“The best teachers have showed me that things have to be done bit by bit. Nothing that means anything happens quickly–we only think it does. The motion of drawing back a bow and sending an arrow straight into a target takes only a split second, but it is a skill many years in the making. So it is with a life, anyone’s life. I may list things that might be described as my accomplishments in these few pages, but they are only shadows of the larger truth, fragments separated from the whole cycle of becoming. And if I can tell an old-time story now about a man who is walking about, waudjoset ndatlokugan, a forest lodge man, alesakamigwi udlagwedewugan, it is because I spent many years walking about myself, listening to voices that came not just from the people but from animals and trees and stones.”
~ Joseph Bruchac
Do you remember, back in February, when I decided to make a mala, and to pray every bead twice a day for a month? The idea came to me because my friend Liz was going through a difficult time, and I wanted to find a practical way to support her. My first bead – a pearl – I marked for her, and then I chose a bead for 106 other people, and the 108th as a bead to represent everyone not specifically mentioned in the previous beads. The keeper bead, at the beginning and end of the mala, is the stone I kept for myself.
My intention for that thirty days was to use my meditation and prayers to aid in your emotional support and healing. I strung each bead onto the mala with an intent for you to know forgiveness and self-love, for ending guilt, regret, fear and shame and embracing love and flow and abundance.
Each day I held every bead, one at a time between my fingers, and prayed my mantras and then a specific prayer for each bead – each person. I wore the mala every day, all day, so that I carried you with me. Soon my fingers knew each bead by name. This one Wendy, this one Jess, Jacob, Holly, David, Satisha, Kim, PJ, Joanne…
Each night when I finished my meditation I lay the mala on a large quartz and green tourmaline cluster beside my bed. Each morning my fingers reached out in the dark, found the mala, and my prayers and meditations began again. After which the mala was placed over my head so that I could wear it all day.
The very first day I wore the mala I took you all out for breakfast at a favourite cafe near my farm. Later we swam in the ocean. The water was so clear that I could see tiny fish darting above the sand below my feet. A stingray shuffled past. A dolphin greeted us from a rolling wave.
Over the next thirty days this mala came with me as I swam in rivers, watched koalas in the eucalypts, walked rainforests and paddocks, visited farmers markets and dined with friends. I felt that you were with me on every step of my daily life. You came to coffee shops to sit and write with me and my friends, you came to conferences and dinners and even to a theme park where I took you on a crazy ride and then ran in the rain. You’ve been hugged, and you’ve enjoyed laughter and quiet times. You’ve been held during the day when I sensed you needed extra support. You’ve had all kinds of weather, and you even came dancing with me at Bluesfest.
Finally on Good Friday I took the mala off and laid it on the earth here at my farm, under the shade of the magnolia tree that Sokli, my fairy friend, so loves. I placed a grid of stones around the mala. A stone given to me by my Aboriginal Auntie, a citrine point, a selenite fish-tail, and a rose quartz. In the centre of the grid I placed a large phantom smoky quartz. All of these stones gave energy to the mala as it rested on the earth during the lunar eclipse and Blood Moon on Easter Saturday.
On Friday I shall gather the beads up from the earth and begin the process of unstringing the mala and passing beads on to those people who want them now that my prayer cycle is complete.
The bead that stood for everyone? I am going to string another mala using that bead and then give it away to one of my readers. Stay tuned to find out more details once that new meditation mala is complete.
I’ll begin another Love Mala soon to pray for a group of you for thirty days. Theme as yet to be decided. I promise to update you when I start allocating the next group of names to these beads.
It has been an honour and a privilege to carry you with me. I hope you feel the love and care in these stones, and know how much you mean to me. (((HUGS))) Nicole <3 xoxo
That beautiful ritual of thoughtful caring may be what’s missing in the world today. That level of care is so sadly lacking in today’s rushed experience. You have taught a great lesson today.
Dear Nicole, thank you so much for including me in your love mala. I had a great month and felt much calmer and more at peace than I had for ages. I would love you to send me the bead if possible.
As always I hope your health is improving and things are getting easier. Your posts are always inspirational – I know that sounds cheesy but it’s true.
Sending love your way xx
That is so beautiful. Thank you so much. Your blog is always a lovely light xxx
Nicole , I am truly blessed to have been a part of this
WOW. how awesome xxx much love
Just a question that hasn’t been addressed Nicole if we were lucky enough to be on your Mala how do we arrange to pay you for the postage and to provide our address details??
