HISTORY OF MANDALAS part II
Similar developments took place in the traditions of African thought. Egyptian mythology describes the cosmos as a seamless round before time began. Within this circle Nut, goddess of the sky, and Geb, god of earth, were tightly bound to one another. With the loosening of this circle, the world parents separated and set in motion time, creativity, and consciousness—the power to count and measure. Creation myths based on the idea of the circle as the beginning of knowledge are found in the traditions of the South Pacific and India as well. Clearly the motif resonates with deeply felt human intuitions.
Such thoughts influenced philosophy and artistic creations for thousands of years. The layout of pyramids, castles, monasteries, towns, and cathedrals was governed by sacred mathematical equations that allowed builders to transpose celestial perfection to the earthly plane. Mathematical operations for dividing the area within a circle, for calculating a right angle, or for finding the sides of a triangle were originally performed with a sacred intent. Gradually, the sense of sacredness was lost though the usefulness of the ideas was retained. Now students learn these math equations as part of their basic education.
The circle has been useful in efforts to explain how things began, to find one’s bearings in the world, and to symbolize the wonders of nature. It is not surprising that the circle has also been used in rituals that attempt to induce, channel, or contain experiences of the sacred. Many religious rituals begin with the establishment of a sacred circle. Voodoo priestesses, for example, trace a circle on the ground to issue an invitation to the gods.
Some ceremonies use circular movement to create an ecstatic state of mind. Eskimos incise a circle in stone with repetitive, rhythmic movements for long periods of time in order to bring about a trance. Dervishes spin to participate in the sacredness of the circle as a manifestation of celestial harmonies. The dramatic climax of the sun dance ceremony of the Plains Indians comes when participants swing suspended by ropes, revolving in a slow circle around a central pole.
The space within the ritual circle is changed from ordinary to sacred space. For peoples who perceive in the circle a reflection of the essence of life, creating a circle is a sacred action. It may also be an attempt to achieve resonance with the divine harmonies of the universe manifested in the circular paths of the sun and moon. By synchronizing one’s actions with the divine plan, it is thought goodness will result. It is for this reason that contact with the sacred realities defined by the circle is thought to be healing in cultures such as that of the Navahos.