Road trip to the Mid-West! Part 1: Bryce, Utah.

Not too long ago I went on vacation with some friends to visit a part of the United States I never thought I would venture... the Mid-West. We went there to explore the amazing natural landscape of Utah and Arizona. Our main vacation points were Bryce Canyon (Utah), Antelope Canyon  (Arizona), Horshoebend (Arizona) and THE Grand Canyon (Arizona). We also landed in Vegas so we tried to spend some time doing Vegas things in the very limited time we spent there. It was a whirlwind of a vacation. The first night we arrived in Vegas we had just enough time to run around town for a couple of hours. We checked out the light show in Old Vegas, ate some cheap casino food (Nathan's Chili Cheese Hotdog...YUMMY!) and gambled away some vacation money. I lost 50 bucks playing roulette before the real vacation even began :/  I think I lasted 10 minutes max.  This is why they call Las Vegas "Lost Wages". When all bets were off we retired to catch as many zzz's as we could because we would be driving to Utah bright and early the next morning. We would be moving from hotel to hotel for the next five 5 days trying to catch look out points before sundown. Talk about a serious road trip!

Our first stop was to Bryce Canyon in Utah. This area is roughly a 5 hour drive from Las Vegas. As we made it across the highway the scenery was mostly brown mounds and desert like landscape with bushes sparsely spread across the ground. There were some sad looking cacti-like plants and some straggly short trees amongst the bushes as well.  It was definitely different from the lush green forest view we are used to seeing here in B.C.  Though there was some beauty to it I think there was some fear in all of us that we had come all this way to just look at a bunch of brown rocks. Let me quickly point out that this definitely was not the case so do not let the highway scene scare you!

As we drove into Utah and through Bryce Canyon Park we started noticing some changes. The  striations in the rocks were becoming more vivid. There were red, oranges, and some off whites in the sedimentary layers. Some places the rocks were completely red with iron. Also, instead of mounds we started noticing more unique formations called Hoodoos. At first there were just patches of them, then suddenly they were everywhere. Hoodoos are rock formations caused by erosion from water. They are column like in structure. Many of them are shaped like hammers, or heavier on the top. Others look pointy. Some just look really odd.  The structures in close proximity were all pretty uniform and if you didn't know it you would think they were man made dwellings in the side of a mountain. It's a surreal spectacle. Aside from the land the weather had also started to change. The air was cold outside with a bone chilling wind. The ground had patches of snow here and there as we got higher and higher. Some info about Bryce Canyon. It's considered an amphitheatre which means it's a space that echos sound. .  It's rim varies from 2,400m - 2,700m high. At one point I felt my ears tingle a bit in the car. A bag of chips in the car also got extremely puffy and fat. We were at a very high altitude.

 

The first panoramic view I had of the canyon was breathtaking. I had never before seen a place as alien looking and beautiful as Bryce Canyon. I had done a little research and looked up pictures on the internet but it didn't prepare me for the vastness of the land and depth of it all. The hoodoos themselves were so unique sometimes I found myself mesmerized by their sheer population. They seemed alive and unreal  the same time. They seemed like they had stories to tell. Now if you are impressed by the photos above I have to say I didn't doctor any of the photos above. The original versions of the pictures were so amazing already that I couldn't make them better. However, incomparable to what you see with your naked eyes.

My experience at the Canyon was one of awe.  Just seeing the Canyon reminds me of how little I am, and of how many things in the world I haven't experienced yet. It gave me a sense of mystery and wonder. I realized there are still so many things to explore. Everyone needs that reminder. I would love to go back to Bryce and do some hiking. We were there for a day or so and we it was definately not enough time. Here are a few more photos of this amazing place!

Aromatherapy and my top 5 favourite oils! What are yours?

I love essential oils. I feel addicted to them sometimes. Like how cocaine addicts snort that stuff, I sniff my bottles of concentrate plant essences. Yummy (please don't judge me)! They are all supposed to have wonderful properties. Some scents are great for relaxation. Others help you stay alert. You can use them for your homemade cosmetics and cleaning supplies without worrying about chemicals. Most also have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. It's mind blowing to think that a little bottle of EO is the end product of  pounds and pounds of plants but that's also why they are so very potent.

