It can be difficult to know what type of Mala beads will best fit the person you’re buying them for. You might feel like there are too many options, and they all look so beautiful and different!
There is one thing though: it doesn’t matter how fancy or simple a mala necklace’s design is. If it is meant as a gift, then every detail matters in that process. The meaning behind each Mala holds more significance than just aesthetics–depending on the journey of the intended recipient. Where should you begin? It’s really simple.
When you buy a Mala necklace for someone else, there are six things that should come into consideration.
INTENTION
A Mala is like a talisman for the wearer. It captures their intentions and helps them focus on what they want in life, no matter where it may take them or how long that journey might be!
Mala beads assist us in focusing our thoughts on a goal, so make sure you know where this person is currently in their life. What is their current state? What challenges do they face? What problems are they dealing with?
What are the things they aspire for? What will make them happy? Wearing a mala is meant to record and keep an intention in mind. Wearing a mala is intended to preserve and record your intention.
APPEARANCE
After you have settled on an intention for the gift, it’s time to consider the physical attributes of the Mala. Some mala beads are strung with 100% gemstones, some with sacred seeds, and some styles have metal embellishments. There is also a variety of tassel colors.
When it comes to appearance, one of the most crucial aspects to consider is “lifestyle.” Are they athletic? Do they participate in sports? Will they wear it casually or use it exclusively for meditation? Do they frequent the beach or the mountains? Match the Mala with the recipient’s lifestyle.
INTUITION
The final important consideration is your intuition, your gut feeling, and what your heart tells you to give. Go with what feels right at the moment. It is always a good idea to gift from the heart. The best gifts come from a place of love and connection. If you put thought into it and make sure the mala is coming from a good place, the person receiving it will feel that too! Mala beads are not just a piece of jewelry but rather personal amulets, each with its own special meaning. It is important to choose a mala that will resonate with the wearer on many different levels.
When you find the right mala, you’ll know it! There is no doubt about it. It will speak to you.
We hope this guide has been helpful in your search for the perfect mala gift! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us! We would be happy to assist you further.
After you’ve considered all variables, you’ll undoubtedly discover a mala that fits, resonates, and reflects your friend’s interests–something that they will really treasure because you have considered many things when you bought it.
Eventually, every Mala will break. The question of how soon really depends on different factors: materials used and craftsmanship; your usage, care, and maintenance; and the state of your Karma.
Your personal Mala carries your intentions and mantras. It grows with you along with your journey. Of course, it is completely natural to feel a sense of loss and sadness as you witness beads of gemstones and crystals slip from the thread and scatter on the floor.
However, a Japa Mala breaking carries with it positive meanings. In Buddhism, it is understood as the release of Karma, freedom from a cycle of suffering, or a spiritual breakthrough. In the Yogic tradition, it means progression along one’s path—an opportunity to reflect upon blessings received.
This event is the perfect moment to reflect on the changes in your life. These changes may be dramatic or perhaps it simply passes subtly. Think about where you stand now—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—versus the moment you first met your Mala. Let the questions listed below guide you.
• Have the goals I set with my mala and mantra practice come to fruition?
• Does it feel that I’ve already completed my mantra practice?
• Do I feel that I have overcome an obstacle?
• Do I feel released from a burden?
• Are there attachments in my life that I am ready to release?
• What is my new goal, direction, or perhaps a purpose to strive for in life?
• What are my uncertainties and anxieties when thinking about the future?
Should I replace or repair my broken Mala?
This is really up to you. It is a thing to consider if you feel that it was quite early for the Mala to break or that your mantra is not yet “complete.” You can go to The Mala Tree Crystal Shop to have it restrung. Nonetheless, the gemstone beads or sacred seeds your Mala is made of still have latent vibrations. You can still utilize them as talismans. It is recommended to have a set of beads made into a Mala to be strung only three times.
What should I do with the broken Mala if I decide not to restring it?
Tibetan Buddhism considers an irreparable Mala as a dharma waste and must be disposed. But this follows a ritual and is done with respect and care as they still carry blessings and positive energies.
You can place it on your altar as a reminder of your journey with it.
Also, as a reminder, you can repurpose it as an accessory.
You can also bring it back to mother nature by burying the beads, the thread, and the tassel.
