Hand Mala Giveaway with Blissful Turtle Mala Bags

Happy March! Although there is snow on the ground where I live, I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of Spring. It is a time where everything is born anew....where everything blossoms, emerges and color finally arrives.  In the meantime, I wanted to offer a special giveaway with the theme of Spring!

There will be two winners this time! Thanks to Sheri of Blissful Turtle, who makes beautiful mala and prayer bags that are hand-sewn and stamped.

The 1st winner will receive this knotted magnesite hand mala and Blissful Turtle Namaste bag. This mala has 27 beads of white and blue magnesite with a lovely carved wood guru bead and pewter bead caps. Magnesite is a wonderful creamy white stone with brown veining associated with stress release, calm and creativity. It is paired with a mala pouch made of soft cotton and has a muted red stamping of Namaste with two hands in Anjali mudra on each side.

The 2nd winner will receive this wonderful orange stamped pouch with the "Om" symbol on one side and "Shanti Shanti Shanti" on the other.

Entry is simple! Please make sure to do all the steps and have a way for me to contact you.

To Enter:


1. Tell me in a comment on this post what you love about Spring! It can be anything- the colors, the warmth, the fragrance....


2. Join me on my Facebook page and Blissful Turtle's page.


3. Share this giveaway on your facebook wall so your friends have a chance too!

*4. For extra entries (not required), tweet about this giveaway. Make sure to mention @saraswatijewels and include a link. One tweet per day please! Each tweet will count as an extra entry. :)

Giveaway ends March 20th. Good luck to all!

Seeds of Devotion - The Rudraksha

It is said that Lord Shiva meditated for hundreds of years for the welfare of all sentient beings. When he finally opened his eyes, before him was the suffering of humanity. His compassionate and loving tears fell to the earth and from them grew the rudraksha trees. This is said to be one of the beautiful legends of the rudraksha.

Rudraksha beads have been used for hundreds of years for japa meditation, to protect, to heal and to focus. I have worked with these beads often (one of my personal malas is rudraksha) and realized I knew very little about them. As questions kept arising both within myself and the inquires of others, I was inspired to post some interesting facts about these beautiful and sacred beads.

Did you know:

• Before rudraksha are dried they actually look blue and are sometimes referred to as blueberry beads.

• The rudraksha tree can grow to 200 feet tall. The tree blooms small sweet smelling flowers in the rainy season.
 

 

• Rudraksha are said to increase Shakti or divine energy to the wearer. This is why they are used often in creating malas.
•  Some claim that rudraksha have electro-magnetic properties that can aid in healing, anti-aging and curing ailments. 
• Rudraksha is said to help align chakras, aid in the quest for spiritual fulfillment and protection.

Whether you wear them for these properties or for their unique beauty, rudraksha can be worn by anyone at any time with joy!

Do you own any rudraksha jewelry or malas? I would love to hear how you utilize and enjoy them.