The downside of essential oils is that they can be $$$. It can be hard to start an essential oils kit when the price is so off putting. Some oils can run from $5.00 to hundreds of dollars for a 5 mL bottle. I started buying low to moderate priced oils and bought them from various sources sparingly. Overtime I grew to have quite a collection and learned how to use them. What I learned about EO's are that they pack a big punch so you don't need to use a lot and they last a long time. I have some bottles over 10 years old but smell just as strong. Not everyone can experience and play with all the oils they want. However, if you wanted to start a decent sized kit or add to your collection without spending a lot of money I have just the place for you. Recently, I learned of a site www.newdirectionsaromatics.com   They sell oils at wholesale prices and my experiences with them have been fabulous. I don't work for them or get paid to promote their products. I just wanted to share this amazing source with those out there who are looking for quality oils at a price that won't break the bank.
 


Here are my top 5 essential oils.

1) Peppermint: 

Peppermint is my favourite oil of all time. The reason I love peppermint so much is because of the scent. It reminds me of candy canes and Christmas time. It gives me a sense of warmth and coziness even though peppermint has cooling properties. It is also one of the few scents you can really feel. You can feel it through your skin as it gradually works it way in and it also open your eye lids if you get too close. Nothing else will wake you up like peppermint in the eye (not recommending this of course). Probably works better than bear spray.

 I use peppermint for lots of things.  Just some peppermint oil and water in a spray bottle and you have a DIY room spray. I also use it in my diffuser for the same reason. When I have a tummy ache or cramps I rub a little with some oil on my belly. Some people add a drop to hot water and drink it to soothe their tummies. Another thing I use it for is making a tooth oil (peppermint, spearmint and carrier oil) as a replacement for toothpaste. I know it sounds weird but I've had wonderful results with it and I prefer it to toothpaste. You can also mix peppermint oil with some chammomile tea and use it as a hair rinse that makes your scalp tingle and feel refreshed after a shampoo. It also leaves your hair smelling amazing! I think the uses for peppermint are far and wide. If you doubt that essential oils can affect you physically and mentally just add a drop or two in your massage oil. It will awaken your senses and bring you into the moment as your whole body and mind become stimulated.


2) Eucalyptus Globulus:

There are two types of Eucalyptus that are commonly seen when buying essential oils: Eucalyptus Globulus and Eucalyptus Radiata. I use the first one since my earlier research into their properties revealed that the latter could have some harmful effects if used in excess. I felt better staying on the safe side.

If you are not too sure what Eucalyptus is and what it smells like imagine koalas hanging out on trees and the scent of Vicks Vapour Rub. Yes, Eucalyptus is the very plant that koalas get high on and eat every day of their lives. It is also used in VVR to relieve respiratory congestion. If you are down with a respiratory infection nothing feels better than inhaling some Eucalyptus. It is a cool oil just like peppermint and you can feel it as it travels through your airways. It clears the traffic and offers a sense of relief. It is amazing for inflammation.

At one point in my life I loved Eucalyptus more than peppermint due to the fact that I had chronic bronchitis for a number of years and it offered relief. It smells great as an addition in the steam room or rubbed onto your chest when coughing. I also use as a room spray with some orange oil to freshen the space and also clean the air.  You can also add it to unscented lotions and rub it into sore muscles.

3) Lemon:

Everyone has heard that lemon is great for a number of reasons. It aids in digestion and is a great cleaning agent. It also has an uplifting scent. These are the same reasons why the essential oils of lemons are wonderful. I use lemon in home cleaning products which I try to make myself. Most of the time my general cleaning spray is nothing but white vinegar, water and some essential oils. If you are cleaning it's always best to include lemon to cut grease and disinfect surfaces. I don't use lemon for anything else aside from cleaning and  scenting a space but it is a go to oil for cleaning and works really well.

