Today’s guest post is from my gorgeous ladies over at Tiny Devotions. They are a hip, fresh and inspired company that creates mala beads and accessories for the bohemian girl. The mala beads represent the free spirited lifestyle of living your dreams + looking good while you do it! Choosing the right mala beads for you can be overwhelming–with so many lovely and meaningful options hows a gal to decide? Well, no worries Bright One, in today’s post Tiny Devotions tells us exactly how! For lots of inspiring visuals and motivation pop on over and visit the ladies on their Facebook and Twitter pages. xx
Everyday many people ask how to choose the right set of mala beads for their life. This is your guide to answer your questions and land the mala that will serve you right and that you will be most connected with.
Lets start with what mala beads are. Mala beads are meditation garlands that have been worn for thousands of years in traditions of Buddhism, Hinduism, yoga and meditation. They have a way to draw you into their uniqueness and energy. Some may feel this as an unexplainable attraction.
Mala beads are traditionally used for japa meditation – reciting a positive affirmation or mantra along each bead to come into a more calming, connected and spiritual state.
Our mala beads take these elements of the traditional culture of mala beads and add an intention to the mala bead. We have infused the healing qualities of crystals and given each mala bead necklace or stack their own intention. There are crystals for love, strength, prosperity, healing, break-ups, focusing, letting go, spirituality, grounding, protection and so on.
Choosing an intention is only half of the process. It is just as important to choose a mala that you are visually and aesthetically drawn to. The things we find beautiful are just as important in our healing as what they are meant for – whether it is art, a beautiful beach or a set of mala beads.
The big thing that can create a blockage when people go to choose their mala bead is figuring out what the intention they want to bring in their life. It is important to listen to your gut in these moments to learn what you really want and not what you think you should want.
To do this take a piece of paper and a pen and answer these questions:
What do I want?
What do I not want?
What is the most important value in my life?
This is a good starting point. There are so many ways to get clear on this: yoga, meditation, goal setting and vision boarding.
Or perhaps your intention is to start making clear decisions – that is a good place to start as well.
There is something powerful about wearing your intention. It makes your goal tangible at every moment of the day. Every time you look at your mala or feel it, you are reminded to stay on your chosen path. Distractions that are coming at you from all directions are averted when you have a physical object to touch and see. Often we hold our mala beads during a conversation or gaze at them in front of our mat during yoga and they remind us why we are here. It is also giving us a power to share with others our intention and create that affirmation in our life.
Here are several factors that you should be mindful of when choosing mala beads:
Beauty:
Things that you are attracted to are integral in your healing whether it is a beautiful landscape, a cute animal or a gorgeous mala. Surrounding yourself with beautiful and uplifting things is powerful.
Color:
What is your favourite colour? What colour of clothing do you wear often. You want to choose a mala that you will use and wear often so choose something that you can see being a staple.
Shape:
Find a mala with a shape that you connect with. Ever heard of sacred geometry? Choose something that you are drawn to.
Intention:
What do you want to create in your life? What are you working on? What do you want? What are you struggling with. Ask yourself these questions and see if they guide to what you want to create as your intention.
Energy:
Every crystal we use in our mala beads as its own individual energy. Make sure that this energy aligns with your intention! A lot of malas will assist everyone on some level – see if you can find something that you connect with individually.
Intuition:
What was the first mala you were originally drawn to? – This is most likely the perfect mala for you! Remember listen to your gut. Just like in an interview you know if someone is right for the job within 15 seconds, look for this feeling when choosing a mala bead.
Choosing a mala is a combination of all of these factors – most importantly follow your intuition and follow your heart. Once you have your mala bead wear it and be proud of the intention you are now wearing in your life and can be reminded of in every moment to stay aligned with your true nature.
Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash
Dr. Dowling has spent years helping people live richer, more joyful lives. She has seen firsthand the magical pairing of psychology and life coaching, which allows people to access their happiest selves.
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