Apr 26, 20188 min read

Gemstone Malas and their Meanings

In my previous article about Malas, I discussed why the beads often number 108 – or a derivative of 108! If you missed it, please read it here! Not all Malas are the same length – just as not all Malas have the same traditional stones. Traditional malas are made with Rudraksha beads (see photo right), lotus seed beads, bone (usually yak), or Bodhi seeds.

Healing Malas - made from gemstones – have different properties, which can help the individual focus on different aspects of their life during mediation. Gemstones – often called “crystals” have their own significant meanings depending on the type of stone – and often, certain colours are associated with various chakras. (More on chakras and their associated colours in a future blog post!)

Since crystals have various energy and healing properties choose crystals that have properties which will benefit you the most. Usually, when we use our intuition, these crystals will pop right out from other others! In order to help you choose stones or even just learn a little more about the properties of some common crystals, here is some information to help you.

I have set out the stones by colour and included some of their basic properties. All the beautiful photos have been supplied by Marie at Harland Mae Handmade Jewelry. I own several Malas and bracelets made by her and I cannot say enough great things about them! (All photos featured in this post are of her creations! I am so happy she was willing to let me use them! She sells locally and though her Etsy shop!)

First up.... the colour Red!

Dalmation Jasper, Tigers Eye & Carnelian Carnelian, Dalmation

Black Sandalwood Jasper, Lava

& Garnet Red Jasper pendant

Garnet – opens psychic and intuitive abilities; a stone of commitment; seeks out new challenges especially about finding one’s purpose; emotionally relieves anxiety, and promotes composure, courage and endurance-lightens the overall mood; talisman of protection; brings fire energy – a stone of strong feelings!
Carnelian - stabilizes and grounds; stimulates creativity; gives motivation and courage; improves analytical abilities and concentration; protects against rage envy and resentment; assists in knowing and feeling that we are well; let go of emotional baggage and anger, help with reproductive organs
Red Jasper – grounds and rectifies; provides insight; set and achieve goals; accomplish tasks; increase energy flow; aids in digestion

Next is Pink!

Ruby in kyanite, Lepidolite, Rhodochrosite, White Fossil Porcelain Jasper,

Rose Quartz, & Sandalwood Jasper & Bone Skulls Rhodonite & Purple

Aventurine

Rose Quartz – unconditional love-for self and others- fills our heart with understanding, compassion, and forgiveness. Helping one to overcome feelings of anger, its calming energies will also lessen feelings of sorrow, especially during times of grief; encourages open mindedness and sensitivity
Rhodochrosite –let go of past hurts and learn to forgive ourselves; attracts love; resonates with the inner child-reclaims joy and playfulness; dynamic and positive attitude, as well as a courageous heart capable of taking action to express love and emotions and to pursue one’s dream; confront fears and soothes emotional stress; used to help with issues with nerves, muscles, migraines, kidneys, digestion and eye sight
Rhodonite- helps to balance the emotions and calm impatience; used for rediscovering one's inner gifts, as well as for bringing much-needed love into the world; help one to remember their soul-purpose and facilitate living from the heart; good for times of anxiety; grounding your spirituality and is also known to boost fertility.

Now we will look at Orange!

Orange Aventurine, Goldstone, onyx & Pietersite, Sunstone

Labradorite, Lodolite, orange aventurine pendant & Aquamarine

& Bamboo Leaf Agate

Orange aventurine- brings cheerfulness into your life-relaxed atmosphere in the home and work place; enables you to live your dreams; supports creativity in all forms. It will aid you in conceiving a child and also enables you to have a gentle and joyful pregnancy. Orange aventurine will help you sustain new ideas and aid you in manifesting them into the physical plane.
Goldstone - man-made, revered because the light passing through the glass indicated the flow of energy between spiritual and physical planes; called the “stone of ambition” since it helps to attain goals; building confidence, courage, and a positive attitude.
Sunstone - joyful, light stone carrying the energies of the sun; heightens intuition and restore sweetness to life; increase self-care and self-nurturing; to accept and make peace with our pasts; linked to benevolent gods, luck and good fortune; use the stone to help you say no and stop sacrificing yourself for others-increase self-empowerment; lifts depression (especially if caused by SAD - seasonal affective disorder)

Next we are moving onto Yellow!