4) Tea Tree Oil:

Tea Tree Oil is another amazing cleaning essential. I cannot stress how amazing this oil is for cleaning. It's anti-fungal and anti-bacterial and seems to kill everything. Where lemon is a great everyday cleanser, tea tree is what you use when the black plague hits. I've used this to clean mold and mildew (vinegar, water, tea tree oil), and I've used it to cleanse the air with a diffuser. It's great for putting in shampoos to eliminate dry scalp. I've also heard that it treats dandruff relatively well. When used as a hair product it kill bacteria and fungus growing on the scalp allowing healthy hair to grow.

Tea Tree Oil is not the most pleasant smelling oil but I would never do without it. I often use it in solutions with water and/or vinegar but was never sure of it's profound effectiveness until one day a miracle happened. A number of years ago I had a clog in my sink. The clog dissipated but a strange smell and funk started to rise from it. This was sadly the kitchen sink so it made it really hard to wash dishes or do any "kitcheny" things without trying to run away. I tried many chemical products to destroy whatever was living down there along with some natural solutions like vinegar and baking soda. However, none were successful. At one point I thought I was doomed to have this smelly kitchen sink forever. Then one day I found an old squirt bottle that housed a homemade solution with a high concentration of Tea Tree Oil and water. I decided to make a new batch since it was sitting there for a while so I poured the stuff down the sink. Voila! It did take a day for me to notice but the smell was completely gone and has not come back. The tea tree killed EVERYTHING in there... EVERYTHING. That was the proof in the pudding for me and that's why I love Tea Tree Oil sooooooo much!

5) Oregano Oil:

This is another not so pleasurable smelling oil. I would not sit there and sniff it all day. In fact, it smells pretty bad. It smells so bad that sometimes your eyes sting and you need a moment to recover. Some people use it in their diffusers and as a room spray but it's never for the scent. Oregano is one of the most powerful anti-bacterial oils you can use. And if you don't like the scent that's OK because what most people use it for and how they use it has nothing to do with smelling it (at least not for very long).

Oregano oil is an amazing oil that I use whenever I start feeling sick. When I start feeling like something is coming on I ingest about 8-10 drops of it in the morning and then again at night before I sleep. Often the cold never goes full blown. I've used it to get over minor colds and also major infections. It usually helps a lot. But as it tastes even worse than it smells sometimes I am reluctant to go that route and try to wait out my illness and hope it will go away quickly.  Usually when I do this things take a turn for the worse.  So during those times when I'm so ill I can't go to work or stand without coughing I give in and take some and it works even then, even when antibiotics fail, it works.  If you are ever really sick and are desperate enough to try it, take my advice and chug it with some orange juice. The OJ will cut the smell and taste down so that it's manageable. You can still get the benefits without the high pungency. Oregano oil is supposed to be a big boost for your immune system.

Even my dad, a previous non-believer, was desperate enough to try it one day when he was deathly ill from a respiratory infection and a high fever. He had no time to waste because he had to go on vacation within the next two days. The next morning he came up to me and asked me what the "stuff" was. After just one dose, he was feeling much better and on the road to recovery. Soon after he went out and bought a bottle for himself to take on vacation. A 15 mL bottle of Oregano Oil is roughly $30.00 but it's worth every penny. If you are to try Oregano Oil I suggest buying Oregano Oil from a health food store that sells the kind approved for ingestion, just to be on the safe side.

So those are my fave fives. I would love to hear yours! Cheers!

Little Loving Intentions: A request. Make an intention for global change.

There are so many things I want for myself. I have asked the Universe over and over again for these things to be delivered but I have not received all of them yet. Recently, when I sit and think about my wants I start to feel resentment.  Resentment leads to ungratefulness and I know I shouldn’t feel that way but it is there. It lingers like a dark passenger and I work hard at ignoring it.  Some people believe that asking the Universe for things is the easy way out and completely wacko but I truly believe that you get what you ask for. I believe in it because I have experienced receiving the gifts in the past too many times to ignore it. However, the things I want the most elude me. I find myself asking all the time now, what is keeping me from receiving the gift I want the most? Intent has brought me so many things why can’t it give me …. (fill in the blank)?

