We all know the stereotype. A person that wanders around barefoot, flowy tunic, uncombed hair, with a strand of prayer beads around their neck. They only talk like Deepak Chopra and believe that the universe will pay their rent. If you’ve never used mala beads for meditation, this may be your only image of them.

Handmade mala prayer beads with stained glass pendants and gemstone beads

Now, a lot of us are not interested in being nouveau-hippies. We are not interested in going into the office without combing our hair or wearing a pair of flowy parachute pants that could save us in the event of a plane crash. But have you discounted using prayer beads because of this “hippy” image? I know that I used to.

I used to think that mala beads were only objects used to posture your “spiritual,” status in public. I completely discounted this useful tool until I used them for the first time.

Hand-knotted labradorite mala prayer beads with silver thread and large labradorite pendant — *And now I’m not sure if I can live without prayer beads in my meditation practice ever again.*

What Are Prayer Beads?

Beads have been with humans all throughout history. Used for trade, status, talismans, and prayers, beads have been intimately connected with our bodies and spirits. In fact, the word bead actually originated from the word prayer (“bede” in Anglo-Saxon).

We’re not quite sure how long prayer beads have existed, but it’s believed that people around the world held them as important for thousands of years. Strings of beads and “worship garlands,” have been found in the remains of various pagan cultures, such as the ancient Minoan civilization that existed thirty-six hundred years ago.

We know for certain that they became widely used in the Hindu tradition over twenty-nine hundred years ago. From there we know that they were adopted by most major religions- Buddhism, Muslims, and Christians all eventually incorporated them deeply into their spiritual actions.

No matter the religious space, these beads have all had the same function. Their job was to help the wearers count and recite holy words. The goal of prayer beads is to change individual consciousness and state in an effort to bring the user closer to the Divine.

Stained glass moon pendant on smoky quartz mala bead necklace — **The goal of prayer beads is to bring us closer to the Divine.**

Why Use Prayer Beads?

I remember once living in a Tibetan refugee colony in India. The monks and Tibetan people in this community were unbelievably inspiring in their spiritual practice. These refugees can’t live in their own homeland because of spiritual and political persecution, and so they live in whatever country will take them.

I have this vivid memory of walking around a corner and seeing this elderly woman on the stairs of a temple. She was hunched over a pair of vibrant turquoise prayer beads. With every prayer she would rock back and forth, moving the worn smooth beads through her hands.

I knew this woman would never make it back to her homeland. Her country’s immense political issues would not be resolved in her lifetime. But her faith was so powerful and sincere that it almost knocked me off my feet. You could tell that her Mala necklace held such power, years of comfort, and connection to her faith.

Labradorite mala prayer necklace with a labradorite pendant and smoky quartz beads — This brings me to one of the reason that you need Mala beads in your life- **Objects hold power.** The more you put energy into something, the more power it will hold. The more you use an item to call in the Divine, the faster it will help you get there.

The Science of Prayer Beads

Quantum physics is just starting to figure out how molecular vibration works, but we do know that it’s possible to change the vibration of something. Even if the science hasn’t quite figured out how to back this up, the phycology is real. The more importance you place on an object, the more it will get you to that feeling quicker.

When it comes to your spiritual practice, having an object that moves you into a spiritual connection is essential. We all have limited time. Billions of distractions. When you sit down to meditate it probably takes you a while to get into the zone. Prayer beads help you jump the wait time by giving your monkey mind a task and energy to focus on.

Tiger's Eye pendant and guru bead on the end of a smoky quartz prayer bead necklace — **Prayer beads help you meditate by giving your monkey mind a task.**

Why Prayer Beads Work

Mala beads help you commit to your meditation. We’re all guilty of it- we have a harder time committing to something on our own than when we’re with other people. If you practice yoga at home, it’s easy to hit your third sun salutation and decide you’ve done enough for the day. But if you’re in a yoga class, you know you’ve committed for the full time and you relax into the flow.

Mala beads work the same way. You have 108 beads. There’s no cheating. You either finish your mantra (or breathing) 108 times, or you have to be honest about the fact that you didn’t do your whole practice. It also helps you get into the flow because you don’t have to count. The beads do it for you.

