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Elemental Prayer Beads

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Elemental Prayer Beads
Swap Coordinator:druideye (contact)
Swap categories: Challenges  Jewelry  Accessories 
Number of people in swap:18
Location:International
Type:Type 3: Package or craft
Last day to signup/drop:December 22, 2009
Date items must be sent by:January 25, 2010
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

Thank you to @broche for permission for me to host a more open prayer/meditation necklace, I am using some of her ideas from her swap. See her goddess swap here: Pagan Necklace

You will be asked to create one (1) pagan prayer/meditation necklace that incorporates several elements, but it will be up to you HOW you incorporate them into the necklace. [Note, if you are not pagan, you are still welcome to join us, as meditation knows no religion - just make sure you are open to the spirit of this swap and willing to make something your partner will enjoy and use (no haters!)]

Each necklace should incorporate the four elements of EARTH, AIR, FIRE, WATER as well as have a central element that brings it all together.

Some background...

Christian prayer beads are called rosaries, and they are necklaces that incorporate prayer beads and a cross. Buddhists also have prayer beads, and there's are carved from fragrant wood and strung on a red string to be carried or worn on the wrist. There are even Muslim prayer beads called Misbaha, and they are used to count the names of Allah. Many traditions and cultures made every day necklaces or ritual jewelry that represented prayers or mantras.

The bead work as a memory tool, which each most often representing a type of prayer to be recited. By feeling along the string of beads, the person can focus on the saying or thinking of their prayers and the beads do the automatic counting or tracking of recitations for you. With each bead you feel, you can say a mantra or a prayer, or think of an affirmation or a key word to focus your mental state or intentions, or pray for certain people in your life, the world, etc.

How the necklace will be constructed:

  1. The necklace will be made “rosary” style- a long round beaded necklace coming together into a point where you will include some type of pendant, or focal point. You could use hemp and tie knots between the beads like in the picture above, or beading wire, etc.

  2. You need to choose the beads for the necklace keeping the elements in mind as well as what spacers you want to use. You might put 7 of each elemental bead (such as blue for water, green for earth, white/silver/clear/moonstone for air, red/orange for fire) because 7 is known as a powerful number. The number 3 is also very important to many pagans, so you might do sets of 3 - maybe 6 or 9 of each color with a spacer bead in between. It should be long enough to put over the head without a clasp (you can include a clasp if you want though).

  3. Your focal point should reflect your partner's style/desires if possible - feel free to post some options in the comments section as to what you would like, you can also look at your partner's profiles for ideas. (for example, I don't particularly like pentacles because of my husband's views, but I'd love a celtic cross, ankh, knotwork or druidic symbol such as a triskele).

  4. As another option, you can develop a set of prayers/meditational device for the various beads using number of beads, types of beads, etc. -- for example for each earth bead perhaps your suggestion would be to repeat "“The Earth is our mother, we must take care of her – Her sacred ground we walk upon with every breath we take.” (from pagan prayer beads)

This can be worn around the neck or even put on our rear view mirrors and used when we are waiting about, or become stressed, waiting in traffic, worried about something -- as we finger the beads we can silence our minds and repeat whatever makes us happy or peaceful. The beads are a great tool no matter what religion you are part of.

Requirements---4.9 ONLY for rated swappers - newbies are welcome, but with a completed profile.Recent 1's or 3's need to contact me or I will ban before assigning partners.

If anyone is willing to angel this swap besides myself please let me know. But I hope that is not necessary.

Photo of prayer beads is from lindowyn. There are a ton of sites that feature pagan prayer beads, or druidic prayer beads if you do a search on google.

If you have any questions, concerns, comments, etc... feel free to comment! And don't forget to comment what type of focal beads/pendants you would like for your partner to choose from.

Discussion

druideye 12/ 6/2009 #

As I mentioned above, I would prefer something from nature for my focal point - trees, the green man, snowflake, celtic knot, celtic cross, ankh, triskele, other druidic symbols, or even just a larger natural stone such as a worry stone you can rub.

twobluecrows 12/ 6/2009 #

For any of you who have a Celtic partner, or would be interested for yourself, the book by Erynn Rowan Laurie, A Circle of Stones, is now available as a downloadable .pdf for $10--it's an excellent little book about a Celtic tool for meditation--a string of prayer beads if you will

Here is a site you can order from. it's the second book on the list.