Well, I feel extremely selfish. As I watched the news about the scare of the Ebola virus today  something occurred to me. I am so incredibly lucky and have been all my life. With gratitude, all I should ask for is that my life will continue to be blessed with the warmth and safety I have right now. What I want are 1^st world wants and 1^st world needs. I had won the jackpot when I was born in Canada to a loving family. Anything else on top of that is a bonus.  I should be forever grateful for those bonuses. They are the rainbow to a beautiful day.

In other places of this world, survival is a want. Many people don’t get comfort or love. They don’t get a home and food in their belly. Their daily lives are riddled with fear and threats from every corner. When we complain about being tired from work, someone else in the world has never even had a day off. Those that are in the midst of true helplessness still smile and still find things they can be grateful for. Here in the West, most of us already have everything we need to be fulfilled. Yet, we want more all the time. We are a collective mind of take and very little of give. What kind of energy are we sending out into this world.  I hope we start to wake up and learn to appreciate everything now. What a waste it would be if time were to pass and we didn’t realize that we were already given one of the greatest gifts on Earth. What is this gift? The gift of being able to make a difference. 

The world is shrinking. The  discomfort and fears I experience from seeing what is unfolding before us is probably just a small percentage of what others in the world feel. Globalization, with travel and media has certainly changed this world. It has opened up so many realities. We are ONE world. There is terrorism highlighted daily from across the world. And from across the world terrorism can touch us. Diseases, like Ebola, which were foreign viruses that couldn't affect us, have now crossed oceans.  There is also global climate change affecting all citizens of this planet. This is everyday life as we know it now. We are on the brink of an evolutionary change. Yet some of us are still ingrained with concerns of the latest celebrity gossip or government scandal. We are still overly concerned about our own  needs.  We are generating huge amounts of energy but in what direction is this energy spinning the Earth? 

We have accomplished so much with technology. We have learned so much about animal and human behaviour. We know more facts than we have ever known in history. At the same time, something has been lost. Yesterday a friend told me a story about a rich man in Vancouver. He had immigrated here when he was 18 from China. They had recently named a building in UBC after him for all his contributions and accomplishments. He told a story during his speech about remembering a day in the village when everyone had passed a bucket around. Each, with very little money of their own, contributed some money into that basket so he could come to Canada and make a better life for himself. A totally unselfish community act. The villagers knew that money would give him a chance. They knew they would lose their hard earned cash but they all did it.  Because of this loving act of many, this man was able to have a different life. He was able to have a better education. He was able to have liberties and freedoms. He still sends money back to his village every month. How many communities in North America would ever do the same? We are already the richest people in the world. We have so much more than others. But people don't give up things anymore for someone else to have a better life. We have more than enough. We can share. We can help. We can give.

Plenty of people devote their time to individual change. We work on daily affirmations that help us find peace. We ask for guidance towards love. We ask for health. We ask to have courage to get through difficult times. Yes, it’s very noble and great to work on ourselves. We know how important it is for us to take ownership of what we put out in this world. But if we believe in the power of intention and what it can do for us individually we should also use that power of intention for a global purposes as well. Let’s heal the world. Let’s ask for peace in war torn countries. Let’s ask for health upon all. Let’s hope and pray for all to be happy. Let’s generate compassion to those we do not understand. Let’s give a helping hand to someone we don’t know.  Let's ask for courage in other's to get through difficulties. Let’s manifest global change. I mean it’s a small world now after all. If something as small as the Ebola virus can make it’s intention to cross an ocean come true, we are much bigger than that. We can make a much bigger difference and for everyone, not just ourselves. That’s just a thought. It’s just a little loving intention.

Lovely quotes...

I love those quote posters you find all over the place now. They remind you of getting in check and also give you good tips to follow in life. Today I was watching movies with a friend and the movie we watched ended with this line... You can't expect anything in life except surprises... or it was something to that effect. That's true. Only expect surprises.

And just take what you get for what it's worth... no attachment. Anyone master that yet?

