A mandala generated by a program is captivating and visually striking — it naturally makes you want to explore the meaning of the numbers and try to apply their interpretation to yourself. But an even more powerful experience awaits those who decide to build a mandala by hand. All you need is a printed mandala template, a set of colored markers, some quiet time, and a bit of inner focus. Immerse yourself in this simple yet fascinating process — and observe how your state begins to shift.
The algorithm of a Light Mandala building is based on a simple principle: any number can be reduced to a single digit from 1 to 9 by summing its digits repeatedly. For example:
1999 = 1 + 9 + 9 + 9 = 28; 2 + 8 = 10; 1 + 0 = 1.
So the core number of 1999 is 1.
This operation goes back to the Pythagorean tradition, in which numbers were seen as the foundation of the universe.
Numbers rule the world — declared Pythagoras (~570–495 BCE), believing that everything in the cosmos — from planetary motion to the structure of plants and the human body — could be expressed through numerical relationships. These ideas laid the foundation for many philosophical schools and practical calculation methods still in use today.
Note: The Pythagorean system did not use the concept of zero — it was introduced much later through Indian and Arabic mathematics. The inclusion of 0 in modern calculations is an adaptation, not part of the original tradition.
Mandala by Date Algorithm
1. Write the date in the format DDMMYYYY, without separators or spaces. Then mirror the date (reverse the digits). This will be the first row of the numeric triangle.
Example: 13.10.1995 becomes 1310199559910131.
2. Build the triangle: add each pair of neighboring digits in the row above, reducing the result to a single digit if necessary. Each new row will be one digit shorter than the previous.
3. Repeat the process until you reach a single digit at the bottom. You should have exactly 16 rows and 136 digits.
4. Transfer the rows into the hexagonal mandala template, starting from the outer edge and moving toward the center. All triangular elements in the template are filled in the same manner.
5. Color the digits according to their values. The color palette to be selected depending on the first digit in the initial row — as shown in the picture.
Mandala Templates
Instead of a regular hexagon template, you may choose any other shape — octagons and stars are also popular. Important is only that each gread should have exactly 16 elements along the outer edge.
Building mandalas using other templates goes beyond the scope of this guide, but curious readers will easily find additional materials online. The principles remain the same — only small details change.
Draw your mandalas — and feel changes inside yourself!