Silver Leaf Jasper, Yellow Citrine & Larimar Quartz AfricanAmazonite,

Turquoise, Lemon Chrysoprase, some Crackle Quartz Chrysocolla, White Jade,

Dragon’s Blood Jasper, & Lapis Lazuli. Howlite, Rose Quartz,

Carnelian, African Turquoise, Lemon Jade, Black Onyx,

Mahogany Obsidian Green Aventurine, Moss Agate & Rhodonite

Citrine – cleaner and re-generator; holds the power of sun and abundance; creative and energizing; grounds and dispels negative energy; increases intuition, creativity and helps manifest our desires; encourages sharing and increases self-esteem; provides optimistic cheery feelings; increase concentration and overcome depression
Lemon Chrysoprase- powerful healing stones, especially with matters of the heart (both physical and emotional), communication and protection; builds a bridge to leaping into a new direction in life
Lemon Jade - energies of self-confidence, courage, and abundance; imparts wisdom in silence and tranquility, and it will dispel harm and negativity; release your emotions in a healthy manner; bring joy and happiness and show you how you can be connected to all living beings; promotes emotional stability, and it will bring balance and harmony to loving relationships.

How about Brown?

Mookaite, Tigers Eye, Wood Jasper, Jasper Picture Jasper,

Wood & Picture Jasper, & Tigers Eye, Tiger Skin Sandalwood,

Bamboo Leaf Agate & Fossil Jasper

& Silk Wood

Bamboo leaf agate – enhance creativity, memory, and focus. It is also an excellent stone to use as a stress reliever; stimulate action and important decision making; stabilize and strengthen emotional, physical and mental energies.; highly protective and healing energy; discover personal strength and connect one with one's Spirit Guide; stone for the healers to use for themselves, and on the behalf of others-therapists, and counselors
Tiger Eye – attention to detail; assist in taking action from reason instead of from emotions; draws Spiritual energy down to the Earth, while still keeping centered here on the ground; gives brightness and optimism to a situation, and shines insight onto problems; talisman against bad luck; attracts abundance and can also stimulate the rise of Kundalini energies
Picture Jasper – very grounding and calming; can promotes weight loss and assists in the development of creativity; a nurturing stone, to show that helping others is essentially helping oneself; brings and shows hidden messages from the past as well as hidden thoughts, fears, and hopes-useful as an emotional/psychological healing stone.

Now Green!

Amazonite, Tree Agate, Moss Agate, Spiderweb and Fireworks

African Teal Amazonite, Amazonite & Howlite Jasper, Serpentine,

& Deer Antler Green Rhodonite & Larvikite

Amazonite - soothing; dispels negative energy and aggravation; heals stresses; enhances effective, heartfelt communication and memory function; positively impacts the ability to express oneself; motivates to begin new projects. calms and helps us to see truths, and process emotions of the heart so we can effectively communicate them.
Tree Agate –creates a peaceful environment; deepens your connection to the earth; instills a feeling of safety in the most challenging of situations- imparts strength and perseverance; helps you to face difficult circumstances; encourages a positive sense of self and unshakable self-esteem; centering stone, bringing emotional strength and acceptance, especially clarity and respect of our differences with others.
Serpentine - earth stone of spiritual exploration; opens new path for Kundalini energy; assists in retrieving wisdom and regaining memory of past lives; help feel more in control of life; directs healing towards problem area; corrects mental and emotional imbalances.