So here's a surprise... this is the first summer I feel a little lost... and I have no direction.

Work is dwindling as the kids are getting older. There is no summer school because of the strike. I didn't even plan a vacation. I don't have a clue what I am going to do this summer. I just have one goal and that is to make necklaces. Maybe doors will open while I have this time to explore. 2 months is a long time with no plan. I hope I don't waste it.

Family time for the next week, then Salt Spring Island. Where else will I end up after that?

My Etsy Store!!!

I finally did it! I was procrastinating for a bit and busy making necklaces but I finally did it. Please check out my Etsy store (which only has 3 items). I will add more each week. Have a great day!

www.etsy.com/shop/LittleLovnIntentions

If the link doesn't work just search for the store: LittleLovnIntentions

Thanks for looking!

Food for thought.

Life is unpredictable, at least for me it is. When I use to think of my future, as a teenager or even when I was in my early 20's,  I didn't picture this current life. Life hasn't gone the way I had imagined. I haven't traveled the world, or found the love of my life. I am not a famous musician, artist or anything of that nature. Now I just look at life with curiosity as I really don't know where I am headed. I often feel lost. I love what I do but I don't know if I have found my calling. I wonder what else I am capable of accomplishing. I want to do something GREAT. I want to do more. I want to create. Nothing is stopping me from doing these things, my life has not become stagnant, but I always thought that by the time I hit 30 I would have answered all those questions. There is a scene in a movie I often think of  when I ponder my direction in life. In this scene, a woman is complaining that she had her life all planned out but nothing has worked out for her. She lives in Greece, a place that she studied about and believed to be miraculous, but she was unhappy and cranky all the time.  She complains about every little inconvenience in her life. Instead of being a university professor she had to settle for a job as a tour guide. She hates her job, hates her tourist group and hates her current life. She can't see the beauty in anything and is constantly miserable. The bus driver she is complaining to her responds by asking in a truly perplexed tone "but how do you plan life?"  Little did she know this unhappy place she was in, this job she had to take, ended up being the thing that she needed. Life is just unfolding and with each layer that is revealed, we just deal with it. Everyone's life is different but they are all equally meaningful. We are all where we are supposed to be.

At 34 years of age, I have experienced some things that a lot of people would never experience.I've seen a lot of triumph, and I seen a lot of sorrow. I am accustomed to hearing heartbreaking stories of abuse and pain ( although you never get used to them). I have been assaulted by those who no longer have control of their minds. I have felt emotions I never thought I was capable of feeling. Some of the stories I hear and witness commonly now are those I use to think only existed on television. I learned that hard work and positive outlook don't always have good outcomes. In fact, sometimes people who don't try get lucky. Some people are also born lucky as others are born the opposite. Sometimes things that you didn't want to do turn out to be the best thing you ever did with your life. Or it can just take one mistake to change everything. You can also just meet one person that will change the way you see the world.  Nothing plays out according to any rules. We really don't know all that much. Yet knowing what I do know has become evidence of growth and evolution. I know there is so much more I haven't experienced. Emotions create their own dimension of existence that changes the world  completely. The world also continues to change through emotional development.   Yet I have only a drop of existence. 34 years is not a long time to live, and my personal experiences are a very narrow range of experiences. Everyone else is has their own parallel universe the world they live in. They only know and feel only what is their own. The world is a spectrum of color we have all yet to completely perceive. Somehow we all manage to live together somewhat in harmony. It's a miracle. When I was  younger I must have been living in black and white and now I am only living in the gray. Who knows what the world will look like 20 years from now.

The more people you know, the more bits you receive and the more vivid your life becomes. Connection with others connect you to a whole that is bigger than just yourself. We are a giant mainframe of shared experiences if we plug in. We are all connected. Sometimes I am in awe to think, that even as a intensely emotional person, I have not experienced what so many others, who have come before me or after me, has. Also, there are many things I will never experience. There are so many ways to exist in life. Knowing this makes it really hard to say no to new opportunities. Each time you say yes life can be a different party, or an alien planet. I think of all the times I had said no before... what did I say no to?

