyond that. The author explains the sacredness of numbers that are connected to patterns that repeat themselves in the micro and macro universe. These connections are part of our core being throughout history. This book was an eye opening read as well as a wonderful visual experience.

This nice sized Hardcover book is full of amazing images of Mandalas and interesting tidbits about what they truly are and what inspires them. Nature is awash with them as is everything that surrounds us really.Great visuals, so those who love to view beautiful images will much enjoy this volume. And the information and text was very interesting as well. I am sure that even my husband, who's not a big reader, will enjoy leafing through the pages.

So happy find this book on Amazon.

The introduction provides an in depth exploration of how mandala patterns are everywhere - we find them in nature, in our everyday experience, in manmade objects, within our cells, and, as the centre of our own universe, we are part of an ever evolving mandala.The chapter titles are Zero, Circle, Dyad, Triangle, Square, Pentagon, Hexagon, and Patterns. As the author moves from an exploration of zero to the circle we are taken on a journey into understanding how all the following shapes have as their starting point the circle - "All shapes spring from the womb of the circle, beginning with the dyad, an almond shape that represents the duality of two". Each shape is explored in detail and illustrated with colour photos - the majority of the images are from the natural world but there also photos of manmade structures.This book is a wonderfully gentle introduction to the geometry that surrounds us and permeates our universe. Topics covered include the Golden Ratio, the Fibonacci series, spirals, helices, symmetry, and fractals. The numerous illustrations help bring the text alive. I love this book and highly recommend it if you are interested in mandalas and the geometry that surrounds us.The book ends with 13 mandala designs that you can photocopy and colour.The author, Lori Bailey Cunningham, is the founder of the Mandala Project a non profit organisation that promotes peace through art and education.

This is an amazing book. Don't quite know where to start, it's so wonderful. There are lots of pictures of natural forms and then man made equivalents, there is also an icon on each page so we can understand the shape in it's simplest form. The colours and forms of nature and science (amazing pictures from things under microscopes) are so awe inspiring. It will help you to 'see' the world in a different way. Our world is full of patterns and unless you are a gardener or artist, it's easy to miss - this book helps you to see the beauty and structures that are everywhere around us.Beautiful writing and sentiments from Ms Cunningham and some great, thought provoking quotes throughout the book. Whether you have an interest in Mandalas or not this book is absolutely worth having.

Da ich so viel Gutes von diesem Buch gehört habe, machte es mich neugierig. Und ich muss sagen, ich bin total begeistert. Ich habe mich gefragt, wieviel Zeit und Engagement man braucht um all diese tollen Bilder zusammenzutragen. Auch wenn mein englisch nicht perfekt ist, alleine schon die Bilder sprechen für sich. Einfach wunderschön. Es ist kein Buch, was man von Anfang bis zum Ende durchliest, sondern ein Buch, das man aufschlägt , die Bilder auf sich wirken lässt, den Text liest und einfach nur staunt. Wo finde ich Mandalas in der Natur? Wir sind überall davon umgeben und wissen es nicht. Ich sehe die Natur nun mit ganz anderen Augen an.

It's about everything AROUND mandalas: geometry, sacred geometry, stories, history, nature, shape, wisdom, art....It's a comprehensive book. Well researched, sturdy edition, lovely prints and pictures. A joy to read! Wish I had found it earlier!Se dovessi scegliere tre libri, tra i 12 che ho, sui mandala, questo sarebbe il nro 1! (2 Susanne Fischer, 3, Drawing geometry.)