A MALA is a string of beads used for meditation and prayer in various spiritual practices, particularly in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is similar to a rosary in the Christian tradition. Malas can be made from various materials such as gemstones, wood, seeds, or crystals, and they typically consist of 108 beads, although variations exist with different bead counts.
The number 108 holds significance in many spiritual and cultural traditions.
Here are some interpretations of why the mala typically has 108 beads:
1. Sacred Number: In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, the number 108 is considered sacred. It is believed to represent the wholeness of existence, including the individual self, the universe, and the divine. Each bead is a reminder of the interconnectedness of all things.
2. Cosmic Relationships: The number 108 is said to reflect various cosmic relationships. For example, it is believed to represent the 12 zodiac signs and the 9 planets, resulting in 12 multiplied by 9 equaling 108. Additionally, the distance between the Earth and the Sun is about 108 times the diameter of the Sun.
3. Energy Centers: In yoga and Ayurveda, it is believed that the human body has 108 energy channels or nadis that converge to form the heart chakra. Each bead on the mala can be seen as a symbol of these energy centers and serves as a tool for aligning and balancing them during meditation.
4. Mantra Repetition: Malas are often used to count repetitions of mantras during meditation. A mantra is a sacred word, sound, or phrase that is repeated to focus the mind and enhance spiritual growth. The mala with 108 beads allows practitioners to track the recitation of the mantra by moving one bead at a time, helping to maintain concentration and awareness.
It's important to note that while 108 is a significant number, not all malas have precisely 108 beads. Some malas may have fewer beads, such as 54 or 27, and there are also wrist malas with around 18 to 27 beads. The symbolism and purpose of the mala remain regardless of the specific bead count. Ultimately, the mala serves as a personal tool for meditation, prayer, intention setting, and spiritual practice.
Using a mala necklace for meditation and spiritual practice is a simple and effective process.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use a mala necklace:
- Set Your Intention: Before you begin using the mala, take a moment to set your intention or purpose for your practice. It could be a specific mantra, affirmation, or quality you wish to cultivate during your meditation.
- Choose a Comfortable Position: Find a comfortable seated position for your meditation practice. You can sit on a cushion, chair, or in any other position that allows you to maintain an upright posture while being relaxed.
- Hold the Mala in Your Hand: Hold the mala in your dominant hand, allowing it to rest on your middle or index finger. You can let the mala drape between your fingers or hold it loosely, ensuring that it is comfortable and doesn't restrict your movement.
- Start at the Guru Bead: The guru bead is the larger bead at the center of the mala. Begin your practice by holding the mala with your thumb and middle finger and starting at the bead next to the guru bead (the bead before and after the guru bead are not counted).
- Recite Your Mantra or Affirmation: With each bead, gently move your thumb or middle finger to the next bead while reciting your chosen mantra or affirmation silently or aloud. You can use a specific mantra or simply focus on your breath or a word that resonates with your intention.
- Keep Count: Continue moving from bead to bead, repeating your mantra with each bead until you reach the guru bead again. You can choose to go around the mala once or multiple times, depending on your preference and the time you have available for your practice.
- Pause or Reverse Direction: When you reach the guru bead, you can pause for a moment of reflection, gratitude, or to transition to another practice. If you wish to continue, you have the option to reverse direction and move back along the mala without crossing over the guru bead.
- Closing Your Practice: Once you have completed your desired number of repetitions or reached the end of your meditation, gently place the mala down or wear it as a reminder of your practice throughout the day.
Remember, the mala is a personal tool, and you can adapt its usage to suit your individual practice. You can use it for meditation, mantra repetition, mindfulness, or any other spiritual practice that resonates with you. Enjoy the process and let the mala serve as a supportive tool on your spiritual journey.
Understand what makes you different from everyone else and learn the profound insights into your psychology, along with strategies and techniques for making correct decisions, ultimately leading to a life of more ease and fulfillment.
Have you heard of the beautiful crystal called APATITE? It's so amazing!
Apatite is known as the stone of manifestation and its attuned to the future, activating psychic abilities and allowing expansion of knowledge. Apatite will stimulate the intellect and brings ideas from the mind down into the earth realm through realizations.
It is aligned with the zodiac sign of Gemini. and is believed to decrease appetite (hunger) as well as enhance insight, creativity and learning. I love wearing Apatite as it's said to enhance focus, clarity for concentration, intellect, acceptance and unconditional love. I have a Crystal diffuser necklace that I made and this one has apatite in it.
You can also place a small piece of Apatite under your pillow and it can be used as a dream stone to connect with your subconscious while you are sleeping. It can also clarify any hard to understand dreams you may be having.
Have you ever seen the beautiful crystal Citrine? The colour of Citrine is yellow to yellowish brown or smokey grey-brown and Citrine is a variety of Quartz.
Citrine is like vitamin C for the soul as its crystal properties emanate positivity and joy. Citrine harnesses the energy of the sun to bring sunshine and light to all areas of your life. So Keeping this stone close will help you keep your environment and your energy feeling sunny and bright.
So if you are in search of a crystal to uplift your spirit and bring more positivity and happiness into your life - Citrine is a good choice.
Citrine energises every level of life. It cleanses the chakras and opens the intuition. Citrine also attracts wealth, prosperity and success. It imparts joy, wonder, delight and enthusiasm, it Raises self-esteem and self-confidence and it Stimulates the brain and strengthens the intellect. Citrine promotes motivation, activates creativity and encourages self-expression It can help releas negative traits, depression, fears and phobias. and is Emotionally balancing. Citrine is associated with the solar plexus chakra, and is effective in increasing your personal power and self-confidence Citrine’s bright and happy energy fills your spirit with positivity and the highest vibrations, clearing any blockages or imbalances in your solar plexus chakra. Citrine is ideal for a variety of intentions, including happiness, confidence, manifestation, and wealth.