Things that have changed in my perception (a small snippet):

As a younger person I felt this way:
1) Someone who had a different opinion than me was always wrong. They taught me nothing. In fact, they made my opinion on something even stronger.
2) Though I was happy when someone else had something I wanted it was hard not to be envious. Sometimes other peoples happiness separated you from them and created a divide because it felt like there wasn't enough to go around.
3) Limitations meant that you weren't good enough. They felt like a ceiling.
4) Keeping to my closest friends and comfort zone was all I needed to know.
5) I believed that spirituality or religious beliefs were only a way to control the minds of the masses. Keeping people at a distance and distinct from you gave you a greater identity. Having a greater separate identity gave you more power. Power comes from standing out.

Things that are meaningful with wisdom:

1) Meeting someone who thinks differently than you is a blessing and a window to another dimension of life. You can learn a great deal from others that are different from you through sharing their experiences of culture, love and knowledge.
2) When someone gets something you want for yourself this shows that there is enough for everyone. Happiness is something sacred and shared. It's a great and wonderful thing when someone wants to share their happiness with you.
3) Having a limitation is a good thing because it becomes empowering to know what limitations you have. The awareness allows for change and forgiveness. Also, on the topic of change, that change occurs no matter what, so change for the better because you have a choice.
4) Making meaningful connections with people on a daily level are important ways to contribute to yourself and to others. Increasing your social circle with meaningful relationships increases your vitality.
5) Spirituality brings everything that seems separate together. Being together and connected to others makes you a stronger person. Your learn about your strengths through interactions with others. Power comes from positive things you can do for others and yourself.



Fast forward 20 years later, what will these lists look like? What other ways will I change, or this world even?  This world has changed SO SO SO much since I was a teenager in high school. Did you ever think about this? Write your own list. See what has taken place in your lifetime of development and where you want to go. Though we don't control all aspects of life, it doesn't mean that we can't reflect on the road we have taken. We can still have hopes, dreams and aspirations. We just have to know that those hopes, dreams and aspirations might change, and that's Ok. Also, other opportunities may "get in the way" and we can take another route and see what's around the corner. Or maybe we are following a plan, we just don't know  we are following a divine plan. Whatever it is, we should enjoy the ride and not fight it.  As they always always say... we are exactly where we should be, doing what we are supposed to be doing, and feeling what are are supposed to feel whether we like it or not. Food for thought.

Mala beads, beautiful and mindful at the same time.

I would call myself a creative person. I have always loved making things, drawing and painting. I've dappled in pottery, glass bead making, I've made plush toys and I have even gone the terrarium route many many times. Recently I've been creatively fueled by a new "old" love of mine that I thought I would never engage in again.  This time around I plan to really fine tune my craft. I am making jewelery!!! But not just any kind of jewelry. I am making Mala beads. Even though no one knows what Mala beads are everyone will be familiar with the look. They are commonly worn by Buddhist monks. Now a days, they are a fashionable piece of jewelery. I got into Mala beads because I have been focusing on increasing spirituality in my life. I have been trying to meditate and wanting to incorporate it in my everyday life to balance my mind.  However, like all those who have tried meditating, it's a struggle to keep focused on the moment. Sometimes sitting there seems like some sort of strange torture you are putting yourself through. Other times something else seems much more tempting, such as watching TV or surfing Facebook. Though working through those tough moments are really rewarding. One of the things I have been asking for while meditating was to find my creative spark again. See... it works!

Some people think that meditation is hogwash. However, there are many scientific studies that support how meditation is beneficial. There are certain areas of my life I would like to improve on and I believe through meditation I can change these areas of my life.  Many times throughout the day people say to me that I am not present, which is very true. I often forget where my car is, I am not always listening when people talk to me and more often than not I don't even know why I walked into a room. Needless to say my mind is easily distracted. Meditation is supposed to increase your attention to all things in the present moment and help you appreciate all the wonderful things that are in your life right now. It can even ease your mind in a heated argument because it will help you regulate and be conscious of your emotions. Many times people are focused on a story that happened before or on the story they want to star in for the future. How much of our time is wasted focused on the past and future? How many of us are missing the wonderful moments of now? Meditation is a tool that helps you take away the mental static and environmental stress. It will get you back to your real state of being, which is the essence of contentment and happiness. Doesn't that sound wonderful?

