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Beads have been associated withprayer and magic for thousands ofyears. In fact the word bead itselfactually comes from the Anglo Saxonwords bidden (to prayer) and bede

(prayer). It isthought thatthe use ofprayer beads inEurope mayhave camefrom contactwith Islamicprayer beadtraditions, theMuslimsthemselveshaving beeninspired bycontact withthe much olderHindu and

Buddhist prayer bead traditions.In Europe prayer beads are

generally called rosary, (from the Latinword rosarium meaning rose garden)and it is interesting that the rose isassociated with prayer beads in boththe Hindu and Buddhist traditions aswell; the earliest Hindu prayer beadswere called japamala (rose chaplet)and mala, a common Tibetanname for prayer beads, issanskrit for ‘a garland offlowers.’

TIBETAN BEADSOne of the mostimportant parts ofboth TibetanBuddhism andBonpo shamanism is therecitation of mantras, whichare spells, or words of power.During their lifetime apractitioner may say millions ofthese mantras, some of whichcan be over 100 syllableslong; and to keep track of thetotal number of these, they aregenerally counted on a set ofprayer beads. These are called a mala,or tenwa in Tibet or shu-zhu in China.

SOUNDS OF POWERMantras are specific for each of thebeings of the Tibetan or Bonpocosmos. In reciting the mantra of aBuddha or being which a practitionerhas been ritually empowered intoworking with, the practitioner

identifies with that being totally, and‘arises as’ or actually becomes thatbeing during the visualisations thatare performed during the saying ofthe mantra.

Probably the most famous mantrain Tibetan Buddhism is that of Chen-rezi, (also called Avalokiteshvara),the Bodhisattva of compassion.Chenrezi's mantra is the famous‘Om Mani Padme Hum’. Othermantras include ‘Om Ah Hum Vajra(pronounced Benza) Guru PadmaSiddhi Hum’ - the mantra ofPadmasambhava, and ‘Om TareTuttare Ture Swaha’ - the mantra ofGreen Tara.

Besides using mantras for helpwith ‘arising’ as the being for whomyou have received an empowerment,they can also be recited for otherpurposes such as to empower aplace or object, to pacify a hostilespirit, to increase personal power, lifeenergy or wealth, to overcomeobstacles, or to bind dangerous spiritsor powers to your will.

Each time the mantra is said thebeads of a mala are moved forwardone bead, and over time the beads

become worn by themovements of the

fingers, making anold mala a thing of

spiritual and physicalbeauty. The repeated use

of a mala for saying mantrasalso builds up the intent of the

power of the practice for thepractitioner, and the mala

becomes a powerfulobject for them in

their practice.Old, well-used andempoweredmalas are

sometimesplaced on people as

tools of healing, or used as objectsfor blessing.

A FEW MALA BASICSUsing a mala to help you recitemantras is quite straightforward, butthe specifics will vary from onetradition to the next. To begin with,the mala is held with gentleness andrespect, generally in the left hand.One bead is counted for eachrecitation of the mantra, beginning

Left: a Tibetan man wears a mala around his neck, together withnecklaces of Sherpa coral and dzi stones. Above: Mala made fromhuman bone, complete with counter beads and a carved skull-shapedhuman bone ‘guru bead’. Between the pages: mala of bone inset withturquoise and red coral and with C17th ‘Sherpa coral’ divider beads.

Beadsof IntentPrayer beads inTibet and Mongolia

Nicholas Breeze Wood

with the first bead afterthe guru bead, which isthe larger, moredecorative bead oftenfound at the end of amala. The first bead isheld between theindex finger andthumb, and witheach count thethumb pulls anotherbead in place.

THE SACRED 108Malas have 108beads in them, and108 is a numbersacred in Buddhism

and many other Asiansacred traditions. It isthe number of theHindu names for

God; as a multiple of12 and 9, it representsthe nine planets in the12 zodiac houses; as amultiple of 27 and 4, italso represents the fourquarters of the moon ineach of the 27 lunarmansions orconstellations.

In Pranayana Yoga it iscalculated that a humanbeing takes 21,600 breathsin a 24-hour cycle consistingof 60 periods of 360

breaths; a 12-hour day cycletherefore equals 10,800breaths. There are 54 letters in

the Sanskrit alphabet, andboth have a male andfemale aspect making 54times 2 or 108. And if youwant a few more cosmicmeanings to the number,the diameter of the sun is108 times the diameter ofthe earth, the distancefrom the sun to the earthis 108 times thediameter of the sunand the averagedistance of the moonfrom the earth is 108times the diameter ofthe moon. The 108beads also ensurethat at least ahundred mantrarecitations have

been completed in afull mala!

To aid in mantracounting, on many

malas there are divider beads every27 beads, or in other words at thequarter and half-way points of themala. These are generally of adifferent colour and normally largerthan the 108 normal beads of themala, and they are not countedduring recitations of the mantra.