The Different Parts of the Mala

Traditionally, there are **108 beads on a mala necklace**. The number 108 comes from the Buddhist tradition and represents the 108 challenges or ”defilements” of the mind that we must overcome to reach nirvana.

The beads are all tied together, which reminds us that we’re all connected. The thread that’s chosen represents the way the Universe links us all. In between each bead is a knot. This helps us feel the separateness between the beads so we don’t have to open our eyes. It also ensures that the beads are silent during our meditation.

Prayer beads are broken up into 4 intervals with something called “marker beads.” These beads help you stay focused during your meditation so that your mind doesn’t wander off. The counter beads also give you a great visual indication of where you are in your meditation.

At the start and end of your meditation chain, you will find your “guru bead.” It’s the bead that the tassel (or another beautiful object!) is attached to. The guru bead is the 109th bead and represents the teacher or tradition that supports you. This bead reminds you that you’re not alone in your spiritual search, but are surrounded by a support system!

After the guru bead comes your tassel or pendant. This is an integral part of your mala. It connects the string of beads and reminds us of the way that we’re connected to the Universe and each other. It represents the wearer's wish to cultivate prana or pure consciousness.

Black and purple stained glass mala prayer necklace with amethyst and obsidian beads — **How To Use Prayer Beads for Meditation**

How Do You Use Mala (Prayer) Beads for Meditation?

The goal of using beads is to calm your monkey mind and help you focus. But how you use your prayer beads is up to YOU! Remember, this is your spiritual practice. Feel free to use your mala in whatever way feels the best for you.

To use your prayer beads for meditation, hold your mala in one hand and let it drape in a way that’s comfortable. Start at the first bead after the guru bead and hold it between your fingers. Most traditions use the thumb and middle finger to hold the bead.

Most people choose either a single mantra or to work with their breath. Hold the bead and breathe in and breathe out. (Or say a mantra, or start a prayer, or whatever feels good!) Once your breath or mantra is completed, slip your fingers onto the next bead.

Go bead by bead in a rhythm that feels comfortable. Use your marker beads to help you refocus if your mind has started to wander during your meditation. Once you hit your guru bead, take a second to remember what the guru bead is for: gratitude!

Take a second to be grateful for a spiritual practice that holds and supports you. If you have a special pendant on your mala, you can meditate on what that pendant means to you. You can either end your meditation here or go around the chain again!

If you want to bring more mindfulness into your day, you can wear your prayer necklace even after your meditation is done. Every time you feel it or notice it around your neck or wrist, take that second to draw in the energy from your earlier meditation.

Prayer bead strands for sale with hamsa and moon pendants and gemstone beads — How To Choose The Right Prayer Beads

Choosing the right mala necklace is important. Take your time!

This is an object that will bring energy into your spiritual life and mindfulness into your day. Take your time to find one that will bring in the energy you want. You can have different mala necklaces for different purposes, but make sure that whichever ones you choose are useful to your meditation practice.

Choose a necklace that’s made out of stones or seeds that are meaningful to you. (Not sure what crystals mean? Check out the A-Z dictionary!) Is the mala necklace design beautiful to you? Does it seem like something that would feel good to hold and touch? The goal is to trust your intuition and choose something that feels right.

The tassel or pendant is also something that you should consider. A tassel is the traditional form of Buddhist or Hindu necklaces, but many other traditions added a pendant so they could carry a powerful symbol with them. Does the pendant have a meaning to you? Will it help you remember something important to your spirit?

Once you’ve considered all these things and you’ve found one that is a resounding YES, then you can start integrating your prayer beads into your meditation practice!

Moon stained glass pendant on a mala prayer bead necklace made with moonstone, white jade and flourite — **Prayer beads are a perfect tool for meditation.**

Mala Beads Are A Powerful Meditation Tool

Prayer beads are more than just trendy or spiritual posturing. They are an incredible tool (that has been perfected over THOUSANDS of years!) that can help you with your meditation practice. This tool can be added to your meditation kit to guide your spirit and calm your monkey mind.