For less than ten dollars and a few hours time, a beginner at crochet can create a four-color meditation mat. Use color symbolism in your selections and you can use the making of this mat, as well as sitting on it, as a way to enhance your meditation. While crocheting each color block, focus on your intention for selecting the colors, whether it is your desire to enhance relaxation or bring creative ideas into your life.
Meditation, Prayer, and Magic Intention
This pattern developed as I planned to make a meditation mat for a shamanic-themed raffle basket. I said that I’d use the colors of the four directions but when I went to the craft store I realized that I could associate a few colors with some of the directions, depending on the cultural connections.
I then decided that any color combination could be used for this mat. I find crochet very meditative and so I recognized that I could focus on characteristics associated with the colors while crocheting, working my intention into the fabric. This is very similar to the thought and symbolism behind prayer shawls.
Color Symbolism Chart
The following list selects some of the positive emotions, thoughts, and things associated with basic colors. Yes, there are negative connotations with each color, but for this project, focus on the positive aspects of the color energy.
Red – Energy, passion, strength, power, excitement, intensity
Orange – Energy, enthusiasm, creativity
Yellow – Optimism, imagination, hope, happiness
Green – Nature, health, good luck, vigor, generosity
Blue – Peace, calm, stability, harmony, trust, confidence, security, order, appetite suppressant
Purple – Spirituality, transformation, enlightenment
Gray – Reliability, intelligence, security, practicality
Brown – Home, earth, comfort, stability, simplicity
White – Simplicity, peace
Black – Power, sophistication, wealth, mystery
Free Crochet Pattern for a Mat
You will need an I-9 hook and four skeins of medium-weight acrylic yarn in four different colors. You will have yarn leftover, at least enough to make two or three hats. For this project, you will create two long, thin rectangles and two short, wide rectangles
Make 2 long rectangles
Chain 85
Skip the first chain and single crochet in each chain. 84 stitches.
Chain 1 and single crochet across. Repeat until the rectangle in ten-inches deep. Fasten off.
Make 2 wide rectangles
Chain 43
Skip the first chain and single crochet in each chain. 42 stitches.
Chain 1 and single crochet across. Repeat until the rectangle in twenty-inches deep. Fasten off.
Finishing the Mat
Sew the two wide rectangles together along their length.
Stitch one long rectangle above the two blocks. Stitch the other long rectangle below the two blocks.
Option – Create a border with a fifth color, by working a single crochet stitch into each of the stitches around the edge of the meditation mat. At the four corners of the mat, work three stitches into the one stitch at each of the corners so the border lies flat. Work around the edge of the mat for one inch.
You can use this mat as part of your meditation practice, for magick work, or for prayer. The process of crocheting the mat can also become part of your meditation and intention.
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