39” Hand knotted, 108 bead Mala necklace made with 8mm Howlite and Cedar Wood beads.

FEATURES:

• Howlite - is believed to help teach patience, and overcome self criticism. It is also a very calming stone used to relieve stress of all kinds. It makes an excellent antidote to insomnia due to an overactive mind.
• Cedar Wood - used for the creation of sacred spaces, and cleansing negative atmospheres. Cedar wood is often used to cleanse, heal, and protect.

MALA FAQs:

1. What is a mala? Mala in Sanskrit means “Garland” A mala is a garland of beads used to set intentions, meditate, or simply wear for healing crystal energy. They encourage us to pause, breathe, and to invest in moments of self care and reflection. If you normally have trouble reining in a wandering mind during meditation, a mantra and mala provide both a mental and physical way to stay grounded in the moment. Not to mention, picking a mantra that's particularly relevant can help take your practice to the next level. Wearing the mala as a necklace or as a bracelet throughout the day helps you manifest the power of the stones.
2. How do I use a mala? Choose a spot and sit comfortably with your spine straight and your eyes closed. Take a few deep breaths to center and align yourself with your intention. If you have one, use a mantra for this practice, chanting aloud or silently. Hold your mala in your right hand, draped between your middle and index fingers. Starting at the guru bead, use your thumb to count each smaller bead, pulling it toward you as you recite your mantra. Do this 108 times, travelling around the mala, until you once again reach the guru bead. If you want to continue the meditation, instead of passing over the guru bead, simply reverse direction and begin again. Take your time - It’s totally normal if your mind wanders during your practice. When you catch yourself drifting, simply bring your focus back to your mantra and mala.
3. How do I choose a mala? Choosing your mala may appear difficult and confusing with so many designs, stones, and colours to choose from, but trust your intuition and let the the power and energy of the stones guide you to the right mala beads for you. Often times, people instantly connect with one mala and begin to second guess themselves as they continue to shop around. By listening to your intuition and understanding the stone's meaning, you can find the mala that is most needed in your present life.
4. Why 108 beads? The number 108 is significant in various spiritual beliefs and yogic tradition. In yoga, the number 108 represents spiritual completion. This is why traditional malas are made using 108 beads, not including the guru bead (larger bead where the cords come together and attach to a tassel). The guru bead is meant to act as a reminder of your intention for your practice as well as a guide as you move through your breath work, prayer, mantra or chant. All of the malas created by Salt & Moon Jewelry are designed using 108 beads made of various materials such as gemstones, cedar wood, sandalwood, Rudraksha seeds, and pearls. They use a traditional method of hand knotting between each bead, so your pieces are secure and have a lovely flow.

CARE:  Although quality materials are used to construct each piece, we strongly suggest you care for your jewellery with the following tips:

• Avoid bathing or swimming in your jewellery, it can cause damage to beads, especially salt water or chlorinated pools.
• Lotions, sunscreens, and perfumes can damage some gemstones, put your jewellery on after you’ve let all your skin care products dry.
• Never apply perfume or lotions onto pearl jewellery
• Mind your Mala: It’s very common to feel the urge to “spin” the guru bead around on top of the tassel but remember: it’s stone vs. cord, and the cord can wear down over time.
• Snip - Don’t Rip! If you see your mala tassel has a few frazzled ends or stragglers, trim them with sharp scissors. Don’t pull the threads out of the bottom.
• Store your jewellery in the cotton pouch provided, in another soft fabric pouch, or felt lined box
• Keep your jewellery out of direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Wearing your jewellery on a sunny day is totally fine. Leaving your jewellery on a sunny windowsill, or out in direct sun for a long time is not OK.
• Some crystals are colour sensitive to natural light (remember they’ve been forming underground for a long time) and extended periods of time under direct sunlight can cause partial or complete colour fade
• Cedar is quite strong as it has natural water repellent properties, but dirt and oils that end up on it can lessen it’s natural water resistance.
• Alcohol based lotions can cause wood to dry out, use natural oils to strengthen your wood beads
• Some essential oils can be quite drying when put on wood, check with an aromatherapist before using oils on your jewellery

To recharge or cleanse the energy in your crystal jewellery:

• • Place your mala in a bowl and leave it in moonlight overnight.
  • Smudge it with sage, cedar, or palo Santo *make sure all are ethically sourced
  • Place your mala on a large high vibrational crystal such as Amethyst, Selenite, Citrine, or Quartz and let it rest overnight.

Ethically handcrafted in Canada.