Mala symbolism

The beads symbolize the various stages of a spiritual journey. Just as you progress from one bead to the next during your meditation, you move through different phases of self-discovery, understanding, & enlightenment. The beads represent precious moments in your life, achievements, & goals.

The thread that holds the beads together symbolizes the interconnectedness of all life. Just as the individual beads are united on the string, we are reminded that we are also individuals, but connected with all other souls in this universe.

Don’t overlook the small knots. These represent the difficulties, & the challenges you face throughout life - in between those moments of joy, achievement, & self-discovery. It’s the knots that hold the beads together, that protect them & make the mala strong & difficult to break. 

The knots give the mala its strength.

The guru bead represents the guidance, wisdom, & teachings that the student receives from his guru on their spiritual journey. Just as the guru bead is a starting and ending point for meditation practice, it symbolizes the cyclical nature of life, death, & rebirth. It serves as a reminder of the eternal cycle of existence & the impermanence of all things.

The tassel is a symbol of a lotus flower, with grounding & supportive roots that can help ground your intentions & support your practice.  The bud of a lotus flower is submerged in water– usually muddy & full of rocks & debris. When it flowers, the bud has to push past all that mud & unpleasantness in order to bloom above the water. As the bud unfurls, no part of the petals themselves ever come in contact with the dirty water. The core of the flower always remains untainted despite the environment in which it began its life - a beautiful reminder that regardless of how difficult or daily challenging our lives are, nothing can taint the purity of the human soul.