While reading through the August 2008 edition of Yoga Journal, one of the articles about yantra meditation stood out to me and has been bouncing around in my head for days.  Yantras are sacred geometrical symbols from the Tantrics of ancient India.  Yantric geometric designs are conceived of as containers for spiritual energy.  Apparently the practice of meditating on various yantra diagrams for the purpose of of cultivating the universal healing qualities believed to reside in the images has been in use in the Himalayan region of Northern India since 2000 BC.  

Yantras come in several designs.  Check out the examples below that I found on Yoga Journal.  The design contained in each yantra manifests a different quality such as radiance, intellect, organization, nourishment, expansion, uniqueness, passion, bliss, spirituality, etc.  Find the yantra that corresponds with the quality you would like to cultivate in your life and then meditate on it.  If nothing else you can print off the designs below and then color them with your kids.  To find out more about yantras, visit author Sarah Tomlinson’s website or read her book Nine Designs for Inner Peace.