When your personal Mala breaks, it is a moment for reflection and growth. It is an opportunity to assess where you are in your journey and what you need to do next. As with all things in life, change is inevitable–embrace it and allow yourself to grow along with your Japa Mala.
A Mala is a necklace or a string of beads used in Japa meditation. A full Mala has 108 beads. There are also Malas that are half that number as well as wrist Malas with 27 beads. It is a guide for counting every repetition of prayers, mantras, or breaths in meditation. Japa Mala beads are usually made of Rudraksha seeds and various healing crystals and gemstones, like clear quartz or amethyst.
When and where did Mala beads originate?
Japa Mala beads seem to have appeared somewhere around 8th century BCE in India. The word “Mala” is a Sanskrit term that means garland. Today, Mala is used mainly in religions, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism.
Why 108 beads?
The number 108 has numerous symbolical associations. For one, there are 108 letters in the 108 alphabets. Vedic mathematicians use the number in many proportions. 108 also has a wide range of associations in Buddhist and Hindu religions. There are also 108 marmas or intersection points of energy lines in the body.
What does the guru bead stand for?
The bead connected to the tassel, called guru bead, serves as a reminder to pause and reflect in between rounds of Japa. It is not counted (it is the 109th bead) nor touched during prayer. It is believed to carry your energy from the meditation. Especially when it is made out of healing crystals and gemstones, it can remind you of your intention for practicing meditation.
What benefits does a Japa Mala bead bring?
The material used in a Japa Mala bead has properties that attune to metaphysical energies. Each healing crystal or gemstone is receptive of particular intentions. They can amplify the intention you are sending to the Universe, helping you making their manifestation into reality realizable.
Can I wear my Mala beads?
Yes, they can be worn both as a bracelet or necklace. Some display them while some wear them under clothing or put them in a pocket. Ideally, there is a separate Mala that you use exclusively for meditation that you don’t show to the public.
What are the benefits of wearing my Mala?
The healing crystal or gemstone which your Mala is made brings your intention. As such, it helps you direct your energy from the goal towards the fruition.
What is the proper way of doing a Japa Mala bead meditation?
Hold the Mala with your right hand with the thumb and middle finger touching the bead. The index is extended outward and should never touch the bead. One bead is one repetition of mantra or breath. Shift from one bead to the next towards your direction. The guru bead is not part of the count and shouldn’t be touched. Simply reverse the Mala at the 108th bead for another round of mantra.
I’m a leftie, can I use my left hand instead?
There is a tradition that the left hand is believed to be impure so the right hand is used. Nonetheless, you can always opt to use your dominant hand.
I missed a bead during Japa. What should I do?
You can either recite the number of mantras you’ve missed on a single bead, or you can add any left-out number of mantras at the 108th bead.
I’ve touched the guru bead during meditation. What should I do?
Getting used to your Japa Mala bead while meditating may take some time. Having a hard time avoiding the guru bead means that you have to focus more on your meditation.
How do I tap into the energy imbued in the Japa Mala bead’s material?
It is empowered through constant use. It is recommended that you meditate every day for 40 days straight when you receive your Mala for the first time. If you’re using it for the first time, make sure it is cleansed and blessed first. The Mala Tree Crystal Shop can do this for you. The healing crystals and gemstones will be on its full potential when it is regularly cleansed and programmed.
In the last few years, there has been a surge in the popularity of gemstones and crystals. Many people are drawn to their beauty and stunning array of colors. While some people collect these treasures for their aesthetic value, others believe in their power to promote physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Regardless of the reason, it is clear that gemstones and crystals are having a moment.
What is even more interesting is the number of celebrities who have jumped on the bandwagon and begun publicly sharing their love of crystals.
Madonna recommended her crystal healer to Katy Perry. Scarlett Johannson was spotted several times wearing a lot of gemstones on the red carpet. A few years ago, a naked Lady Gaga got naked embraced a humongous quartz crystal in a video. Willow and Jaden Smith created Orgonite pucks and pyramids. For her app, Kylie Jenner looked into crystal healing. Robin Thicke spent $20,000 on an amethyst stone.
