The language of blessed bracelets
From 开光 to the guru bead — the words behind the tradition, defined plainly.
Literally 'opening the light.' The Chinese ceremony of consecrating a sacred object, blessing it and awakening its meaning. For statues it traditionally means dotting the eyes to 'bring the image to life'; for a bracelet or amulet it is a blessing that carries that same light of intention into what you wear.
The act of ritually empowering or blessing an object through chanting and intention (Sanskrit adhiṣṭhāna). The accurate term for blessing a bracelet, which is a consecrated carrier of blessing rather than the residence of a deity.
A string of prayer beads used to count mantras or breaths in meditation. A full mala has 108 beads; a wrist mala is a shorter strand of 18, 21 or 27 beads worn on the wrist.
The larger 'mother' bead that marks the start and end of a mala. In practice you do not cross over it — you reverse direction when you reach it.
The sacred count of a full mala. The number 108 recurs throughout Buddhist and yogic tradition; one round of 108 mantras is a classic unit of practice.
A mythical winged guardian creature of Chinese feng shui, regarded as a symbol of attracting and keeping wealth. Traditionally worn with its head facing outward.
The seed associated with the bodhi tree under which the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment — the classic material for a meditation mala.
A Taoist priest. In the Taoist tradition it is a daoshi, not a Buddhist monk, who performs the 开光 consecration rite.