108-bead mala — Black agate

A traditional 108-bead mala, finished with its guru bead and tassel; the thread is knotted between each bead, as custom requires.

A deep matte black, sometimes crossed by a paler gray band, polished to a greasy luster.

What tradition says. A protective stone in most Mediterranean traditions, it is credited with steadying and bringing you back to calm.

In practice. Held in the right hand, one bead slipped between thumb and middle finger at each recitation, never crossing the guru bead. Store it coiled rather than hanging, so the thread does not stretch.

• Agate is a banded chalcedony: its bands mark the successive deposits of silica in a volcanic cavity.
• A natural piece: shade, veining and dimensions vary from one example to the next

A decorative object for personal practice. It is no substitute for medical advice or treatment.