Malas and Meditation

I've been making hand-knotted Mala necklaces over the last several years. I've also been meditating on and off for a few decades. Both efforts come in waves; sometimes I'll go many months without meditating at all, and I have given away whole sets of bead collections in an effort to end my obsession. I believe I have finally made peace with the beads and am happy to report that they and meditation are here for the long haul. So much so that I earned a certification from The Path Meditation Teacher Training in 2023, and I plan to continue with more training this year including my first ever silent meditation retreat!

I love using a Mala when I meditate. I find it provides an extra anchor in addition to the breath which really helps me to stay connected to the present moment. Plus, I know that one lap around my necklace is about 12-15 minutes or 54 breaths (I inhale on one bead and then exhale on the next and so on), so I have a gentle boundary around my meditation time.

Construction Details

I also love the process of making them. I pre-stretch the silk thread and take care to keep my unique knotting technique consistent. I make the tassels out of the same silk thread. 

Lately, I am focusing on this random yet repeatable design which gives me a great opportunity to practice detachment from specific outcomes. It includes up to 30 different types of gemstones, some earthy, some saturated, and a simple wood guru bead. The varied pattern encourages me to accept and love all of my own parts and to seek balance between them all.

F.A.Q.s

What is a Mala?

Mala necklaces are more than just beautiful beads; they are a practical tool for meditation. Most Malas are hand-knotted and traditionally include 108 beads, a guru bead, and a tassel. That said, there is no “right” Mala. They can vary in style, size, and color, have knots or no knots, include a pendant instead of a tassel, or have no tassel at all. Each has its own unique energy. When choosing a Mala, it is only important to choose one that feels right to you.

What materials do you use?

I use silk thread and semi-precious gemstones. The guru beads vary, but are typically either wood or a semi-precious stone. I use 6.5 mm beads, which results in an overall length of about 20" from the top of the necklace down to the tassel. 

How much do they cost?

In general, I charge $85 for a Mala. Sometimes I offer special prices (especially if you visit my studio in person!). A custom design is typically between $125 - $145.

Can I get a custom design?

Yes! I am happy to collaborate with you to make your own unique design!

How do you use a Mala?

Traditionally, Malas are used to count repetitions of a mantra during meditation. Practitioners hold the Mala gently in their right hand and use their thumb and middle finger to progress through each bead while reciting the mantra. This practice helps to anchor and deepen one's meditation.


The Mala offers a connection to a powerful tradition and there are many sources of information about their lineage. I encourage you to research the history and to integrate your Mala into your own meditation and mindfulness practices. Here’s how I use mine:


I settle into a seated position with my eyes gently closed and my Mala in my right hand. I then take a few deep breaths and bring my attention to my body and my immediate environment. I anchor my focus on both my breath and the beads, either simultaneously or alternating with whichever feels natural and helpful in any given moment. I enjoy having two anchors; it helps me to stay more present and aware. I then begin progressing through the beads, holding the first bead (start closest to the guru bead) between my thumb and middle finger and then drawing the Mala towards me with my thumb, one bead at a time. I typically do not use a mantra, but sometimes I will think “calm” on the inhale and “ease” on the exhale. I like to coordinate each bead with a single inhale or exhale or about 54 cycles of breath for one lap around the Mala. I like knowing that this takes about 12-15 minutes, so I don’t need to use a timer. I simply wait for the guru bead and tassel to come back into my hand, and then I know it’s time to transition out of the meditation or start a new lap. If I'm doing multiple laps, I reverse the direction of the Mala each time.
BEADS

Jade

Jade is the name shared by two distinctly different minerals – Nephrite, a calcium magnesium silicate, and Jadeite, a sodium aluminum silicate. Both are exceptionally tough stones and similar in appearance. 


HEALTH

ABUNDANCE

EARTH / GROUNDING

__________

Chinese Chrysoprase

Chrysoprase is a cryptocrystalline form of chalcedony, meaning that it contains crystals so small that they cannot be discerned under normal magnification. It shows a minty to dark green color and can vary from being translucent to opaque. 


OPTIMISM

JOY

HAPPINESS

__________

Green Aventurine

Aventurine beads come in a variety of colors; blue, green, yellow, and peach are the most common. These gemstone beads often have a slightly translucent quality that gives them a shimmery appearance.


EASE

DIGNITY

CALM

LUCK

__________

African Turquoise

African Turquoise is a form of Jasper, although its blue-green color has lead to its trade name of African Turquoise. All Jaspers are members of the Chalcedony group of rocks and all of them are formed with mineral inclusions, such as copper and iron, which give each variety a unique and beautiful appearance.


INNER PEACE

SPIRIT GUIDANCE

__________

Azurite in Quartz

Azurite is a secondary copper carbonate mineral that forms around deposits of copper. Quartz is one of the most famous minerals on the earth. It occurs in essentially all mineral environments, and is the crucial constituent of many rocks. 


STRESS RELEASE

CLARITY

BALANCE

__________

Teal Blue Apatite

Apatite is a phosphate mineral found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. The most prolific deposits of apatite are found in ancient marine and lakebed environments and consist of mineralized debris from water-dwelling organisms. 


KNOWLEDGE

DREAMS

INNER SELF

__________

Angelite

Angelite is an evaporite gypsum mineral, meaning that it is from the evaporation of non-moving bodies of water. Its name is derived from the Greek word "angelos," meaning "angel.”


