For this long 108 Mala I used 6mm Sandalwood Beads, Dark Wood Beads, brass spacer beads and a large, vintage Buddha amulet from Thailand. The mala has been hand-knotted on an extra strong, nylon cord with one knot between each gemstone bead. It not only looks great, it also makes it easy to use it as a tool in your meditation practice.

Mala length: 41" (104cm). Amulet: 2 5/8" (70mm).

Sandalwood is a sacred wood with a lovely aromatic scent, that has been used in spiritual practices and sacred rituals for over 4,000 years. It is said to bring one closer to the Divine. Sandalwood’s scent is both excellent for staying present and alert during meditation, which makes it wonderful for ritual and spiritual practice. Its scent is said to transform desires, and also to bring emotional balance. In alternative healing, sandalwood is used in Ayurvedic medicine and to treat anxiety, insomnia, depression, nausea, dry skin and stress-related disorders. Sandalwood is also used as an aphrodisiac. All wood beads will darken with time, and become a bit glossier from contact with skin. The more you wear them the more beautiful patina they will get. If your mala or bracelets starts to look dry, don’t try to wash or rub with oils. Just start wearing it more. The oil from your skin is all they need. To bring back the scent of Sandalwood beads, just store in a zip lock bag over night.
The Buddha is considered an ornament for purification, enhancing spirituality, good health and enables the wearer to rise above hallucinations brought about by materialism. The Buddha symbol represents your Dharma, finding your path.

Read more about gemstones and their healing qualities in my Healing Gemstone Guide. Gemstones are natural materials and each gemstone is unique and the color may vary within a single stone. The gemstone colors in the mala may vary slightly from the photos.