Thank you 🐲🐲🐲
Thank you got your generosity of heart … I have experienced some lovely shifts over the past few weeks! Sending love and light 🙏
mwah xxx
Thank you for your love and commitment Nicole. It is such a nice feeling to know that someone is praying for us over such a long period. xx Bless you <3
Oh thank you Nicole!!! That made my day….and helped me so much. I hope you loved it too x
Lovely post. Thank you. So nice to know someone is sending love and healing to so many people. I wasn’t on the Mala, although partially as I had belatedly asked for blessings for my mum, who would have been on the ‘groupie’ bead. If you happen to have a spare spot would love a guernsey the next time. I do think I am out of the woods now, but any extra healing would be gratefully received. So pleased you had such a good time at the Bluesfest. You’re an inspiration to us all. xxxx <3
Nicole, such a beautiful text you just wrote. Such a caring and loving person you are. Thank you for your light.
Nicole, you are such a blessing. Also, I love that phantom smoky quartz. Beautiful crystal!
I knew my spirit had been on a journey . I have been unwell , in a state of unrest . My distress came to a head on Sat …since then I a felt a release from pain . The early hours of Sunday morning my son rang to ask for help he was feeling the same …he lives 150 miles away and yet there was a connection. I am happy I am a fragment of your single bead it gives me peace .
Cherryx
Nic, I think that is the most precious gift I have been given. Thank you with all my heart precious xxx
very very beautiful Heart songs for the Soul, your words and actions for One and All Nicole. Thank You.
I felt your prayers answered for my son…
Thank you so very much for this, Nicole, for your love and caring, especially towards those you haven’t met. I look forward to giving my friend Lin her special bead.
I am another one who feels held and blessed to be a part of your mala and to have recevied the gifts of your love and support. I also feel grateful to meet your mala to meet my bead and my mums and all the other stories you graciously shared with me. We had fun times together too! I look forward to having my precious bead. Thank you so much for all that you do Nicole and for including me in this wonderful healing mala xxxx ooooooooo xxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you beautiful Nicole, for holding me in your heart and prayers.
I feel blessed to shared a bit of your journey. Love and light to you.
What a beautiful soul you are Nicole. The world is blessed to have you walk upon it xx
This post made me weep, feeling so blessed…thank you for holding me close, for your prayers, love and healing. I’m so grateful xx
Feel you Holly!
Just so beautiful
I just LOVE you SO much…how blessed am I to have you in my life…eternally grateful for your guidance, love and support each and everyday…MWAH….XOXO
Nicole you are such a blessing to the world i feel so grateful and blessed that Des and i were part of your love healing mala. I think you have me inspired to put making a mall on my 100 things to do in 2015, plus come and visit with you 🙂 blessings Namaste love you xxoo
Feeling the strength from prayer and meditation. Bless you♡♡♡
Soo cool just soo cool 🐝🐝🐝 giving people hope and helping them just but knowing someone out there (the marvellous , twinkle toes in gumboots 🎶💃💃💃) is thinking off them and sending love. Good work 💕💕💕🌖🌕🌚🌔
Bless you Nicole for surrounding us with your <3 and Healing and I trust you could feel the <3 coming to you. It's been an enormous month with a wonderful Blood Moon which I was traveling in the outback that night witnessing the Owls and Kangaroos at peace with the energy Awesome experience. Much Love xxxx
Thank you so much xxxxxxx
I absolutely love your blog! Where do you get/buy your beautiful crystals from?
Thank you!!
Christine, thank you so much for your kind comments. I have a farm shed FULL of crystals, and I seem to keep finding them. I really have been collecting them for nearly thirty years from all over the place, and as you can tell, I really love them. 🙂
Hi Nicole
I would so love to be included on your next beautiful mala.
I had left my colour on ur FB messages from before.
Thankyou so much
Natxx
Thank you for your love and prayers!
We love you xx
How blessed are we to be held so tenderly, with such devotion and love. Thankyou Nicole for being a Mala Messenger. For birthing hope and healing. Nameh.
That is so beautiful….. arohanui
And we are honoured and privileged to have been carried by and with you too, Nicole. Bless your heart, and thank you so much xx