The word 'mandala' stems from Sanskrit (the classical language of India) and means circle.
In astrology the number 12 is a cosmic number yielded by multiplying the feminine 4 and the masculine 3 (there are 3 zodiac signs in each of the 4 quarters of the zodiac wheel)
A Mandala is also a symmetrical geometric design, usually enclosed in a circle. Mandalas have been present in many cultures throughout history and have played an important role in religious ceremonies. According to many traditions, the mandala represents the design of the universe and expresses the order and symmetry that is found there.
Circular forms or "mandalas" abound in the natural world. Toss a pebble on the still pond and watch a spiral form, look at a flower and get lost in the form of its petals, walk on the seashore and pick up a sand dollar and marvel at its symmetry, gaze into a loved one's eyes and get lost in the facets of light that are reflecting there, and look up at the night sky and get lost in the circularity of the moon. The examples are endless but all represent an experience that has no beginning or no end. The mandalas of nature remind us of the pattern of wholeness and perfection that is in the universe. They remind us of ourselves and awaken us to the realization of our wholeness of self.
Everything in life is cyclical and this is clearly evident in astrology and numerology and also, surprisingly!!, in crop circles which are becoming more and more frequent as our planet and/or other civilisations warn us of the impending changes to our world:
There is then the issue of sacred geometry and 'the flower of life' which seemingly contains the formulae of the Universe and everything in it as well as the dominance of the feminine represented by curves (within the image below is the
Metatron cube which is comprised of 5 platonic solids which represent both the masculine and the elements of fire (tetrahedron) earth (cube), air/wind (octahedron), water (icosahedron), and ether/universe (dodecahedron):