Mala-tastic

Mala Beads. Also known as prayer beads. They are simple, but full of meaning.

They are typically comprised of 108 beads and they are a tool used to keep your mind on the meditation and prevent it from wandering. Malas are generally made from different materials such as tulsi (basil) wood, sandal wood, rudraksh seeds or crystal. Each type of material has certain properties which subtly affect the subconscious mind of the practitioner.   Anyone who has mediated before knows how hard it can be to focus sometimes. By its very nature, the mind tends to wander off during the meditation practice. If ones energy is low at the time of meditation, it can be tempting to fall asleep. If the energy is too high, the mind can start daydreaming or coming up with shopping lists. At such times, the mala provides the much needed anchor. The Mala beads are moved in rhythm with the breath and the mantra, so that both-sleep as well as excessive mental distraction-are prevented by this action upon the beads. A personal mala is a wonderful accessory to meditation, which when used regularly with a personal mantra, absorbs the vibrations of the practice. It becomes like a close friend or a comfortable piece of clothing! The Mala is traditionally held in the right hand and used in two ways -In one method, the Mala is hanging between the thumb and the ring (third) finger. The middle (second) finger is used to rotate the Mala by one bead towards oneself with each repetition of the mantra. In the other method, the mala is hanging on the middle finger, with the thumb used to rotate the mala just as explained - one bead at a time. Either way, the index finger is never used to touch the Mala. Can you guess where this is going? Yes, we are going to be carrying Mala necklaces (and bracelets) within the next month or so. Many of them will be one-offs, so stay posted!
Here is a quick sneak peak! Green Sandalwood 108 Beads