Here are some Hollywood Celebrities, models, and famous people talking about the magic of healing crystals and gemstones:
Adele, Singer
“I was so nervous about my comeback show and I was panicking. I was out of practice and I was busy being a Mum. But it was one of the best shows I’ve ever done and I had these bloody crystals in my hand … Then the Grammys came and I lost my fucking crystals! I had a gig two or three days before them and I think I left them at this venue. It turned out to be the worst, most disastrous performance that I have ever done. Well, apart from one really early on when I was doing a gig in Angel and I got so drunk I fell off my chair. But I got some new crystals now and everything’s been going well.” —The Sun, March 2016
Andrew Keegan, Actor
On water crystals used at a Sunday service:
“We’re very, very aware of the shift that’s happening in the mind and the heart, and everybody is on that love agenda. We’re very much scientifically, spiritually, and emotionally aware of how it works, meaning that there’s power in the crystals, there’s power in our hearts, there’s an alignment, there’s a resonance … and it transfers through water.” —Vice, August 2014
Andy Warhol, American Visual Artist
“I’m starting to think that crystals don’t work. Because look what’s happened lately when they’re supposed to be protecting me — my rug has cancer from the moths, I stepped on a beautiful old plastic ring and crushed it, and I was assaulted at the book signing. But I’ve got to believe in something, so I’ll continue with the crystals. Because things could always be worse.” —The Andy Warhol Diaries, November, 1985 entry
Anne Hathaway, Actress
“[Los Angeles] was never really my thing. I’d been out there for 14 years and never really felt anything for it and then we started to make some awesome friendships. Suddenly I realised I was hiking every day. [Laughs] And having a lot of conversations about crystals, which made me really happy. But I’m happiest when I can travel and spend time at home.” —Glamour Magazine UK, October 2015
Bella Hadid, Model
Bella shared on Instagram her huge crystal collection which includes celestite, clear quartz, and selenite.
Bethany Cosentino, Singer
“I’m super into astrology and when I turned 27 I started doing a lot of self-exploration, finding out who I am and that kind of stuff. My mom is really New Age. I carry a pouch of crystals with me everywhere I go. I’m super into that kind of stuff. I hate flying, so I’ll be on a plane and I’ll be that weirdo in the corner with these in my hand. One is for anxiety and depression, one is Moonstone which helps with clarity, this other one. They’re basically all to help center and balance you.” —Vice, July 2015
Brandi Glanville, American TV Personality
“Thank God there’s moon issues because I’ve been very emotional today and I had zero reason why until now! Charge your crystals.” —her Twitter, September 2015
Busy Philipps, Actress
“I’ve been into crystals since I was a child — we’ve been into crystals in Arizona since the dawn of time,” she told Us Weekly. “I wear a lot of them, and I carry a big clear quartz that a friend gave me for good luck when I moved to L.A.” There’s a crystal necklace she always wears.
Crystal Renn, American Plus Size Model
When asked about her biggest indulgence: “Going to really exotic and strange locations. I absolutely believe that when one goes on vacation, it should be pure decadence … If I were to say a second thing, then really special crystals in different shapes that can’t be found easily. I just found this concave amethyst sphere and the way that it grew and cracked is so beautiful. I’ve been collecting crystals for many, many years for healing purposes and decoration and I think this might be the best I’ve found. I guess since my name is Crystal, I have no choice.” —Harper’s Bazaar, January 2016
David Beckham, Athlete
“We’ve both been into crystals since moving to L.A.” —Daily Star, December 2010
Debra Messing, Will & Grace
“I’ve always felt energy from the precious stones I’ve had the privilege of wearing,” she wrote in Instagram post, revealing that her stone of choice is Malachite. “It just makes sense to me that everything that comes from the earth would have a certain frequency.”
Father John Misty, Musician
“There’s been, understandably, a not insignificant outcry regarding the alleged ‘theft’ of the rose Quartz crystal from the Echo Park Moon Juice™, pictured above. I am here to claim responsibility, though I do not condone the rhetoric employed in Moon Juice’s post. To claim that ‘something has been “stolen”’ is itself a tacit endorsement of the capitalist values that blended superfoods and locally sourced produce stands, ironically, in direct opposition to.” —his Instagram, July 2016
Heidi Pratt, American TV Personality
“I was not in the right mind frame to make that decision [for plastic surgery]. I was in so much pain. I was literally crying every day … I felt the crystals were helping. Whether it was just metaphorically, or just a placebo effect, [they helped]. Spencer was like, ‘Wow! These crystals are really working’ too. We were just not at a good place at the end of The Hills.” —Vice, February 2016
Jenna Dewan, Actress
Jenna Dewan revealed that she has “like 200 crystals” in her home, in an August 2018 YouTube video. She revealed that these crystals make her “stay connected to the Earth, our universe, and just nature in general.” Her favorites are rose quartz, lapis lazuli, and smoky quartz,
Josie Maran, Model
What’s in her bag? “Healing crystal earrings. I enjoy healing stones because they help focus, transfer, and store energy associated with environmental changes before it enters our auras.” —Racked, April 2016
Julianne Hough, Dancing with the Stars
She loves to meditate using gemstones. “I really do believe in the Earth’s energy,” she recently told MindBodyGreen
. “So I have some really Earthy stones and then I also have some very spiritual ones as well, very light ones. When I practice my meditation, I put a healing stone around my sacral area. I always send my love down there instead of hating it, and being angry and being disconnected [because of my endometriosis].”