There may also be a pair ofcounter strings tied to the malawhich act as a sort of simpleabacus, each string of these pair isthreaded with 10 small beads, andthese are used to count thecompleted mantra cycles and the10’s of completed mantra cycles.So at the end of 108 mantras, onecounter on the one string (oftenending with a tiny dorje) is moved,and when 10 times 108 mantramalas have been recited and all 10beads on this string have beenmoved, a bead on the other string(often ending with a tiny dilbrubell) is moved. When all 10 beadshave been moved on the stringending with the bell, it means that10,800 mantras have been said.

Many malas also have anadditional counter bead which isremovable and clipped betweenthe beads on the mala proper.This bead is moved once every10,800 mantras, and by countingaround the mala how many beadsit has travelled, the practitionerknows how many mantras theyhave said in total, for example,if it is placed after the36th bead of a mala thepractitioner has completedat least 360,000 mantras(388,800 in actuality).

TYPES OF MALAMalas are made from manymaterials. Bodhi seeds areconsidered auspicious for anypractice or mantra, as it was thetree under which the historicalBuddha became enlightened;red sandalwood beads andlotus seeds are also widelyrecommended for generaluse. Other popular beadsused are glass, semi-

precious stones, coral, metals,shell and bone. People choosingthese malas tend to have specificreasons for using them.

For instance, the beads used tocount mantras intended to pleaseBuddhas should be of crystal,pearl or mother-of-pearl, andmantras counted on these are saidto clear away obstacles, such asillness and other problems, andpurify the practitioner.

The beads used with mantrasintended to increase life energy orwealth are often of gold, silver,copper or lotus seeds.

The beads used with mantraswhich are intended to overcome ortame powerful spirits or demonsshould be made of Rudrakshaseed1 or bone (ideally humanbone, each bead being taken fromthe 3rd eye point of a skull), asshould malas used for the sayingof mantras for wrathful beingssuch as Mahakala.

There are certain things not todo with a mala, as these things areconsidered disrespectful. Theseinclude wearing a mala just for

Mala made from humanbone discs cut from skulls,

with red coral divider beads,and showing counter beads hanging from it

During their lifetimea practitioner may

say millions of mantras,some of which can beover 100 syllables long

Antique set of coppercounters with

a dorje end

ISSUE 56 2007 15

show, stepping on a mala, hanginga mala from your belt, throwing amala in a playful way and taking amala into a toilet.

MALA DIVININGIn Tibetan Buddhism andMongolian shamanism, malas areused as tools of divination. Here isone simple traditional method ofusing them for this purpose.

Visualise your question and thentake hold of the mala in both handsat two random points around it.Count off the beads by threes,moving the hands towards eachother until you are left with eitherone, two, or three beads betweenthe hands. Remember this numberand repeat the whole process again.Now you will have two numbers,which are either one, two or three.

One bead iscalled a Falcon - apositive signshowing goodluck, success andsupport, andsuccess in legalaffairs. Two beadsare a Raven - thisis a negative signshowing bad luck,misfortune andlack of supportand illness.

Three beads are called a SnowLion - a sign that indicates thatalthough you are supported by thespirits, you can expect slow butstable results, but neutral results inbusiness, although some weaknesson the part of your enemies.

You have two numbers, one foreach time you divided the mala.Here are the results for each of thepossible variations, first time aftersecond time.

1: Falcon after FalconEverything is favourable.2: Falcon after RavenEvery wish will be fulfilled; youwill escape from danger.3: Falcon after Snow Lion.Spirit’s help is at hand, makean offering to the spirits.

4: Raven after FalconA bad omen, contagious diseasewill come. If you worship the godsand dispel the demons, it can beprevented.5: Raven after Raven.The cloudless sky will be darkened,

there will be loss of wealth.6: Raven after Snow LionMediocre results, and possiblelegal problems.

7: Snow Lion after Falcon.Rice plants grow in bad land, widowsget married, poor men get rich.8: Snow Lion after RavenTurquoise fountains spring forth andfertilise the ground; unexpectedfood can be found, and you canescape from danger.9: Snow Lion after Snow LionProsperity is at hand in all things.

The use of malas for prayer andmagic is a deeply ancient practicemany thousands of years old, andfar older than Buddhism. Workingwith a mala is a way of increasingboth intent and the power of thevisual imagination. You may not bedrawn to using a mantra, but evenwithout their use a mala can beused for simple practices.

One way I often use a mala is asa part of a healing ceremony. Using

it this way I visualise the sickperson I am working with beingcompletely well and healthy 108times, constructing a clear mental,intentful picture of them with goodclear energy each time, then lettinggo of the image and building itagain with the next bead, until ithas been built 108 times.

