Discovering Mala Beads

If you have been following along you might recall I mentioned in my last newsletter the practices or tools I use daily/traveling and one was Mala Beads.

Ok, did I just lose some of you? 🙄 I know. “What the heck are these and how do I use them." First off I am going to say You and Your Intuition will always know but I get it...you need a little perspective (duh Wendi!!!) My Why for wishing to have some …..it’s really profound……they are pretty and I was curious as I saw others in the WOO space have and talk about them. In fact on my very first trip to Maui, my friend Rachel, purposely wished to go to a temple there to get mala beads. They were not open when we arrived but she started chatting with the guy mowing the lawn and viola we were in the store and she was purchasing…but I have digressed 🤷🏻‍♀️

In 2022 I was gifted some mala beads from a dear friend and although I believe I mentioned wishing to learn to change up my meditation practice, once I got them I was a bit overwhelmed on how to use them. She is the type of person who likes instructions and since she purchased them she got emails from the company. So although I do not like to read instructions IF I am curious and wish to learn I do read them step by step. So I did and learned a lot so that is what I will share. Now I understand some of you may say that this is different than how you use them and GREAT you do you!! This is for those who wish to learn a few basics or who are curious to see how I use them. ✨

The email started off with that person's story of their first purchase and I begin with my first gifted set. It said that the most powerful way to use mala beads do deepen your practice requires a synergy of four components:

1. Setting an intention (well I knew that is true with anything set your intention if you wish it to come to fruition)

2. Choosing a mala (my was gifted and her intention on the choice was coloring and messaging)

3. Selecting a mantra (luckily they had some choices that came with the beads)

4. Committing to a minimum 40-day practice (challenge accepted!)

Setting an intention/prayer (sankalpa)- it’s a short, positive and precise statement about what you wish to attain for yourself AND the benefit of all. Taking the time to do this before purchasing and also at the beginning of each mantra practice is key in my opinion.

1. Choosing a mala- again you can use your intention or intuition to guide you. Do note that the wood or gemstones beads used to make your mala carry specific energetic qualities. AND I will say you simply may see and know they should be yours, this happens often to me and once you see my newest set you will know why it’s mine (assuming you know me a bit!)

2. Traditionally a mantra was only given by a guru (I think I need a guru btw) or teacher, but now there are many Sanskrit mantras that you can choose yourself. Ideally your mantra meaning aligns with your intention but if it doesn’t feel right after picking it then change it.

3. Committing and completing 40 days of practice. Why 40 day it’s all abut empowering both the mantra and the mala. Here are some tips to consider to really activate them together:

   1. Try doing your meditation at the same time and in the same place

   2. Do a minimum of 108 repetitions of the mantra, so pick a mala with that many beads so you can go once around.

   3. Sit in any position as long as the spine is long and your shoulder are relaxed.

   4. If you miss a day, you need to start over.

Your mala beads are actually being infused with the energy of your mantra and intention. Be mindful of how you may wear and store your beads. Treat them as sacred and a treasured item.

Do you wish to know more about my practice?

If you're in the Spiritual Evolution FB Group, I have a video that shows my beads (red snowflake jasper and obsidian) and I selected from the listing a mantra but the funny thing is when I went to type it in Google to hear how the words were pronounced I didn’t realize I got a different mantra, again I believe the Universe had this one in mind for me! The one I got was Om Hanumate Namah …give me power, strength and stamina.

So why am I not using this set now? It broke gracefully while I was in Maui in September. I store them in a plush little bag and never wore them too. When I say gracefully I mean not busting and beads all over the floor but in bed one night while doing my mala mediation one end tore apart from the base and a couple beads fell off. So I put them back on and was extra careful the rest of the trip. Some say that if they fall apart that means I am done with that set and can move to something new. I wasn’t so sure about this cuz I legit still need power, strength and stamina but after I saw this Hawaiian creation I decided maybe it was time to gift myself a new set.

So now my mantra is …truth consciousness bliss 💫 and of course I find JOY every time I see it with my honu!! ❤️