Kate Hudson, Actress
What’s on your nightstand?
“A crystal bowl filled with rose-quartz heart crystals that my mom gave me for Mother’s Day one year.” —Marie Claire, June 2013
Katy Perry, Singer
“I don’t stay single for long. I carry a lot of rose quartz, which attracts the male. Maybe I need to calm it down with amethyst.” —Cosmopolitan, July 2014
Kiersey Clemons, Actor
“Two years ago, while walking in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I saw a street vendor selling crystals. He talked me into getting a rose-quartz necklace, and I carried it around everywhere … One time, I really wanted this huge teal-colored crystal. I didn’t even know what the stone’s properties were, I was just like, That’s beautiful; I bet it does great shit; I want it. I was bidding up to $400! Then a friend came over, and I forgot about bidding and lost. That’s God telling me, ‘You need to calm the fuck down. You don’t need that — you don’t even know what that does.’ … I understand why people believe it’s a placebo effect — there’s no physical evidence that crystals heal you — but, to me, that makes it better. That I can trick myself into thinking I’m healing myself — that makes me feel like I’m a goddess.” —Marie Claire, May 2016
Kim Kardashian, American Media Personality
“I was really inspired by healing crystals when, after my Paris situation, all my friends would come over and they’d bring me healing crystals, and I didn’t really know anything about them,” she reavealed to Ellen DeGeneres in a November 2017 interview. Her perfume KKW Fragrance uses the energy of gemstones and crystals. “It’s about calmness, healing, and good energy,” she says.
Lucy Hale, Actress
“I practice reiki with this woman. I don’t know if you know what reiki is, but it’s like energy work. And so I never in a million years thought I would be that person that would be into all of that stuff, but I completely am. I think it’s amazing and that it truly works. Anyway, she was going to…a crystal fair that they have, and she picked up these gorgeous amethyst stones for my house. Basically, amethyst is the most positive stone there is, so if you put them in your house, they’re supposed to generate good energy. It’s very new for me, and I’m still learning a lot about it.” —People, August 2016
Madelaine Petsch, Riverdale
“I’m very into crystals and meditation, and it’s all about my brain and how my brain is feeling,” she told Us in June 2018.
Marina Abramović, Artist
“I’ve never put crystals in my cleavage, but OK. I have put crystals near my head and asked, ‘You know what time it is?’” —Vice, December 2012
Miranda Kerr, Model
“You may have read in some press articles that when I’m asked what’s in my handbag … I often mention a crystal wand or a Rose Quartz crystal. My crystal wand is incredibly special to me, and is one of my most cherished items. It’s made of Clear Quartz and is studded with Rose Quartz. Clear Quartz is a great stone for gathering, directing and transmitting energy … it can also transform negative energy into positive energy, and Rose Quartz is a wonderful stone to heal and protect the heart, balance emotions, release stress and tension, and encourage love and self-esteem. Crystals can be used in many different methods of healing. In addition to using on a specific area of the body, or on Chakras points to locate blockages to cleanse and heal them, they can also be used in massage. Massaging the body with a crystal helps to release tension from the body, while at the same time the stone’s healing energy is transferred to the body. I hold my crystal during meditation, prayer, deep belly breathing, and use it to infuse my Luxurious Rosehip Body Oil with positive vibrations prior to a massage. I also sleep with it nearby so I’m constantly receiving its special healing energies.” —KORA Organics, February 2015
Minnie Driver, Actress
The actress told Us in June 2018, “I burn palo santo, you know, the sacred wood, I light candles, I have crystals by my bed… completely serene and just tidy, but I have all my books and meaningful photographs. It has that sanctuary quality of all the things I love.”
