This Carnelian Mala and What Inspired It

Carnelian is a form of chalcedony primarily found in India and secondarily in South America. Carnelian is a stone with roots in antiquity, prized and coveted by noble classes, buried with the wealthy. Carnelian can be seen in the workmanship of the ancient Egyptians, as crude beads through out Africa and was traded far and wide and still is today. Carnelian is a giver of energy aiding in vitality and protection from bad vibrations. Used as a talisman against poverty, worn to calm anger and maintain sense of humor carnelian has had many uses by many people for centuries.

The ancient historic use of carnelian has intrigued me for years. Seeing bits of the red/orange stone in Egyptian artifacts, beads that have been traded since long before the Roman Empire and intricate carvings from the orient and Asia only add to the allure of using the stone today. The inspiration for this style of mala comes from the Chinese Imperial Court of centuries ago.

Ornate malas were the style for many years in the court. Inspired by the ritual malas produced by the Tibetans with side counters and ornamental guru and marker beads. These malas were used to keep track of the repetitions of mantras. The ritual use of the mala in court life never became as popular as wearing ornate malas made with exotic stones. These malas not only would have anywhere from 2 to 4 side counters hanging from near the side marker beads but also have a long and ornate pendant that would hang down the wearers back. Along with carnelian, jades and serpentines, rose quartz and other stones were used in making these malas.

I used carnelian for this mala because of how its ancient history speaks to the present and offers us a deeper awareness of ourselves through the knowledge of the past. This piece is strung with 108 beads for counting, in the Tibetan tradition, and can be used for ritual, however is ornate enough to be an elegant piece of jewelry. Combining the elements of the lotus flower (the carved bone marker beads), the ultimate symbol of enlightenment as the lotus grows from stagnant and fowl waters to open as spectacular and wonderfully fragrant flower to the element of the butterfly (carved serpentine pendant) a symbol of freedom and non harming as its life is spent on the wind feeding on nectar. Each element of this mala has purpose and meaning.

The intention of this mala is aid in bringing balance in the modern world. This mala has an abundance of feminine energy for balance in an aggressive world.

Generosity - Dana Paramita

The Dana Paramita, the perfection of generosity, is the first of the six paramitas. Perfect generosity requires selflessness, non-attachment, boundless openness, trust, non-judging and so on.

I was touched this weekend by the spontaneous acts of generosity began from one simple post. I asked on Twitter who else out there loaned via Kiva.org. I didn’t hear back directly from anyone, however not long after I saw a post from a Facebook (FB) friend that he had made a loan to a women in Guatemala and there was $225.00 left to fully fund her loan. I signed into Kiva and saw more than half that amount had already been loaned so I completed the loans funding and messaged my friend. He reveled to me in his return message that he had taken part of 3 loans that morning. It was exciting to see how that post triggered this action, I posted the question out of curiosity, I saw someone in action. Touched by this event I then saw a FB friend post that she would be giving away $100.00 to someone that needed it, no need to explain why. Simply add your name to a list from which the person would be selected at random. I referred a friend that was truly in need. He didn’t get his name on the list within the pre-set time so he missed out on the drawing. However the person extending the offer felt that my friend really needed the money and said she would send him $100.00 too. This selfless act extended to a stranger that simply stated they could use the help, no explanation necessary.

Beyond this I’ve learned of others initiating Kiva loans that were sparked by that post, a group on one site to pool resources to make loans to entrepreneurs around the world. Not knowing who else may have picked up on the posting and took action themselves makes me wonder once again at how simple actions can spark small fires that one-day could be fires ablaze with awakening.