Caring for Your Mala

A Mala is a wonderful way to keep your truth, objectives, and divinity alive in your daily life and rituals. Wearing a Mala allows you to have a tangible reminder of your connection with the Universe around your neck at all times, as well as to connect with sacred energy when using it for prayer or mantra meditation.

In the Mala and gemstone world, “Cleansing” and “Cleaning” are different words with different meanings. Cleansing means to cleanse the Mala of negativity and has a spiritual purpose, whereas cleaning just means cleaning it of dirt, dust, or grime.

It is important to make a calm intent when cleansing and cleaning the Mala. We suggest not to do these if you feel anger, frustration, or irritation at either yourself or someone else.

Once you are in a calm and collected state, and you feel positive, you can begin cleansing or cleaning your Mala.

Mala Cleansing

You may want to cleanse and clean your Mala beads from time to time once you’ve activated them. The belief is that the beads absorb and store energy, thus you may wish to cleanse your Mala beads at certain intervals. 

We advise against loaning or giving your personal Mala to others since you would be transferring energy.

Cleansing is an important part of caring for your Mala. It not only removes the negativity that has built up on it over time but also infuses the Mala with fresh and beautiful energy, which in turn makes you feel refreshed and new.

There are a few ways to cleanse your Mala. Some good and “safe” ways we recommend are:

  • Placing the Mala in the moonlight
  • Burning incense around your Mala
  • Placing your Mala in a singing bowl and ringing the edges, or lightly tapping its side to excite the sound inside

There are also other ways of cleansing your Mala, but you have to research further if the gemstones that were used to string the Mala are sensitive to these cleansing processes:

  • Place the Mala in a body of water if the Mala is made from genuine Rudraksha or other sacred seeds, but not for a long time. Just set your intentions and then remove the Mala from the water.
  • You may also do this with gemstones that are not sensitive to water. We advise not to get the following gemstones wet: Selenite, Fluorite, Calcite, Moonstone, Kyanite, Kunzite, Angelite, Malachite, Lepidolite, Rhodocrosite, Hematite, Jade, Black Tourmaline, Labradorite, and Ammolite.
  • You may also use sunlight in cleansing your seed or wood Mala Beads, but for gemstones, be careful as some stones should not be exposed to the sun or strong heat because their colors will fade: Apatite, Beryl, Calcite, Amazonite, Fluorite, Aquamarine, Beryl, Sapphire, Lepidolite, Pyrite, Sodalite, Spinel, Kunzite, Topaz, Tourmaline (Pink, Red), Super Seven, and Quartz-based crystals like Aventurine, Citrine, Smokey Quartz, Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Chrysoprase, and Agate. Clear Quartz can break when exposed to direct sunlight for more than two hours.

All of The Mala Tree’s Mala Beads, gemstones, and products are cleansed and programmed using our signature three-way cleansing method.

Mala Cleaning

You may also wish to clean your Mala from time to time.

For those who wear them every day, a Mala is much like wearing an old friend around your neck—it has seen you through the good times and bad ones. However if for some reason they start getting dirty, then proper cleaning can restore life back into this sacred spiritual tool.

A good all-around cleaning method is by just using a damp cloth to wipe off any dirt or oils from your Mala beads. Or try wiping in a downward/outward motion to take away negative energy toward the ground. 

This method is good especially if your Mala is constructed using gemstones that are sensitive to water.

For a Mala necklace that was strung with water-SAFE gemstones (Clear Quartz, Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Smokey Quartz, Citrine, Agate, Carnelian (though NOT safe in saltwater), Rutilated Quartz, Jaspers, Tiger’s Eye, Aventurine, Black Obsidian (no extreme cold or hot water)

Place the Mala in warm water. You can also add a mild soap if you wish, soak for some time (We clean our personal Mala this way for 1 or 2 hours). Hang it to dry. 

You may also use water that has been charged with Feng Shui for cleansing, too! Just set out a glass bowl filled with fresh spring water overnight in the moonlight and pour it into another container in the morning for Mala cleaning use.

This is a tradition from ancient times when water was considered to be highly spiritual. Water has been used in purification rituals for thousands of years and we believe that we can easily transfer our positive intentions through the water.

Caring for the Tassel

A beautiful Mala is great for your spiritual practice but it can also get a little tatty after repeated wear. You may want to spruce up the look of your Mala by freshening up its tassel, and one way this might be done would be by wetting them slightly before gently combing it with your hand while they’re still damp with water- as if giving it an extra blessing.

You can also use a mild soap and water mix to clean the tassel. Just allow it to dry fully overnight.

Activating and Energizing Your Mala

A Mala serves both as a meditation tool and a reminder of your intentions. Before wearing your Mala the first time, make sure to set it with an intention or blessing in mind before starting on this spiritual journey.

An Important Word: Intention

An intention is something you want to make happen in your life. These goals can vary and include everything from wanting healthier, more successful habits or the world travel bug! Whatever it may be that’s calling out for attention at this moment, intend on doing so.

Intention Setting Tip: Make sure you create specific intentions for yourself. Set an intention that is universal so it can be used daily. Simple intentions are best especially when starting. Use a mantra that resonates with you. Utilize your mala as much as possible until its presence becomes part of who you are.


Here are the basic steps in activating an intention into your Mala:

1. Find a quiet space when you can be by yourself, or when there is no one around.
2. Close your eyes, and imagine light surrounding the Mala. Imagine that light slowly descending onto your arms and into the Mala.
3. Say your intention out loud. If you don’t like speaking out loud and would prefer to keep it quiet, that’s okay. Visualize your intention, if you like, too.
4. Wear your Mala. Spend some time focusing your energy on this intention through meditation.
5. If you are using a new Mala, bond with it for 40 days by wearing it, keeping it in your pocket, or keeping it close.

Manifesting Your Intentions

Manifestation is defined as the action or process of bringing into existence something that is not present in a concrete form. It’s about intending your dreams and then becoming them. Having a clear intention behind your mala will help you manifest your desires into reality.

Here are the basic steps in manifesting an intention and re-energizing your Mala:

1. After setting your intention in your Mala, you can empower your intention so it will manifest.
2. Fill your thoughts with pictures of yourself achieving your objectives. Offer yourself constant encouragement.
3. Allow yourself to be at ease with all that you are. Get rid of negative self-talk and accept yourself for who you are. Instead of thinking “I can’t,” think “I can.”
4. Create a place in your home that is sacred and peaceful, where you can meditate on the goings-on of life to bring calmness into it.
5. Reflect on your goals.
6. Place the Mala, positive images, and encouraging notes that are important to keep with intentions close at hand. This will be an excellent way for keeping track of all those intentions.
7. Meditating regularly will help keep bad habits at bay by making room for good ones.
8. When you want something, it’s important to match your energy with the kind of thing that will make things happen for you. If we believe in our hearts and minds completely that whatever is desired can be obtained then certainly they’ll come true too. Claim it. If you want abundance, think that you are already abundant. If you want love, feel that you are already loved.
9. To manifest what you want, make sure any unhealthy connections from the past have been removed.
10. Meditation is a time to center yourself and get your thoughts in check. When something negative crops up during one of these sessions, just let it go–allow the present moment to take over instead.

That’s the basics of setting and wearing intentions with your mala! It may seem challenging at first to think about just one intention for the day but once you get good at it, it becomes second nature. After a short time, letting go of attachments and living in the present moment will become less of a chore and more effortlessly done.

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