I've been wearing this mala for a few years and recently it broke (which is to be expected after years of use) and I did not replace it immediately. After a few weeks I found myself in bad mood most mornings and certainly every evening after work. I had not put 2 and 2 together until my wife asked me one day "What happened to the black beads you were wearing before?" And then it dawned on me: I've been subjected to and absorbing negative energy for weeks! No wonder I feel annoyed and anxious! Needless to say I quickly replaced it and have been wearing it daily once again. IN this world and ESPECIALLY in these times, there's negative energy all around you, everywhere you go. People are upset with their lives, their relationships, their jobs, etc. and we just walk around and through this energy like it cannot affect us. But it can and does. Learn to bless yourself before walking into public places and block those energies AND wear this negative energy blocking obsidian mala to block them when you forget! It works. It really, really works!