As a way of developing intentthis technique could be used forother purposes, and that building ofintent is perhaps the greatest magicof these beads of power.

Nicholas Breeze Wood has been ashamanic practitioner and craftsman formany years. His work is shown onwww.nicholaswood.net He also runs 3Worlds.co.uk an on-line gallery specialising in antiqueshamanic and Tibetan Buddhist ritualobjects including malas, where you canalso hear his free podcast o n variousshamanic practices.

Notes 1: Rudraksha seeds are the driedberries of the Rudraksha tree, grows inIndonesia, Nepal and India; they are roundand pitted, with granular protuberances,and are sized between about 8 mm to

Top: a malamade fromRudraksha seeds

Above: a bonemala inset withcoral andturquoise andwith an amber‘guru bead’

Right: a Tibetanman carries amala made fromwooden beads

Old, well usedand empoweredmalas are sometimesplaced on peopleas tools of healing,or used as objectsof blessing.

SH ISSUE 56 2007 16

When I asked my spirithelpers for a way to connect withmy own spiritual resources, theiranswer was direct and clear. Thefirst step was to make a shortlistof those spiritual resources thatregularly guide and sustain me.

Next I was to make a kind ofmala, or rosary, and choose abead for each of the items on mylist that would hold the energy ofwhat it represented.

I have a small stash of variouskinds of beads collected over theyears; some that have sentimentalor sacred significance, some Ihave just magpied away because Ireally liked them. And so I satdown with my shortlist and spreadout my treasure trove of beads.

SACRED SORTINGThe next few hours were anunexpectedly intense distilling out ofwhat really does connect me withmy own sacred centre and Spirit. Itwas a time of deeply playfulreflecting and learning for me as Isorted and arranged - and re-arranged - the beads in front ofme. In the process I realised someof the ‘items’ on my list were notthat important, and were deleted;some were added, as I realised howvalued they were. The time passedin that familiar timeless haze thathappens in sacred working.

PRACTICALITIESThere were practical decisions tomake about how to thread thebeads. Should they be in a singleline, or joined in a circle? Howlong should the string be - shouldit fit over my head like a necklace?I decided to separate each of themain beads with a row of small,matching beads so that as myfingers would travel along thestring I could contemplate each ofthe ‘aspects’ quiteseparately.Otherwise, I letthe sortingprocess dictatethe design.

Then I camethe point where allthe beads werethreaded and I hadtwo ‘ends’ of thethread. Should Ijoin them, or leavethe strand open?Again I was guidedby intuition to bringthem together andthrough one bead

which would symbolise the Oneness of all Creation towhich my ‘circle’ of being isjoined. The final bead wasa tiny silver acorn, a food Iam often given by my spirithelper to sustain me whenI get weary or the goinggets tough!

MAKING CONNECTIONThis simple mala nowconnects me with what Ihold true and sacred, as Ihold each bead in turn,starting at the ‘Oneness’bead and returning to it.Each bead is a dif ferentshape and size, so that Iknow which one I amholding even if they are inmy pocket or under my pillow.

If time is short, orcircumstances are distracting,I can simply hold each beadin turn for a moment. If Ihave more time I can pauseand give thanks to eachaspect, or makespecific prayers fortheir help in tasksahead. Often Iintuitively linger on aparticular bead and find thatunexpected thoughts drop in,teachings or guidance, or I just feelextra loving support or healing flowfrom that bead.

The mala is also a clearreflection of my sacred identity andjust having it close to me helps meremember that identity when lifegets challenging!

On a recent shamanic journey aspirit helper asked to hold the malaand blessed ‘her’ bead, the firston the string. This may be a newstage of my journey with the beads- to have each one blessed bywhat it represents.

From time to time I will no doubtneed to add other beads, or takeout anything that I no longer feelsrelevant. Life is, after all, change.Meanwhile I thank my spirits forshowing me how to make thissimple way to connectwith my sacredessentials.

This is a processthat anyone can adapt;you can use beadsyou buy, or make yourown. If beads areidentical they canbe perhaps paintedwith a relevantsymbol or colour.There are no rules -play, experiment,celebrate your beautifulsacred self!

Jan Morgan Wood is a shamanic artist,practitioner and spiritual mentor, and isfounding editor of Sacred HoopMagazine. She has worked withindividuals and groups for over twentyyears and is author of ‘Easy to UseShamanism’. Tel: (01239) 682 071jan@janmorganwood.comwww.janmorganwood.com

POWERBEADS

Jan Morgan Wood

We each have spiritualresources ... particular

wisdom teachings, a specialsong, dance or place, aspects ofthe natural world, or a guardian

spirit... a collection of things whichgladden and sustain our soul.

Recently my spirit helpers showedme a simple way to connect with

these soul resources - a version ofthe worldwide use of prayer

beads - rosaries or malas.

They also encouraged me toshare the process with others...

W

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