Following the successful launch of our Intention Bracelets, we're excited to announce the addition of our custom malas to the Intention Collection.
You might be wondering what exactly is a mala? Well, they’re not just one of the latest fashion trends to hit the yoga, meditation and spiritual space; malas were created as a valuable tool to help one meditate, relax and focus on intentions.
The mala's origin goes back almost 3000 years and the term is derived from the Sanskrit word “Japamala,” which is a string of beads used for prayer and meditation by Hindus and Buddhists. It is similar to the concept of a Rosary in the Catholic faith.
The mala string is made up of 108 individual beads, which are used to keep count while chanting or repeating a mantra or intention while meditating. It is a tool to help you count mantras, and acts as a tactile guide as you sit in silence.
The number 108 has spiritual significance and is considered sacred in the Hindu religion. The number 1 stands for God, the universe or your own highest truth, 0 stands for emptiness and humility in your spiritual practice and 8 stands for infinity and timelessness.
Malas can be made of many different materials, but traditionally a true mala is comprised of authentic gemstones (not glass beads), rudraksha seeds, and palo santo or sandalwood beads. A sign of a traditionally crafted mala features overhand knotting between the beads that not only make the mala stronger, it also provides the perfect space for Japa Meditation.
We suggest making an appointment with one of our Certified Crystal Healers to choose the gemstones that fit your intention or situation.
Another feature on a traditional mala is the tassel. The tassel’s significance has multiple meanings, but the main one is that as the strings come together as one to form the tassel, it represents our connection to the divine and to each other. It is a true representation of the beauty and strength of oneness.
A mala’s tassel can also symbolize the fourth state of turiya (pure consciousness), the wearer’s wish to cultivate prana (life force energy), and one’s yearning towards moksha (liberation).
In Buddhism, the tassel represents the roots of the lotus plant to remind the wearer of the analogy of “no mud, no lotus.”
The colour of a mala’s tassel can also have an important spiritual and psychological effect on its wearer.
The colour red symbolizes kundalini shakti, power, passion, desire, sexuality, and love. It can activate the 1st chakra: Muladhara. The effects of the colour red are: warming, energizing, stimulating, and strengthening.
The colour orange symbolizes prana or life force energy and enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, and encouragement. The orange colour activates the 2nd chakra: Svadhisthana and the effects of the colour orange are: warming, attraction, abundance, and enjoyment.
A yellow tassel symbolizes personal power, self-esteem, willfulness, and energy. The colour can activate the 3rd chakra: Manipura. The effects of the colour yellow are: strengthening, awakening, energizing, cheerfulness, confidence, and vitality.
The colour green represents compassion, universal love, growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility. Green can activate the 4th chakra: Anahata. The effects of the colour green are: balancing, harmonizing, soothing, rejuvenating, cleansing and calming.
A blue tassel represents peace, communication, inspiration, expression, trust, loyalty, confidence and faith. It can activate the 5th chakra: Vissudha. Blue has the effect of cooling, tranquility, patience, sincerity, devotion, and understanding.
Purple symbolizes knowledge, intuition, insight, higher wisdom, power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. It activates the 6th chakra: Ajna. The effects of the colour purple are: transformation, detoxification, meditation, inspiration, compassion, and contemplation.
White tassels symbolize light, goodness, innocence, and purity. The white colour can activate the 7th chakra: Sahasrara. White can have a positive effect on: balance, harmony, perfection, consciousness, divination, cleanliness and simplicity.
A black tassel represents power, elegance, formality, and mystery. The colour black chromotherapy effects of the colour black are: protection, seriousness, death, mourning, mystery, transformation and secrecy.
Wearing a traditional mala can be a way of enjoying the healing properties of crystals throughout the day and can act as a gentle (and stylish) reminder of your intentions.
Stop by the store or call us to set a time to discuss your intentions, pick the stones and let us design a mala for you.