The easiest and most fascinating way to experience Sacred Geometry is . . . HANDS ON: Making lines and coloring on top of Nature's First Pattern.

There are numerous esoteric secrets and multiple thousands of sub-patterns to be discovered within Nature's First Pattern and even more in The Glyph Maker.

Start playing with these free Gilchrist graphics and you will be amazed.

Nature's First Pattern, is the basic architecture of ALL form. The entire universe springs from this pattern.

You can find unlimited wonder by playing with these FREE graphics. Playful experimentation with Sacred Geometry is good for your head!

With a few simple tools you can start making your own Mandalas today. These Gilchrist graphics were designed as subtle grids which may be added to in endless ways. Simply save these graphics on your hard drive and print and/or manipulate copies to your hearts content. They can be printed in color or gray and white. In all cases they will print in subtle tones which you may choose to lighten or darken. The numerous possible patterns are endlessly fascinating and meditative.

Making your own Mandala involves coloring and shaping a sub-pattern you have discovered hidden within the graphic. Perceiving and hand coloring a possible pattern involves the allegorical left and right brains. This is the essence of Open-Eyed Meditation. The creation of Mandalas based on Sacred Geometry contributes to the integration and synergy of our projective and receptive energies, a very desirable human potential bringing many benefits. This is pure Open-Eyed Meditation!

Suggested tools:
#1. A straight edge.
#2. A simple compass with pencil or pen.
#3. A selection of pens with fine tips (colors and black).
#4. A selection of colored pencils.
#5. The additional possibilities are broad. Use your imagination.

There are three straight lines directly connected to any center of Nature's First Pattern. These lines bisect the petals and connect natural center points. The six natural wedges are 60 degrees each (Fig. 3).

The tools required for this investigation: Pen or pencil and a straight edge. Begin your Mandala by striking a line down the middle of the paper . . . down the center of the petals. This is a powerful symbol of duality or pairs of opposites . . . Twoness. A few of these poles are the Yin and Yang, Left and Right, Mother Earth and Father Sky, Man and Woman, East and West, etc.

Notice and look carefully at the concave triangular shapes naturally formed between the petals, half of them pushing one way and the other half pulling in opposition. This is one of the most beautiful qualities of Nature's First Pattern. Experience this archetypal reality through hand coloring. Creating your own Mandala based on this natural pattern of duality will begin teaching you about Sacred Geometry. This process is extremely meditative. Let the stillness happen.

Start again with a fresh copy and expand with a new pattern. Find the six sets of parallel lines. All you need is a straight edge and a sharp pen or pencil. Experiment and have fun! Enjoy the stillness.

There are concentric circles expanding from the center of Nature's First Pattern (Fig. 4). This variation is created by adding only three new circles, expanding in size from the center: 2 petals wide (first circle), 4 petals wide, 6 petals wide, and 8 petals wide. Tools required to create expanding circles: Compass with pen or pencil.

Begin by placing your copy graphic on a piece of hard cardboard like the back of a legal pad. This will give your compass a good perch (no slips) and will also protect your desk, etc. Place the compass point at the center and carefully strike a circle one radius larger than the center circle. This is very easy to do. Notice how the circumference of the new circle bisects the ends of the six new petals. Now you have two concentric circles. Construct more circles by expanding the radius one petal at a time. Enjoy the stillness.

The first circle at the center including its twelve petals, is called The Germ Of Life and the second concentric circle is called The Seed Of Life. The third concentric circle holds the very important Flower Of Life and the fourth, The Fruit Of Life.

Each of these concentric circles holds fantastic possibilities and secrets which can be studied indefinitely. For instance, the second circle (The Seed Of Life) is responsible for the famous geometric icon and archetype commonly known as the "Yin Yang." Check it out! And the fourth circle (The Fruit Of Life) holds the famous Metatron's Cube; the two dimensional precursor to the three dimensional world of crystalline form (see Gilchrist Mandalas - Gallery 6).

(Fig. 5) The center circle "The Germ Of Life," naturally creates a Hexagon which concentrically expands as does the first circle, ala Hint #2. Use your straight edge to create ever expanding hexagons. Let the stillness happen.

From any of its infinite centers, Nature's First Pattern naturally divides into twelve equal parts . These 12 equal pies are 30 degrees each and are the basis of the ancient 12 House Astrological System. This natural division is also responsible for our our 12 hour clock and our method of dividing time (Fig. 6 & Fig. 7).

(Fig. 8 & Fig. 9) The transcendental qualities of Nature's First Pattern are of critical importance. NFP naturally divides and magnifies into micro cosmic and macro cosmic infinity. In the graphic entitled "The Glyph Maker," this first natural division and magnification is illustrated. The original radius has been both halved and magnified by 1.5 creating an interlocking grid of circles . . . in three sizes. The Glyph Maker holds an unlimited number of designs. It's fantastic! There is truly no end to the possibilities. Seek and yeah shall find!

The Glyph Maker is an important variation on Nature's First Pattern, and traces back to the first Two Circles Of Common Radius and The Vesica Piscis (above left: Fig. 8). As we have seen in (Sacred Geometry an Introduction), two equal circles naturally rotate around points A. and B. creating two new points (C. and D.). Nature's First Pattern uses Point A, as its center.

From another perspective, these first two circles create a new center . . . Point X (see image above left Fig. 8). This natural relationship of the four points found within The Vesica Piscis creates the cross and two equilateral triangles. In addition, the 30, 60, and 90, degree angles are naturally created within The Vesica Piscis (above left: Fig. 8).

The Glyph Maker (detail above right: Fig. 9) uses Point X as its center with naturally forming circle patterns in three sizes. The new smaller (half sized) circle fits perfectly into the original Vesica Piscis and the largest (one and one half sized) circle perfectly encloses the first Two Circles Of Common Radius. This never-ending division and magnification continues naturally and is intrinsically transcendental (Fig. 2).

This is the reason The Flower Of Life is so particularly important: Because its architecture is perfectly contained within the roots of Sacred Geometry, i.e. Two Circles of Common Radius and The Vesica Piscis.

Suggestion: Find The Flower Of Life within The Glyph Maker, and color it . . . It's FUN!

(Fig. 11) The image below illustrates basic circular and linear patterns to be discovered in The Glyph Maker.