Spiritual Gifts for Men

Why a Tibetan Talisman Makes a Meaningful Gift

Most men are hard to buy for — not because they have everything, but because most things say very little. A Tibetan talisman is different. Every bead, carving and metal carries a meaning handed down for centuries, so when you give one, you are not giving an accessory. You are giving a wish, in a form he can wear every day.

Reading the symbols

• Carved dice — used in Tibetan mo divination, dice are associated with fate and turning points. A dice mala is often chosen for a man at the start of something new.
• Chitipati — the dancing skeletal lords of the charnel ground, traditionally seen as protectors and as a reminder of impermanence: live fully, and without fear.
• The vajra (dorje) — the thunderbolt-diamond, a symbol of indestructible clarity and resolve.
• Dzi beads — patterned agate believed in the Himalayas to carry protective and fortunate qualities; their "eyes" are read almost like a language.
• Yak bone — a byproduct of traditional Himalayan herding, long worn close to the body for its protective associations.
• 108 beads — the traditional count of a full mala, used to keep track of mantras or breaths.

How to choose for him

By intention. Protection for the man who travels or works under pressure. Fortune for a new job, a business or a new chapter. A 108-bead mala for the one learning to slow down.

By how he dresses. If he has never worn jewelry, start with a single wrist mala in dark yak bone or obsidian — quiet enough for the office. If he already wears a watch or rings, a copper-inlay or silver piece will sit naturally beside them.

By story. Every product page explains the meaning behind its materials. Read it to him when he opens the box — it is often the part he remembers.

Before you give it

Many people like to cleanse a talisman before gifting it, to clear it for its new owner. Our Four Cleansings guide shows four simple traditional methods.

Tashi Delek — may all be auspicious and well.