What Are Malas?

Malas are meditation beads, or prayer beads. They are a tool to focus your awareness and concentration during meditation or quiet reflection time. Mala beads are also known as Buddhist prayer beads and are said to have originated in India back in the 8th century BCE. The stones used in making the mala have deeper meanings and unique healing properties. Use your mala during meditation/praying, wear it as a necklace, or wrap it around your wrist several times to serve as a constant reminder of your intentions. Over time, the mala becomes infused with your personal energy. The more you use your mala, the stronger the bond will become between you and your beads.

Malas most often have 108 beads. This has long been considered a sacred number in Hinduism and yoga. Vedic culture viewed 108 as a number of the wholeness of existence. This number also connects the Sun, Moon, and Earth.

1 = God or Higher Truth

0 = Emptiness or Completeness in Spiritual Practice

8 = Infinity or Eternity

Malas also have a Guru Bead, Tassel, or Skull which signifies the beginning and ending of the prayer/meditation.

How Do You Choose A Mala?

Find a quiet space to tap into your intuition. Ask yourself what you need.

Is it healing? Courage? Protection? Peace? Love? A greater spiritual connection?

When you have the answer, then match need that to the stone(s) in a Mala.

If you’re not sure what you need, or if you have multiple needs, look through the Malas on this website one-by-one, and see which one resonates with you. That’s your Mala!

How To Set An Intention With Your Mala

When you receive your personal Mala, decide upon your own intention (as discussed above) such as protection, compassion, courage, healing, etc.  To set your intention:

  1. Cleanse your Mala with palo santo, sage, sunlight, moonlight, selenite, or a sound bowl.

  2. Find a comfortable seat.

  3. Hold the Mala in the palm of your hand and close your eyes. 

  4. Take 3 deep breaths in and 3 deep breaths out.

  5. Envision light surrounding you.

  6. State your intentions aloud. (Example: " I want to embrace change" " I want to open my heart and mind”). 

  7. Visualize your intentions. 

  8. When you are wearing your Mala or meditating with your Mala, this will manifest your intentions.

How To Meditate With Your Mala

  1. Find a comfortable seat.

  2. Hold the Mala in one hand and let it dangle easily.

  3. Touch the Guru bead/Tassel/Skull with your opposite hand. Close your eyes.

  4. As you move your fingers to the next bead, breathe in and breathe out. Each bead gets its own inhale and exhale.

  5. Continue until you feel the guru bead again.

  6. Begin to chant out loud or silently think a mantra or your intention while you move around the beads again.

  7. Continue this as many times as you feel called to.

How Do Malas Work With Your Chakras?

Chakras are energy centers of spiritual power within our body.

The name Chakra comes from Sanskrit and translates to “wheel” or “disk." We have 7 main chakras within our body, in addition we have small chakras in the palm of our hands and at the soles of our feet. We also have Chakras that sit outside our physical body, above our head and below our feet. The stones we choose can work to open and clear away blocks in our chakras. When we chant, the Bija “seed “ mantra of the chakras using our Malas it can have wonderful benefits for our chakras system and body by helping us to awaken our Kundalini and raise our vibration, reduce stress, and reprogram habits. 

Root Chakra. Color = Red. Sound = LAM (LUM)

Sacral Chakra. Color = Orange. Sound = VAM (VUM)

Solar Plexus Chakra. Color = Yellow. Sound = RAM (RUM)

Heart Chakra. Color = Green. Sound = YAM (YUM)

Throat Chakra. Color = Blue. Sound = HAM (HUM)

Third Eye Chakra. Color = Indigo. Sound = OM (OM)

Crown Chakra. Color = Purple. Sound = AUM (AUM)

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