My introduction to mala beads came shortly after I started this blog in 2013. In fact, I was introduced because of this blog: my first mala necklace was gifted to me by a company that had seen my blog and felt that my voice connected with people who would enjoy their products. I hadn't heard of mala beads at the time, but I cherished that necklace and still wear it to this day.
For those who don't know, mala bead necklaces or meditation necklaces consist of 108 beads and a bindu or guru stone. The idea is to speak or think your intention or mantra as you touch each bead, ending with the bindu, on which you will give thanks to your teachers, whoever or whatever they may be.
If you're just starting out with meditation, I've found that a mala necklace can be a helpful tool to use for focus. And unlike prayer beads in other faiths, you can and should wear your mala beads as a reminder of your intention throughout the day!
Recently, I attended a local gem show with my friend Makena and purchased enough supplies to start making my own mala designs. For my very first mala, I was inspired by the view I am lucky enough to see from my house each night: a brightly colored sun setting into the ocean.
And as it turns out? Making your own mala necklace is just as relaxing as the meditation practice it's used for.
For those who don't know, mala bead necklaces or meditation necklaces consist of 108 beads and a bindu or guru stone. The idea is to speak or think your intention or mantra as you touch each bead, ending with the bindu, on which you will give thanks to your teachers, whoever or whatever they may be.
If you're just starting out with meditation, I've found that a mala necklace can be a helpful tool to use for focus. And unlike prayer beads in other faiths, you can and should wear your mala beads as a reminder of your intention throughout the day!
Recently, I attended a local gem show with my friend Makena and purchased enough supplies to start making my own mala designs. For my very first mala, I was inspired by the view I am lucky enough to see from my house each night: a brightly colored sun setting into the ocean.
And as it turns out? Making your own mala necklace is just as relaxing as the meditation practice it's used for.
As I tried to recreate the visual effect of a bright pink and orange sunset setting into the ocean, I also tried to be intentional about the gemstones and beads that I used and looked for ones whose meaning would match my intentions.
For me, watching the sun set into the ocean each night fills me with peace, reminds me that impermanence can be beautiful, makes me reflect on the day and feel gratitude for its contents, good or bad. The Ocean Sunset Mala is meant to capture those sentiments of love and light, peace and gratitude, acceptance and transitions.
Stone Meanings:
- Sea Sediment Jasper: stability, inner peace, clarity, love, compassion, emotional healing
- Dyed Agate: balance, good luck, wealth, clarity
- Mountain Jade/Dyed Dolomite: generosity, stamina, spontaneity, creativity, manifestation
- Coral: protection, transformation, visualization, sacred self-awareness
- Rudraksha Seeds: shields against negative energies
Suggested Intentions and Mantras:
- I am surrounded by warm, golden light.
- I can find stillness beneath the surface.
- I can fight the waves or ride them.
- I am grateful for endings.
- Peace lies beneath the surface.
- I reflect golden light like the ocean reflects the sunset.
- I am open to the possibilities of tomorrow.
- My light spreads as wide as the ocean.
- I manifest my inner peace.
- Endings create space for beginnings.
- My love is as bright as the sun and as deep as the ocean.
- I surround myself with an ocean of shimmering light.
- Love and light flow easily to me.
Materials Needed:
- 1 Ocean Sunset Mala Making Kit OR
- 120 inches of C-Lon Teal Nylon Bead Cord
- 1 30mm Sea Sediment Jasper Guru/Bindu Bead
- 1 Turquoise Spacer Bead
- 4 6mm Lemon Yellow Mountain Jade (Dyed Dolomite) Beads
- 2 6mm Orange Coral Beads
- 2 6mm Dyed Pink Agate Beads
- 100 6mm Rudraksha Seed Beads
- Jewelry Glue
- Scissors
- Bead Reamer (optional)
Directions:
- Select an intention to guide your mala making. You'll keep your intention in mind as you tie each knot.
- Starting with your tiny turquoise stopper bead, take your nylon cord, fold your length of cord in half, pass the fold through the hole in the stopper bead, then pass the ends of the cord through the loop (Lark's head knot) and pull taut.
- Pinch both ends of the cord together and pull through the center hole of the guru bead, sliding it all the way down so that it sits flat against the turquoise stopper bead. If you'd like, put a dot of jewelry glue on top of the stopper bead to keep it flat against the Sea Sediment Jasper.
- Taking the righthand side cord, make an overhand knot tight against the Jasper, then add one of the Lemon Yellow Mountain Jade beads. Tie another overhand knot as tightly as possible against the top of the bead. Repeat once more so that there are two Lemon Yellow Mountain Jade beads on the righthand side, with overhand knots on either side of them.
- Add one Orange Coral bead, securing in place with a tight overhand knot.
- Continue to add 15 Rudraksha Seed beads, tying an overhand knot tight against each one as you say or think of your intention. Note: You may need to use the bead reamer to widen holes in some beads to get them onto the cord.
- Once you have reached 18 beads on the righthand side, add your Dyed Pink Agate counter bead.
- Knot 35 more Rudraksha Seeds onto the righthand side, for a total of 54 beads. Knot the last bead tightly and leave the remaining cord.
- Repeat steps 4-8 on the lefthand side, occasionally cutting the very tip of the cord as needed to keep the ends clean and not frayed. Frayed ends will be harder to get through the beads.
- Once both sides are complete, tightly tie the ends of the cords together and double knot. Coat with a drop of jewelry glue or clear nail polish and cut the excess cord once dry. Remember to cut closely to the knot so as not to leave any excess cord sticking out.
If you'd like to clear or charge your mala, leave it out under the full moon or burn sage as a finishing touch.
I'd love to see your malas! If you follow this design, be sure to tag me on Instagram (@sanbriego) and use the hashtag #oceansunsetmala!
and I'll send you everything you need to make this design!