TRANQUILITY

PEACE

HARMONY

__________

Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is found in Chile and Russia, with the highest quality deposits found in the mountains of Afghanistan as far back as 7000 BC. One of the best-known historical uses of lapis is the creation of the artist’s pigment known as Ultramarine, used in Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” 

 

FREEDOM

CLEAR THINKING

__________

Sunset Dumortierite 

Dumortierite is a silicate mineral with colors including hues of blue, violet, purple, and brownish-red. The name Dumortierite is named after the French paleontologist, Eugene Dumortier. The major source is in eastern France. Other important sources of this stone include Colorado, Washington, and Nevada in the USA.


THIRD EYE

INSIGHT

__________

Bloodstone Jasper

Bloodstone Jasper, more technically known as heliotrope, is a form of chalcedony and is considered the most beautiful of the Jaspers. 


WARRIOR SPIRIT

COURAGE

HEALING

__________

Amethyst (matte)

Amethyst is a member of the quartz family and displays beautiful hues of pale to deep purple. 


PROTECTION

PURIFICATION

__________

Chevron Amethyst (smooth)

Amethyst is a member of the quartz family and displays beautiful hues of pale to deep purple. 


PROTECTION

PURIFICATION

__________

Brecciated Red Jasper

Brecciated Red Jasper, a vibrant and earthy gemstone, features a striking combination of deep red hues and intricate patterns. Its name, "brecciated," refers to its fragmented appearance, where angular pieces of jasper are cemented together in a contrasting matrix. This unique formation creates a visually dynamic stone with a rugged, natural beauty. 


COURAGE

VITALITY

__________



Red Jasper

Red jasper, a robust and earthy gemstone, is a variety of chalcedony known for its rich crimson hues and opaque appearance. Its vibrant color, ranging from brick red to deep brownish-red, is caused by iron oxide inclusions within the stone. 


GROUNDING

STABILITY

VITALITY

COROUAGE

ENERGY

__________

Red Sardonyx Agate

Agate is a translucent variety of banded microcrystalline quartz. The name agate comes the Achete River in Sicily where these semi-precious stones were found in ancient times. 


STABILITY

STRENGTH

__________

Sunstone

Sunstone, more technically known as 'heliolite', is an orange translucent variety of feldspar. It has tiny mineral inclusions, giving it a sparking appearance when exposed to light. 


CLARITY

CONFIDENCE

STRENGTH

FORTUNE

__________

Orange-Red Aventurine

Aventurine beads come in a variety of colors; blue, green, yellow, and peach are the most common. These gemstone beads often have a slightly translucent quality that gives them a shimmery appearance.


EASE

DIGNITY

CALM

LUCK

__________

Peach Aventurine

Aventurine beads come in a variety of colors; blue, green, yellow, and peach are the most common. These gemstone beads often have a slightly translucent quality that gives them a shimmery appearance. 


EASE

DIGNITY

CALM

LUCK

__________

Auralite-23

Auralite-23, also known as Red Cap Amethyst, is a rare blend of crystals and one of Earth’s oldest minerals, estimated to have formed around 1.2 - 1.5 billion years ago. Initial discovered north of Lake Superior in Ontario, Canada, and can only be found there. The name is derived from the “23” minerals that are contained within the chemical composition of the stone (the main being an Amethyst base with inclusions within).


ALIGNMENT

REJUVENATION

__________

Tridacna Shell

Tridacna Shells come from a classification of large seawater clams that are made of heavy shells with folds. These bright white shells inhabit shallow waters of coral reefs in warm seas of the Indo-Pacific region. 


POTENTIAL

NEW BEGINNINGS

__________

Montana Dendritic Agate

Agate is a translucent variety of banded microcrystalline quartz. The name agate comes the Achete River in Sicily where these semi-precious stones were found in ancient times.

STRENGTH

STABILITY

__________

Labradorite

Labradorite is a grey stone that shows blue, purple, and green colors when turned at different angles to the light. It is a form of feldspar similar to moonstone. Labradorite was first discovered in Labrador, Newfoundland, of Eastern Canada in the late 1700s.


INTUITION

PURPOSE

__________

Larvikite (black Labradorite)

Mined from the enchanting quarries of Norway's Larvik region. Larvikite is referred to as "black labradorite" due to its visual resemblance and shared mineral composition with labradorite. Both larvikite and labradorite belong to the feldspar mineral group and share a common feature known as labradorescence.


INTUITION

PURPOSE

__________

Moonstone

Moonstone is a variety of chatoyant feldspar and is found in various locations around the world, including Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Madagascar, and the United States.


SUCCESS

GOOD FORTUNE

WISDOM

__________

Brazilian Amazonite

A captivating variety of feldspar, is renowned for its vibrant blue-green color and unique white streaks or patches. Amazonite takes its name from the Amazon River Basin of Brazil, where it was thought to have been first discovered.


CLEANSING

BALANCE

QUIET MIND

__________

Llanite Rhyolite

Also known as Llanite Quartz or Llanite Blue Quartz, these beads are a Precambrian felsic extrusive rock found in Llano County of Central Texas and consists mainly of feldspar, blue quartz, and biotite, with trace amounts of several other minerals. 


EARTH

NATURE

__________


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