How to Meditate With Your Mala Beads

Mala beads are a beautiful talisman that can be used for meditation, prayer, and aligning with your intentions. They have been used for thousands of years in various spiritual traditions to support a deeper connection to the Divine.

I first started using mala beads in my personal spiritual practice when I was a teenager. I became deeply drawn to them after I took my yoga teacher training, and learned more about the significance of malas. When I started Earth Elements, I knew I wanted to have them as part of my line of jewellery offerings.

Anyone can use mala beads, that's the beauty of them. You can incorporate them in your spiritual practice in a way that feels best to you. You can use them in prayer, for mantra meditation, or simply wear them as a reminder of your intentions. Their energy will help your vibration rise and elevate, and allow you to come into harmony with all that you are asking for.

If you're curious about how to use mala beads in your meditation practice - or how repeating a mantra can deepen your focus - this blog is a good place to start. Let's explore how this simple practice can bring more peace and purpose into your life.

What are mala beads?

Mala beads are a string of beads traditionally used in Hinduism, Buddhism, and other spiritual paths to count repetitions of a mantra, prayer, or intention. They serve both as a meditative tool and a spiritual symbol.

Malas traditionally have 108 beads, which is considered a sacred number in many traditions. It represents wholeness, spiritual completion, and the interconnectedness of all things. In different spiritual and religious traditions, malas can have different numbers of beads as well.

At the center of a mala is the larger bead known as the guru bead (sometimes called the meru bead), which symbolizes a cherished Teacher, the Divine, or your Source.

While mala beads are typically used to count mantra repetitions during meditation, they can also be held, worn, or placed on an altar as a reminder to stay present and connected to who you truly are.

How to meditate with mala beads

Meditating with mala beads is a simple and grounding practice that anyone can incorporate into their day.

You can choose to start your morning with a mantra meditation or sit in the evening with your beads. If you find yourself needing a reset in the middle of your day, just pausing to do a round of mantra meditation can bring a deeper sense of calm and clarity into your being.

Your practice doesn’t have to be long - even 10 minutes of repeating a mantra with your beads can offer the peace and comfort you’re looking for.

Here is a step by step guide on how to meditate with your mala beads:

1. Choose your mantra

Decide on a mantra for your meditation. You can use a simple Sanskrit mantra like:

Om

Pronunciation: Aum

Meaning: The primordial sound of the universe; represents all of creation and consciousness.

So Hum

Pronunciation: So Hum

Meaning: 'I Am That' - a reflection of our connection to the Universe and higher consciousness.

Om Mani Padme Hum

Pronunciation: Om mah-nee pahd-may hum

Meaning: A Tibetan Buddhist mantra meaning, 'The Jewel Is In The Lotus," symbolizing wisdom and compassion.

I love Deva Premal's album called Mantras For Precarious Times. It has seven Sanskrit mantras that are under 10 minutes each, and chanted 108 times, with beautiful music behind it. In addition to my morning meditation practice, I have recently begun doing one round of a mantra from this album with my mala beads before bed every night. It's a wonderful way to settle into sleep. You can find the album on all streaming platforms.

If Sanskrit mantras don't resonate with you, that's okay. Choose a mantra that feels best to you. This may be connected to your religion or spiritual tradition, or it could be an affirmation you love. As long as your mantra allows your mind to quiet and your energy to rise, you'll know you've chosen the right one for you.

2. Hold your mala in your right hand

Let your mala rest in your right hand between your first finger and thumb. Some traditions do suggest not using your first finger to count your mantras and instead using your middle finger, but I always use my first finger and thumb. It feels more comfortable to me, and allows my body to relax more readily. Of course, always choose the recommendations that feel best to you.

3. Start at the guru bead

I like to take a moment to begin my mantra practice by placing my thumb and first finger on the guru bead and opening with OM. It's a way to ground myself and settle into my practice. Your mantra will start with the first bead after the guru bead. As you recite your mantra, touch each bead with your first (or middle) finger and thumb.

4. Continue for one full circle

Move through all 108 beads, repeating your mantra with each bead. When you reach the guru bead again, pause for a moment and feel the stillness you have achieved.

5. Repeat (optional)

If you choose, you can repeat this process for another round. Traditionally, you don't cross over the guru bead, but turn the mala around and go back the way you came.

Remember that with every meditation practice, it's natural for your mind to wander. The aim with meditation is to continue to come back to your point of focus (in this case, your mantra), until your mind settles.

When that happens, you may begin to receive positive visions, words, or a deep knowing may settle over you. When you find that place (and sometimes it takes awhile before it comes) you can know that you have found alignment with your Source and your angels.

And that's the intention with all types of meditation. To allow your human mind to quiet down, and the Divine Mind to come to the forefront of your being. That's how healing happens.

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