Mandalas are used in all kinds of religious groups. From the native americans to the celtics and even the christicans. While mandalas are typically associated with Buddhism and other Eastern religions, the circular shape is equally important in just about all cultures and religious traditions around the world. In Christianity, there are a number of sacred images and ritual décor that use the circular shape to connect the spiritual realm with the earthly realm.
The sacred circle shape of the mandala has been used in cultures around the world as a form of spiritual practice. While some of the most common examples come from Asia, there is a rich history of the use of mandalas in Native American culture. The Aztec cultures of Central and South America used the shape of the mandala to create their grand calendars and to record religious principles. However, many tribes throughout the Northern American landscape also used mandalas as ways to connect with the gods. These were often circular forms made from the skins of animals that were hunted, and incorporated feathers and other found objects. The meaning of the mandala is in many ways the same found in other cultures. Native Americans believed that the shape represents: The circle of life, and the path from birth to death, the unification of man, nature, and the spiritual in a cyclical form and a way to connect with the creators.
While mandalas are used as physical forms of design in many Native tribes, the circular pattern is also essential to ceremonial practices and rituals. It is found in many dances, both in individual movements and as a greater movement around a central point, often a fire or important figure.
