Have you come across meditation beads and wondered what they can offer you? Perhaps you've seen them wrapped around the wrist of your yoga instructor, or held in the pocket of a spiritual friend. If you're curious about these bead pieces and their purpose, we are here to help.
In this post, we'll introduce you to meditation beads, their purpose, how you can use them, and the symbolism behind our very own pieces available to you.
What do meditation beads do?
Meditation beads, also known as mala beads, are a truly special tool. Most commonly used in meditation, prayer, and breathwork, they come in several forms, from long loops of 108 beads to short bracelets used in grounding. Some people use the beads to count mantras, intentions, and breaths, while others use them for stress relief and present moment connection through feeling the texture and weight of the beads.
Mala pieces are incredibly versatile. They can be worn, held, and used in many ways, allowing you to find a method or movement that really works for you. We love using mala beads during meditation, repeating personal mantras for each bead.
How do I activate my mala beads?
To start, find a peaceful spot to find your calm. Next, set a clear intention or mantra for your meditation. This could be anything from a positive affirmation, such as 'I am strong', to more well-known mantras like 'ohm mani padme ohm', which means 'the jewel in the lotus flower', a Buddhist mantra for turning negative emotions into positive feelings.
One way to activate your beads is by holding them in your right hand. This is because it's thought that the right hand gives energy and the left hand receives it. Rest the beads over your fingers, typically your middle one, and use your thumb to bring each bead towards you while repeating your mantra for each bead. If your piece has a guru bead, stop at it, recognise the guru, flip the mala, and go back the other way. Repeat this until you're done.
Another way to activate is to hold the beads in your hands while they're in the prayer position at your chest. If you have another way you'd like to hold your beads that feels comfortable, then you should go with your heart.
How to wear meditation beads
There are several ways you can wear your mala meditation beads, should you choose to wear them instead of holding them. One way is to wear it like a necklace. Draping the beads around your neck can feel deeply grounding and allows you to feel the smooth material of the stones against your skin. You can also wrap the beads multiple times around your wrist and wear them as a bracelet. Wearing them here can help anchor you and keep you present.
Can anyone wear mala beads?
Yes, anyone can wear and use mala beads, as they are a tool for meditation and mantra counting. These practices are available to everyone, no matter their religion or culture. However, it could be viewed as disrespectful to wear them purely as decorative jewellery with zero intention of ever using them for their true purpose. Simply ensure you have an understanding of what mala pieces are for before purchasing them.
What we use for our mala meditation beads
We have designed our own mala bead pieces for meditation, choosing four of our favourite powerful materials for their creation.
Rosewood mala beads meaning
Rosewood is the name given to several tropical hardwoods from the Dalbergia genus of trees. Loved for its beautiful, rich brown hue and physical denseness, it is a wonderful material to make mala beads from. Connected to the heart chakra, rosewood is strongly associated with love, compassion, emotional healing, spiritual well-being and connection, and protection. Thanks to its dense properties, it helps to ground your mind and spirit and offer a sense of stability. Take a look at our stunning rosewood mala meditation beads.
Dragon's Vein mala beads meaning
Made of Dragon's Vein agate, this beautiful pale stone with striking dark veins is used for mala beads thanks to its incredible symbolism. Tibetan dragons, for which the stone is named, are wise guardians, and these stones reflect their wisdom and protection. They symbolise inner strength and emotional healing, as well as supporting focus and clarity. Discover our Dragon's Vein mala bead bracelet and Dragon's Vein meditation bead necklace.
Shungite mala beads meaning
Shungite, or rocks bearing shungite, is a beautiful stone loved for its solid black appearance and grounding properties. It's thought to help balance you and enhance your feeling of connection to the earth, and is believed to rid you of negative energy. When used for mala beads, it's thought to reduce anxiety, clear the mind, and ease stress, as well as improve meditation focus. We love our shungite meditation bracelet and shungite mala beads.
Tiger Eye mala beads meaning
Named for its stunning golden-brown appearance with dark bands, giving the look of a tiger's eye, this stone is well-known for its meanings. Another grounding stone, it is said to support more focused meditation and improve courage and resilience. Tiger stone beads are thought to offer prosperity, inviting in good fortune, while enhancing your manifestations. Our beautiful tiger eye mala beads and tiger eye meditation bracelet are firm favourites.
Our Maya Shanti Yoga mala bead necklaces and bracelets
If you're interested in elevating your meditation practice, ready to introduce a new tool to help you focus or find peace, or simply looking for a new, beautiful set of prayer beads, discover our range of mala bead products. Each piece is blessed by our local temple in Nagpur, India, by the temple pandit, creating a truly powerful tool for cultivating inner peace.