How to wear your mala

One hundred and eight beads at 8 mm, a larger bead, and a cord that adjusts. The strand runs 930 mm (36.6 in) with 80 mm (3.1 in) of give. Most strands decide for you how they are worn. This one does not.

The knot

Above the last small bead, two lengths of cord run side by side with a sliding knot tied around them. Hold the knot and pull the cords apart to open the loop. Pull the cords together to close it. Never drag on the beads themselves to make the loop move.

The larger bead does not move. It is fixed in the strand. The 108 small beads can be made to sit tighter or looser: gently slide the knot above the last small bead until the strand sits the way you like it best in your hand.

Around the neck, long

Open the knot fully. The larger bead sits low, around the sternum, and the strand hangs in a single loop. This is the way a mala is usually photographed and the easiest place to start.

Around the neck, doubled

Fold the loop in half and put both halves over your head together. The beads then sit closer to the collarbone in two rows. The larger bead ends up at the front or the back depending on where you start the fold, and either is correct.

Around the wrist, three turns

Three wraps suits most wrists at this length. Take the loop, twist it into a figure eight, fold it once more, and slide your hand through. Close the knot afterwards so the wraps hold their place instead of loosening through the day.

Around the wrist, four turns

A smaller wrist takes a fourth wrap. The beads sit tighter and the larger bead tends to settle on the outside of the wrist, which is worth allowing.

In the hand

Not every mala is worn. Let the strand rest over the middle finger and draw the beads toward the palm one at a time with the thumb. When the larger bead arrives, that is the end of a round. Do not cross it. Turn back and go the other way.

A few practical notes

Take it off before water. Brief contact is fine, but a shower, a pool, or the sea is not.

When the scent quietens, rest the strand among raw palo santo chips in a closed container for a few days. The resin runs through the whole bead rather than sitting on the surface, so it returns.