Naomi Campbell, Model
“I think they bring great energy … You should see how many I travel with.” —People, February 2007
Nia Long, NCIS: Los Angeles
She has a talisman and she shared to Us in May 2016: “I have a very small pink angel, it’s like the size of a quarter but it’s made out of rose quartz. When my grandmother passed away I was taking my youngest son to buy crystals because I had a couple crystals and he thought they were the most amazing things, and so as we were leaving the guy said, ‘Here, keep this with you. It’s a lucky angel.’ And it’s just like my lucky little thing. My grandmother had just passed away and her favorite color was pink so I was like, I wonder if this is a sign that she’s with me or her saying hello, so I just keep that in my wallet.”
Nat Wolff, Actor
“I’ve learned a lot about a lot of things from her [Shailene Woodley]. She convinced Ansel [Elgort] and me not to wear deodorant. She somehow has that magical girl thing where you don’t ever smell bad. She had special crystals that make her smell good. Ansel and I, after two days — it was disgusting. We smelled like wild animals. I soon went back to the deodorant that’s going to give me cancer.” —Elle, April 2015
Nicole Richie, American Media Personality
“I carry them with me and I wear a lot of necklaces,” she told Us in November 2018. “We did fine crystals for House of Harlow, so I do a smoky quartz. It’s for grounding and protection.” Her favorites are: “Rose quartz. I think it’s a beautiful quartz that really works for everyone and citrine, I love.”
Oprah Winfrey, Host
“Bathing is my hobby. I love creating bathing experiences—bath gels, bubbles, crystals, salts, lavender milks…” (Oprah.com)
Patrick Swayze, Actor
“I absolutely believe in crystals. They are a major part of my life. I really think I’m on a journey now, spiritually and caree- wise. [While holding a gemstone wand.] This is my magic wand. And this one … tiny, smooth, black, this has positive properties … I have tons of these things. Museum quality. I don’t know if this stuff works. But I tell ya, I believe that things you believe in can come true.” —Philadelphia Inquirer, April 1992
Rosanna Arquette, Sideswiped
She told to Us in June 2018, “I have broken two of them (gemstone water glass bottles) already, but love them.” She has another favorite: “It’s a face mist, I love it, with garnet and Reiki-charged crystals. It’s great to have if you have grumpy travelers around you, since it wards off bad energy!”
Shirley MacLaine, Actress
“The first time someone gave me a natural quartz crystal I laid it in the palm of my hand to examine it. I was fascinated. Not only was it beautiful: it seemed to have dimensions within dimensions, reflections within reflections. I held it up to the sun and allowed myself to sort of go inside it…In a darkened room I placed the crystal given to me at eye level on a high table. Then I lit a candle behind it and sat down next to it. I gazed into the crystal and projected positive and loving thought forms into it. I had the feeling that they reverberated back to me. It was very pleasant. Then I tried negative and angry thought forms. I had the feeling that that is what I got back. I became uncomfortable. I made my choice. For an hour I sat in front of my crystal with the candle behind it and just gazed into it with thoughts that were as pleasant as I could conjure up. It was a wonderful evening. And I slept better than I had in weeks.” —Going Within, 1989
Spencer Pratt, American Media Personality
“I am so addicted to crystals, it’s like a sickness. I’ve spent $500,000 on crystals this year. I checked my bank account last night, and I have $203 left …[On Valentine’s Day] we hung out with our puppies and cuddled with our crystal. It’s supposed to bring love. There’s a whole science to this — I’m not crazy.” —Life and Style, February 2010
Victoria Beckham, Singer (Spice Girls)
“I’m a very spiritual person. I travel with my crystals. I’ve got all different colors. It’s just something that I’m into. I am quite a superstitious person. I don’t walk under a ladder. If I see a magpie, I salute.” —Allure, March 2011
It is interesting to see how Hollywood celebrities and other popular people use crystals and gemstones for personal reasons. Whether it be for protection, grounding, or warding off bad energy, these celebrities believe in the power of crystals. It is also interesting to see the different ways in which they use them. Some wear them as jewelry, while others carry them around with them. Still, others use them for meditative purposes. Whatever the reason, it is clear that crystals and gemstones have a place in Hollywood culture.
