When I visit India, I strive to check in with at least one Jyotish. In the West, we would call them astrologers but there is most definitely a twist with them. I will attempt to give my layman’s interpretation of their purpose. To begin the reading they ask for your time, date and location of your birth.
Mantra infuses our life quietly, without ceremony and we tend to be directed by our dharma and true purpose allowing our intuition and greater wisdom to govern our action. Read about some definitions and mantra practices.
I ask people to set an intention into their mala mainly to help them engage in positive inner query. By the time you navigate to a mala and are actively engaged in seeking to use one, I believe you are standing on this precipice, ready to dive into whatever needs to be addressed.