It is a premier stone of manifestation, imagination, and personal will. Did you know that Citrine is also known as “The Merchant's Stone,”. It is because Citrine is said to bring prosperity.
It is a great crystal to have if you are working on attracting wealth and success, but need a boost of confidence to go after what you want. It is Energising and recharging, Citrine also reverses degenerative disease and helps balance chemical imbalances in the body.
It is a great crystal to have if you are working on attracting wealth and success, but need a boost of confidence to go after what you want. It is Energising and recharging, Citrine also reverses degenerative disease and helps balance chemical imbalances in the body.
Some ways you can use this crystal is by wearing it as Jewellary or by carrying a stone or incorporating it into your space. Wearing Citrine in the form of jewelry is a powerful way to connect with the stone’s energy throughout the day. Your citrine necklace, bracelet or earrings can remind you to choose happiness, and to tap into the light and positive energy that is always available to you. Some people like to carry a Citrine in their wallet or purse or pocket to allow you to bring some positive energy wherever you go. I like holding this crystal in my hand if I feel down as I feel this helps to raise my vibration and to fill myself with positive energy. You can also place some citrine in your home, this gives you a good reminder to be happy. It can act as a source of positive energy and good vibes. I also love using Citrine when I set intentions such as "I choose to be happy". I also love carrying Citrine with me or wearing it to enhance manifestation and to create Abundance.
Natural citrine will very rarely ever grow in clusters like amethyst, so when you see a yellow, orange, crystal in a cluster formation, it is most likely a form of heat-treated amethyst. Another way to tell is if the root of the crystal is white but the tip is an orange or yellow color. The only chemical difference between Amethyst and Citrine is the oxidized state of the iron impurities. Naturally occurring Citrine is quite rare, which is the result of natural heat and pressure applied to Amethyst over a very long period of time. ... Ametrine contains the healing properties of both Amethyst and Citrine.
Crystals of Love or Heart chakra stones are the specific crystals and gems that resonate with the energy of a vibrant and awakened heart chakra.
Using and working with these crystals can assist in balance our heart chakra, heal past pain, wounds, traumas and restore a sense of well-being and love.
Having a balanced heart chakras and awakening heart chakra is important as the heart chakras is the balance point for your physical and energetic being.
The heart chakra is the chakra that balances the mental and spiritual energy of the higher chakras with the physical energy of the lower chakras. Its also the center point of your multidimensional being. The heart chakra is your key to fully love and accepting yourself ands those around you. When your heart chakra is balanced you are able to forgive and love in the most trying circumstances.
The heart chakra also plays a key role in empowering you to anchor the higher light of Spirit into your physical being… and empowers you as a physical being to reach up to experience the higher realms of angels, peace and light.
The Sanskrit name for the heart chakra is Anahata. Anahata means unstruck. It refers to the pure tone of the awakened heart chakra that is the resonant sounds made without any two things striking. It is the sound of love present when there is no striking or struggle… It is the tone of Divine Love, balance and harmony.
Heart chakra stones resonate with this tone, and can help bring your wounded, closed, or imbalanced heart chakra center back into a Divine State of embodied love, and balance so you can clearly relate to yourself and others with love.
There are many Crystals you can pick for the heart chakra. I am going to go through a few with you, but there are more to choose from. Trust your intuition when you choose crystals - go with the ones you are forward towards.
Below are some crystals that support and resonate with the heart chakra.
Rose Quartz
Rose Quartz is one of the most common crystals. It is well known for being the “Stone of Love”. It resonates with love and with the heart chakra and has a beautiful warmth and loving energy. Rose quartz supports relationships of all kinds, encourages emotional healing, and opens the heart chakra to the flow of love.
Pink Opal
Pink Opal is a love stone with a deep connection to the Heart Chakra. It works to heal our emotions, allowing our hearts to open to love. Pink Opal is often referred to as “The Stone of Resolution” as it works to heal our emotional wounds and deep hidden fears enabling us to resolve and let them go.
Emerald
Emerald is a powerful heart chakra crystal and “stone of successful love”. It is incredibly supportive in cultivating loving relationships with others whether that is at the level of friendship or romantic partnership. Emerald encourages living in a heart centered way and responding with love in the present moment.
This is a stone that can support in healing wounds of the heart as well as embracing the heart centered qualities of love and compassion.
Amazonite
Amazonite is deeply stimulating to both the Heart and Throat Chakras. The Heart Chakra, located near the center of the breastbone, regulates our interaction with the external world and controls what we embrace and what we resist. It gives us the balancing ability to be ourselves within the environment.
Chrysoprase
Chrysoprase opens, activates and energises the heart and sacral chakras, balances yin-yang energy, and brings Universal energy into the physical body. Chrysoprase promotes love of truth. It promotes hope, and encourages fidelity in business and personal relationships.
Rhodochrosite
Rhodochrosite is a crystal that represents selfless love and compassion. It is a wonderful stone to use when working with the Heart Chakra and relationships. Those dealing with loss will find a deep love within this stone. Rhodochrosite aids in self-forgiveness and self-love.
Malachite
The beautiful crystal Malachite is linked to the Heart Chakra which is located near the center of the breastbone, it regulates our interaction with the external world and controls what we embrace and what we resist. It gives us the balancing ability to be ourselves within the environment.
Lepidolite
Lepidolite dissipates negativity, activates and opens the throat, heart, third eye and crown chakras. It clears blockages and brings cosmic awareness.