Recently my spiritually inclined friend, Michelle, introduced me to mala beads. She found hers at a yoga studio she frequented. She really liked what she saw and didn't know which necklace to choose. However, she was told not to choose the necklace but to let the necklace choose her. Sounds like crazy talk right? The one she ended up with was a necklace made out of unakite and a seed called rudruksha. After she bought it she did some research on the meaning of those materials and it turned out those were the specific things she needed to work on in her life. The necklace DID choose her.  It was a very enchanting and beautiful necklace (and story!). I bought myself a Mala bead necklace shortly after seeing my friend's necklace and used it for many days. It really did help me focus while meditating.

There are many online sources on  Mala beads but here is a quickie. Mala beads are meditation tools  used to help focus the mind while meditating.  It's a necklace that has a very special relationship with the wearer as it fuses with the user and gives the wearer good energy. While meditating it helps you along the journey by reminding you to focus with each bead and not get distracted. You can use it by going along each bead while repeating a mantra or breathing in and out. My belief system leans towards the Buddhist view point and once I heard that karma is something we collect from all our past lives. It will explain why bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people. As the karma is collected, it takes time to ripen and it can ripen during your current life time or in another one. This can also be represented in the mala as our past lives are the individual beads on the string, all connected to other another in a loop as a whole. Use those beads to see a bigger picture. We are recycled energy that holds a past and a future. Keep mindful of your actions and try to make good karmic choices.

Each necklace has 108 beads plus one guru bead. As you move across the necklace you repeat your intentions or focus your body in the present moment until you reach the big bead that sits at the beginning and end of the necklace (guru bead). This is the bead that all your intentions are collected in. Sometimes you can also think of the bead as a deity that you are "praying" to (depending if you are religious). Word of caution, you never meditate on this bead. Instead you use this bead as a turning point and rotate your necklace around so you can start meditating back to where you came from. They also say that when you reach the guru bead it's a good time to reflect on your intentions. When you get to the end of your meditation give your efforts to someone in mind. The sacrifice of giving away your generated good karma is a Buddhist tradition. You can give to someone in need or someone who has recently passed away. Don't worry about losing this good karma for yourself because the more you give the more you receive. Keep that in mind.

While making mala beads you can choose whatever materials you want. I chose to use real semi-precious stones, wood and seeds so that my necklace is connected to nature in some way.  Every stone you choose has a specific purpose. They say that the stones generate energy fields that gets in tune with your body's electromagnetic field to help you in some way. The internet is a good source for finding the significance of different stones. For example, rose quartz is for attracting love and making you more able to receive and give love. Jade is good for protection while traveling. Howlite is good for fostering patience. Amazonite is good for aiding in communicating and also to heal issues associated with the throat. You can customize your necklace to suit your needs. I like to use Rudruksha beads as well. They are beads made from the seeds of a berry. The seeds are considered sacred in Hindi and Buddhist religions. They are gifts that the Lord Shiva gave to people to heal humanity, aid them in abundance and also protect the wearer. They are referred to as the tears of Shiva.

I really do love my mala beads. They are special necklaces but also beautiful to wear. If you need a little help focusing on your meditation goals try using one. If you just want to look hip and cool they are nice additions to add to your jewelry collection.

The pictures posted above are the Mala beads I made. The necklace is made using howlite and rudruksha beads. It's hand knotted and also has a yellow jade pendent and a silver charm. I've made several but this one is my favourite. One of the bracelets is made of rose quartz and the other bracelet is a complimentary bracelet to my necklace. They look nice when stacked together or alone! Make your own! They are fun and interesting to assemble and learn about. I plan on opening a store on Etsy to sell the jewelery I am making as I am really enjoying this process. I know I will be making many of them.  I'll put a link on here when I get it up and running. Thanks for looking and may you be present and happy!