A 108-bead prayer strand of soft pink rose quartz beads with a decorative brocade pouch – the stone of gentleness and of the heart in a meditation companion.
Rose quartz
Rose quartz is the tender pink variety of quartz; its colour comes from traces of titanium, iron or manganese, and its hardness is about 7 on the Mohs scale. It ranges from translucent to milky, with Brazil and Madagascar among its main sources. Tradition knows it as the stone of love and of the heart, regarding it as a stone of gentleness and self-acceptance, and crystal lore ties it to the heart chakra. These are traditional ideas, not medical effects. The soft glow of the warm pink beads lends a calm, gentle mood to practice.
The 108-bead prayer strand
A mala is the prayer strand of the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, originally used to count mantras in meditation. A larger meru or guru bead closes the 108 beads, standing for wisdom and the completeness of the circle. The beads pass one by one between the fingers while attention rests on the meaning and vibration of the words. This slow, repeating motion has helped practitioners gather their attention to a single point for centuries.
How to use it
Hold the mala in your hand during meditation or mantra recitation, and move from bead to bead between the index finger and the thumb; on reaching the guru bead you turn the circle back rather than crossing it. Through the day it can be worn wrapped around the wrist as a quiet reminder.
Material and care
A 108-bead strand of natural semi-precious stone beads. Being a natural stone, each piece is unique: shade, veining and pattern may vary slightly from the image. Keep it dry, wipe it with a soft cloth and avoid harsh chemicals and perfumes. The meaning attached to it comes from tradition, not from any medical effect.
The strand arrives in a decorative brocade pouch, suitable both for storage and for gifting. It is about 34 cm long.