Japa malas are one of the tools in the yoga witch’s tool kit.  Japa malas are beads that allow us to focus our prayers.  The number of beads is traditionally 11, 27, 54 or 108.  This allows for focused intention, prayer, and concentration for a set number of cycles.  Some Yoga Witches will have a different mala for different intentions.  In the picture you’ll see a mala that I made in celebration of the Goddess Kali.  Malas help us to engage tactile meditation.  They allow us to hold that sacredness in our hands, we can feel the beads moving through out fingers as we say our prayers.  There are times when I simply hold my beads next to my heart, next to my cheek, or gently rub then in my palms.  When we do this type of prayer there is repetition which often induces a light trance state.

There really is not a specific prayer that has to be used when doing mala work.  You can simply pick a word that you want to connect to.  Saying the word “love” 108 times, or saying a phrase “I am Love and I am Light”.   You can even say full prayers on each bead of the mala.  I personally change my focus daily, but the mala also holds consistency, and it is easy for me to show up to.  I often view my mala as a mobile altar, it is always with me, I can hold it, and it holds me.

Malas can come in a variety of materials, so find one that you connect with.  You may connect with stone, or a particular texture.  I have even seen beads that have been made of crushed and smoothed out rose petals, and as you do the prayer the mala holds the light scent of roses.  Sandalwood is a great mala to help cool tempers.  The sandalwood scent is light, and if you are wearing it around your neck as your body heat rises (which often rises in proportion to temper) it gently reminds you too cool down.   Making your own mala/rosary is actually easier than you might thing.  I’ll be posting a video on this in the next few weeks, so be sure to subscribe to my youtube channel.  You can pick the beads that will help  you focus on intention, purpose, and you’ll feel much more connected to the energy of the beads.

So here are some Mala Magic FlowCasting Techniques that I use, feel free to modify these to fit your circumstances:

1. If you are making your own mala, say a prayer on each bead as you string it.   You are building a relationship with the mala as you do this, what are you saying to it as you make it, what are you hoping it will say to you?  I hold each bead up to my lips as I slid it onto the string, each bead is touched with the breath, the prayer and it “breathes life” into the mala as it is created.
2. One thing that a lot of people do not realize is that after you have charged your mala with an intention it holds that intention permanently.  If you have a mala that you are charging with love, or healing you can use it in your healing work.  I once had a friend that needed healing and was having a hard time connecting to that sacred place within himself, so I charged a mala with Reiki and loving words.  I let him borrow the mala so that it could help create the sacred space for healing to flow.  Be creative, malas, like other magical tools, are an extension of our magic.
3. USE IT, don’t just wear it.  Malas are becoming more like jewelry than prayerful companions.  If you are going to wear it, charge it with intention, with purpose.  Remember these are powerful tools for magic, treat them well and they will return the favor.
4. If you are purchasing a mala for the first time, take your time in making the choice.  Feel the beads, check the cord, rub it together in your hands.  What does the sound bring up?  What does the smell bring up?  When you finally connect to your mala, say a round of prayers on it to charge it with your energy.  This is the best way to clean the mala of any residual energies.

I’ll be posting more Mala Magic FlowCasting and videos in the weeks to come, so stay tuned!

You are Loved.  You are Beautiful.  You are Divine

Namaste, and Blessed Be.

Mike