Getting to the pretty Blues

Lapis Lazuli, Tigers Eye, Angelite, Dumorterite White Jade, Sodalite

Coffee Jasper & Picture Jasper & Cedarwood & Onyx

Lapis Lazuli – enhances dreams, serenity, spiritual attainment; protective stone; creates harmony within the self; remove deep levels of stress from your system; aids in relationships by helping express emotions and feelings; anxiety; grief; symbol of wisdom and truth. It's a balancing stone, and helps with developing our intuition
Angelite - stone of awareness and peace; increases perception-turns fear into faith; helps speak the truth, be accepting and compassionate; enhance astrological and numerical understanding; encourages healing; gives feeling of peace and tranquility and encourages forgiveness.
Sodalite- stone of truth, bringing clarity to all communications; unite logic and intuition; true to self and stand up for beliefs; creates harmony and trust within a group; calms panic attacks; increases self-acceptance, sell-esteem and self-trust; great for teachers, singers and writers. quiets an overactive mind while enhancing mental performance.

Up next....Purple!

Dragon’s Vein Agate Lepidolite, Amethyst Lodolite Quartz,

& Purple Druzy Sodalite, Tourmline, Gold Tigers Eye,

, Azurite, Malachite, Amethyst & Purple Agate

& Onyx

Purple druzy - helps harmonize a group and move toward a common goals; increase imagination and creativity; relax reduce stress levels and re-energize and uplift; especially helpful in awakening positive self-love; amplify your body’s natural healing properties; strengthens the spirit; connect you to higher powers on all levels.
Lepidolite – supports emotional healing; teaches patience; eases difficult transitions, and to engender patience, optimism, independence and self-love; serves as a great good luck stone and possess the power to drive away negativity; good for anxiety and depression relief; support for those going through sleep disorders, addiction recovery, pregnancy and childbirth, and promote enzyme balance and general healing.
Amethyst – called "beacon of light", this stone helps to ease physical and emotional pain; provides a higher state of consciousness; calms the mind; assists putting decisions into practice; emotionally centered; love of divine and spiritual wisdom

How about Black?

Amazonite, Schorl (Black tourmaline), Dendritic Opal

Snowflake Obsidian, & Tourmalted Quartz & Larvikite

Onyx & Hematite

Snowflake Obsidian –values mistakes as well as success- helps to get over lingering feelings of regret from making mistakes; balance mind, body, spirit; help combat feelings of loneliness and helps with centering; increases clairvoyance; associated with Guardian Spirits that watch over and protect us from harm. It's good for detoxification and muscle cramps.
Black Tourmaline - grounding stone providing a connection between the Earth and the spirit; deflects negativity; creates physical vitality; positive attitude and practical creativity; encourages balance especially between both sides of the brain; reveals strength and good qualities
Larvikite - stimulates metaphysical abilities and increases intuition by connecting you to your higher self; repel negative energies; good for those learning new information because it allows us to understand things from a higher perspective & assimilate new experience; protect you in your day to day activities; positive flow of energies; connect to the spirits of nature; use for meditation to still and focus the mind

Finally - White and Clear crystals!

Howlite, Sodalite, Howlite, Ametrine, Lepidolite, Rose Quartz Amethyst, Rose Quartz Moonstone, Amethyst

& Moonstone & Clear Quartz Angel & Bone Feather

Howlite – help mind get wisdom and insights; attain material and spiritual ambitions; teaches patience; overcome being self-critical and selfishness; strengthen memory; encourages creativity; reduces tension and anxiety; aids sleep; reduces muscle tension
Clear Quartz – amplifying and directing energy connected to your higher power; most versatile healing stone among all crystals; protects against negativity, attunes to your higher self, and relieves pain; enhance and strengthen the aura
Moonstone - stone of new beginnings; calms emotions and reminds that everything is a cycle of life; called the "Traveler's Stone” it provides safe travel over water; promotes intuition and empathy; deep emo healing; attunes the bio rhythmic clock and hormonal systems-especially for women; also good for fertility, helpful for shock and calming children; enhances psychic ability; clairvoyance; increases Kundalini energy.

I hope this guides you to choosing the crystals that are right for your personal Mala!

Finally here are a few more beautiful Malas by Harland Mae Handmade Jewelry. You can check her out on FB or find her products in her Etsy store!