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Nine Designs for Inner Peace: The Ultimate Guide to Meditating with Color, Shape, and Sound

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Yantras: An Wonderful Experiential Introduction

Sarah Tomlinson, the author of "Nine Designs for Inner Peace: The Ultimate Guide to Meditating with Color, Shape and Sound" was born in England in 1968 and began her study of yoga at the age of 17. After completing undergraduate studies in fine art in London she relocated to New York City, where she participated in an MFA program exploring the sculptural effects of light in architecture. Currently Sarah lives in the USA and co-directs the Ayurveda-Yoga Institute of New York and New Jersey with Gandharva Sauls. She studied yantra painting in India with tantric master and artist the late Harish Johari, who revealed to her the healing power of meditation with yantras. Presently she regularly teaches Yantra Painting Workshops and Ayurveda-Yoga Intensive Training programs internationally.

Yantra is a Sanskrit word that is derived from the root meaning "that which restrains or fastens, any prop or support", "any instrument or machine", or "an amulet, specifically a mystical or astronomical diagram used as an amulet." Yantra has also been defined as the visual analogue of a mantra, a sound or set of sounds, in that it is able to create the vibrations and other effects of a mantra by using the sense of sight rather than hearing.

The Yantra provides a focal point for meditative introspection that is a window into the absolute. When the mind is concentrated on this single, simple visual object, the mental chatter ceases. It is said possible to attain union with the Divine by the geometric visualization of a Yantra. The Yantra is also a microcosmic diagram of the macrocosm, a focal point and a doorway. Yantras are often focused on a specific planetary deity and by meditating on the different Yantras one can tap into certain deities or creative forces.

Yantras are usually designed so that the eye is carried into the center, and very often they are symmetrical. They can be drawn on paper, wood, metal, or earth, or they can be three-dimensional. The art of drawing or painting the nine designs known as the planetary yantras is an ancient practice that promotes healing and centering. Each of the nine designs corresponds to one of the nine spiritual, mental and physical attributes of the individual that are essential to well-being: these are radiance, nourishment, passion, intellect, expansion, bliss, organization, uniqueness, and spirituality.

From the constituents of the square, the circle, and the triangle, dynamic visual meditations unfold as the practitioner moves from the outer elements inward toward the central point of stillness, the bindu, the source of completeness within. An accompanying mantra is recited while preparing each yantra to fully engage the senses in the meditative process.

"Nine Designs for Inner Peace" provides an important resource for a practice little known in the West that is revered elsewhere for its effectiveness in revealing the spiritual terrain that lies hidden, just beneath the actions and transactions of everyday life. The active participation of the body, the act of drawing, the process of viewing in meditation while creating the nine planetary yantras raises to the level of ritual the practitioner's intention toward conscious awareness and gives access to profound states of healing integration.

Sarah Tomlinson's wonderful book brings the process of making a yantra to a much higher, all-involving level of pleasant experience. While yantras may seem rather inaccessible to the average individual, this book is beautifully practical: you don't have to be an artist, nor a yogini, nor proficient in Sanskrit. You don't need to think you have any talent or special knowledge whatsoever, but by following the delightfully clear and straightforward protocols in Ms. Tomlinson's book you will lend up creating something that is meaningful, beautiful and profoundly useful. I enthusiastically recommend this delightful book.

I loved this book! I am familiar with Yantras and even work with some myself, but this took the experience to a whole new level. I am very impressed with the authors background and ability to integrate her experiences and knowledge and make something so usable in todays world. Thank you! I immediately started working on the first Yantra the day I got the book (after reading through - it's a pretty quick read). I had a true healing experience doing the work and I can't stop... I am on the Yantra making bandwagon, these are truely addictive!
Normally Yantras seem a bit out of reach to the average person with their association with particular dieties, etc. But this book is practical - making yantras for qualities like - Intellect, Nourishment and Passion - things you want to integrate more fully into your life. She has also given very modern translations to mantras that really allow them to resonate in todays world.
Thank you!!

this book is amazing. it integrates the ancient practice of creating yantras with a modern approach that anyone can use. you don't have to be an artist to make these simple, yet powerful designs. sometimes i would get frustrated when starting one, but by the end, i'm completely transformed and feel like i went through a spiritual retreat! all sorts of problems can be worked out while making a yantra! and all yantras come out beautiful in the end. you can be creative and color with crayons or paint or use the template to paint on a wall or sew one with fabric (i made a quilted piece and sewed it onto a handbag!)
the stories that sarah writes about her background and her time spent with her teacher in india are inspiring. This is a great addition to a yoga/meditation practice.

Nine Designs for Inner Peace is a wonderful introduction to Yantra drawing, painting, chanting and meditation. Everything is clearly described with instructions that are easy to follow for even a non-artist.

Part 1 of the book explains the why and how of creation of Yantra art and meditation. The nine Yantra designs each have their own chapter in the mid section of the section. Color plates through out the book clarify the instructions on drafting and painting each design. And for those who don't feel up to the challenge of starting the designs from scratch, line art templates are provided in the appendix.

Part 2 delves into the background of Yantra practice. History and personal practice are both touched upon briefly. There is also a chapter on where and how to bring the Yantra colors into your daily life, such as the best day to wear red and where to hang the finished art in your home for best effect.

As an artist, I am very visual and think mostly in pictures and colors. Meditation has always been a bit of a struggle for me. Until this book came along. What was once a mystery has moved into the realm of possibility. Creating and coloring a Yantra design for a specific meditation has been a spiritual awakening. Daily meditation is no longer a chore but an anticipated retreat from the cares of daily life.

My only complaint is the discrepancy between the written word and the color plates in some of the color descriptions. Perhaps as an artist, I am being too fussy, but I found it confusing when the suggested color materials didn't always match up with the sample pictured. In the long run, I suppose it doesn't matter. The practice of drawing and painting with the prescribed chants more than makes up for such slight errors in color matching.

If traditional meditation has always left you with a feeling of frustration this book may open up new avenues for quality time with your Higher Beings.

reviewed by the author/illustrator of Watchers, Aidan's First Full Moon Circle, and Ordinary Girl - A Magical Child, An

This is a lovely book. I had seen Tomlinson's yantra paintings in LA Yoga magazine and wanted to learn more. I have already used them for meditation and now I can't wait to start painting!

Using this book as a guide, I was able to figure out a yantra design that was not included in the book. What that means to me, is that it's a great tool even if the exact design you need is not included. The concepts are solid and can be built upon, or used as is to create beautiful and precise yantras.

I enjoyed the reading of the book, but serveral of the designs have multiple meanings. I felt like I bought 2 designs to use in more then 9 ways.