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FAQ
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What is a Mala?A mala is a set of prayer beads, a little bit like rosary beads. They have 108 beads plus one main 'guru' bead. They are used to count mantras whilst in meditation. It is said that reciting a mantra 108 times gives the mantra more power and influence. 108 is a significant number in Buddhism and Hinduism, where the use of a mala originates from. The word mala actually translates from Sanskrit commonly as 'garland'. They hold prayers, intentions and the vibrational energy of the mantras that are chanted when using the mala. Wearing a mala is a great way of keeping our practie close to our hearts, reminding us of our spirituality, intentions and prayers.
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What is a Mantra?A mantra is a phrase, often in the ancient language Sanskrit that is chanted or sung as part of a spiritual discipline. The meaning of mantras is not the main reason they are recited. Although their meanings are broadly translated and understood, and intention is an integral part of the meditation, their power lies in their vibrational energy. A mantra is more about energetic waves than meaning. This is the fundamental difference between mantra and affirmations.
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How Do I Use a Mala?Holding the mala in your right hand, rest the beads on the middle finger, leaving your index finger free. Rest your thumb on the first bead after the guru bead, recite the mantra and then pull the bead down with your thumb, bringing your thumb to rest on the second bead. Continue in this way, until you reach the last bead, before the guru bead, chanting your mantra with every bead. Once at the end, it is important not to cross over the guru bead. The guru bead holds the energy of all the mantras recited and it is believed to wipe away this store if the guru bead is crossed. It also represents the teacher, also known at the 'meru' bead with translates as mountain, ie that it should not be crossed.
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What if I Don't Want to Use the Mala for Meditation?Malas are beautiful objects and I think they offer so much in day-to-day wear as well as in meditation. By just wearing one, we are receiving the crystal energy and enjoying their aesthetic value. They are tactile, visually appealing and physically comforting so they do make great accessories for anyone who likes the look and feel of them but isn't drawn to use them for anything else. What is important is being respectful of them, loving them, enjoying their gifts by taking care of them. It is important to be aware of their spiriutal meaning and significance and if you choose not to use them for their true purpose, please do be aware of the issue of cultural appropriation. Wearing a mala for it's aesthetic appeal and for receiving the crystal energy is fine so long as it is treated with respect and it's true meaning is understood and valued.
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How do I Cleanse the Crystals in the Mala?The best way is through sound (singing bowls, ting-sha cymbals for example), smoke smudging (burning of sacred herbs and plants like white sage, sweetgrass, palo santo wood for example) or using other crystals, like citrine or selenite. If you are reiki attuned, you can use your level 2 reiki symbols to cleanse and clear away any lower vibrations. If you cannot do any of these things, placing in moonlihgt and sunlight also works well and if you can't do that, simply using your intention by thinking or saying out loud you wish to 'cleanse and clear any lower vibratory energy patterns' or 'restore the original vibration of the crystals' also works. You can find words that work for you.
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Can You Re-string Malas?There are 2 types of malas, knotted and free strung. The knotted ones are the type I like and make. They have a knot that sits between the beads, helping to separate them out making it easier to use. The other type just has the beads moving freely on a string, with about 2cm gap allowing the beads to move. I may be able to re-string your mala if it has strecthed over time or has snapped, or if you would prefer to have a knotted mala instead of a free strung one. In this instance, the most important thing to check first is the bead hole size. The hole needs to be approximately 1mm in order for the knotting threads I use to pass through the hole and still create a large enough knot to hold the bead in place. Bigger holes means the knots won't hold the bead, smaller holes mean it might not be possible to pass the doubled-up thread through the hole. It's a fine art of getting this bit right and I am constantly battling this issue when sourcing beads and threads. If you would like me to re-string a mala, get in touch via the contact form to discuss. Once you are ready I have an option to purchase a re-string on my Custom Page.
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