Mala Necklace/Bracelet

Malas, AKA Buddhist Beads or Prayer Beads, can be worn as a necklace or bracelet. They are symbolic for spiritual growth and are primarily used to focus the mind during meditation and prayer. Monks and meditators of all kinds use mala beads to count the number of mantras or prayers they recite. Modern uses for Malas include:

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• To count or chant a mantra

• Provide grounding while meditating

• Yoga practice

• Gemstone energy for balancing the chakras

• Worry beads for anxiety

• Healing grief, self-love

• Setting positive affirmations

• Manifesting intentions and goals

• Fashion accessories

• etc

It is made up of 108 beads, a guru bead. Some are made with tassels. Each part of the Mala holds a different meaning. The significance of the 108 beads has several different cultural meanings.

In Hinduism, the number 108 represents units of the distance between our body and the God within us. A mantra is chanted 108 times because each chant represents a spiritual journey from our material body towards the highest spiritual self. With each mantra chant bringing you 1 unit closer to the God source within us. 

Mathematicians of Hindu Vedic cosmology believe 108 is the basis of creation, a number that represents the universe and the wholeness of existence and the ultimate consciousness is that we are all one and the same. 

The Sanskrit alphabet has 54 letters, each letter a Shakti (feminine) and Shiva (masculine) quality, multiply 54 by 2 = 108. 

Throughout the year there are instances when Yogis will complete a sequence of 108 Sun Salutations, this yoga tradition is performed to welcome change, such as the passings of seasons from spring to summer, to welcome a new year, or during a time of adversity for reflection and to respect and bring harmony.

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The Guru Bead represents the ending of the prayer. When the Guru Bead is reached through meditation, it should remind the wearer of the awareness achieved through mantra practice and that such awareness should be elevated to be used in everyday life.  This larger bead is never counted during repetition and rather is a moment of reflection before continuing to another round of meditation.  The Guru Bead is used to create intention within the wearer and to be a reminder of the motives for sitting in meditation.

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The Tassel at the end of most traditional Mala necklaces that lay below the Guru Bead.  The tassel is said to represent one-thousand petals of a Lotus Flower.  A Lotus flower blooms in muddy waters and it is believed to symbolize one’s transformation for murky waters to an idyllic version of ourselves.  The tassel also is believed to represent enlightenment and depict the Mala in its most basic and universal form.  Along with representing enlightenment through meditation, the tassel also aids in understanding significance in energy that flows through consciousness.  Some touch the tassel to their third-eye chakra to symbolize their oneness with divinity. 

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Information for this article is from the following:

https://www.goldenlotusmala.com/pages/history-of-mala-beads

http://themalagirl.com/the-guru-bead/

Chakras

Chakras are energy centers along your spine that are tied to physical and emotional problems in the body. The seven main chakras are root, sacras, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye and crown chakras. Each of the seven chakras has a vibrational frequency that is associated with a different color and are linked with a particular set of emotional, physical, and spiritual issues. Keeping your chakras in balance through the use of healing stones/crystals and meditation is a natural method of maintaining overall health. when certain crystals are paired with the coordinating chakra in the body, the crystalline structure of gemstones work to amplify your healing intentions and restore and re-balance the energy body by removing blockages.

Root Chakra

If your root chakra is weak, you may feel unhappy and or out of control of your life. If it is overactive, you might feel agitated. Red and black crystals such as Garnet, Red Jasper, Smokey Quartz, Black Onyx, and Hematite, are recommended to re-balance your root chakra. 

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Sacral Chakra

Low flow of energy through the sacral chakra will cause a lack of energy and motivation. If overactive, you may be feeling frustrated. Carnelia, Orange Calcite, Tiger's Eye and Sunstone is recommended to balance the sacral chakra.

Solar Plexus Chakra

Inactivity of the solar plexus chakra will leave you feeling powerless, especially when under pressure. When this chakra is overactive it could leave you feeling the need to be in control of everything. To balance the solar plexus chakra, try using yellow gemstones such as Citrine, Yellow Jasper, Rutilated Quartz and Pyrite.

Heart Chakra

Problems in your relationship and feeling as though you are not connected to your loved ones are indications that your heart chakra is weak. If your heart chakra is overactive you may find that you are too attached to things resulting in you being overly emotional all the time. Meditating with green and pink stones such as Chrysoprase, Aventurine, Rose Quartz or Rhodonite, over your heart to open it up to all types of love will realign your chakra and you will be able to radiate love of all kinds.

Throat Chakra

If you're having difficulty with self expression you may have a weak throat chakra. An overactive throat chakra might lead to miscommunication and difficulty with articulating your thoughts, causing frustration. Meditating with blue stones such as Angelite, Sodalite, Blue Apatite and Aquamarine on your throat will help in balancing the throat chakra. 

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Third Eye Chakra

The third eye chakra is linked with enhanced intuition and creative inspiration. Feelings of lack of clarity in your life or trouble seeing the truth in yourself or situations is a sign that you need a third eye chakra clense. Lapis lazuili, Sodalite and Fluorite re-awaken inner wisdom, opening the door to self-knowledge. If your third eye chakra is overactive you may be experiencing nightmares, feeling stuck and in an emotional rut, becoming closed off to ideas and a loss sense of intuition. For healing the third eye chakra, lay on your bak and place a Angelite, Amethyst, Flouorite, or Lolite crystal over your third eye and just relax.

Crown Chakra 

The inability to think celarly when you are under stress means that your crown chakra is unbalanced. You may have lost your sense of purpose in life or can't find your path. Clear Quartz, Amethyst, Selenite and Moonstone will help balance and align these chakra's center. 

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Amethyst crystals are excellent crown chakra activators. These stones are placed on the forehead to encourage a feeling of transcendence from negative, self-defeating thoughts.

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Information for this article is from the "Chakra Stones Chart: Learn About your 7 Chakras" blog created by:

Energy Muse 

By Heather Askinosie

June 9, 2015 

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To view the full article:

https://www.energymuse.com/blog/chakra-stones-chart-chakra-awareness/