I've made one of these Circle of Stones,and it's really beautiful and meaningful.

If anyone wants a brief exerpt from it, PM me with your e-mail addy.

PDXyogini 12/ 6/2009 #

Lovely swap idea :) I had a rather "loose" pagan/goddess focused practice for a while, although now I'm a Zen Buddhist. I like the elemental focus of this swap a lot and for my Zen practice would see how these beads would help focus energy on each element as I'm experiencing it in the present moment. I spent a week in retreat this summer where we did an intense water focus (it was raining when the retreat started) and then on the earth element.

Just for what it is worth... in Buddhism the prayer beads are called "mala" from the Sanskrit word for "garland". So a garland of sutras, prayers, etc.

Moony 12/ 6/2009 #

Yay...a newbie swap!! I like a lot of different things. Pentacles, Green Man, Goddesses, swirls, celtic symbols. So whoever gets me as a partner can just do whatever they come up with!

druideye 12/ 6/2009 #

Thank you for that link @twobluecrows @pdxyogini your retreat sounds great, I'd love to go on a retreat sometime, there's a center near me that has great ones I've never been able to go to. I have seen mala beads, thanks for the information.

broche 12/ 6/2009 #

Oh, darn it's international...

druideye 12/ 7/2009 #

Oh no, sorry about that @broche - I didn't think it would be too expensive to mail a necklace overseas so I did it international. If there is enough interest I'll host a USA only one too? Anyone interested?

broche 12/ 7/2009 #

I just don't have any experience with international mailing so that's why I never do it.... :D But if host one for USA, I am definitely interested!

broche 12/ 7/2009 #

oops it's supposed to say "if you" host...

druideye 12/ 8/2009 #

Ok @broche I'll probably host one early next year just for USA and I'll let you know.

broche 12/ 8/2009 #

okey dokey :)

tengu2 12/10/2009 #

I would like a old fashion key if possible. I am really not into pentacles.

frznmmnt 12/11/2009 #

If you host a USA only one next year, let me know too!

druideye 12/14/2009 #

Ok will do @frznmmnt

Reesie271 12/15/2009 #

I would like a nature element or Celtic element for my focal point please

Morgaine 12/19/2009 #

I would like a maiden, mother, crone focal point. If you cannot find this, then something from the ancient greek era or a water theme will do nicely :-)

lepapillonvert 12/20/2009 #

Hi there! My personal symbol is a green butterfly, hence my online name. So a focal point of a green butterfly would be fine. I also dearly love turquoise, as I am a libra and it makes me feel very balanced. I am a newbie to swap-bot, but very reliable. I have done a great deal of bead work and jewelry. This is a truly creative swap and I am really looking forward to the outcome. I'm not into pentacles, but other charms, natural stones, glass and crystal are all fine. Blessings, blissings and a happy Yule to you.

ArtfulFig 12/22/2009 #

Hi everyone! I am a Christian. But I liked the idea of prayer beads and meditation. That really does apply to everyone. I have done other beading projects & made jewelry in the past. I will do my very best to make these pleasing elemental prayer beads for my swap partner. As for me I would enjoy a natural stone, tree, celtic knotwork or oak leaf shape for the focal point. I'd rather not have pentacles, crosses. Thank you and a peaceful, prosperous new year to everyone.

EmperorFool 12/22/2009 #

My preference for a focal point would be either something Celtic or a natural symbol (tree, stone, winged creature...whatever). But I'm pretty much open to whatever my partner chooses, as long as it's not totally keyed to a specific religion (a cross, a buddha, etc.)

druideye 12/24/2009 #

Everyone's ideas sound great. If you only gave one idea for a focal point, probably would be a good idea to give a few more in case your partner can't find that one particular thing. Partners are assigned so if you have any questions about a focal point or anything about the necklace I'm sure your partner wouldn't mind answering any questions!

twobluecrows 12/26/2009 #

I'd like anything natural, too, or celtic knotwork, triskele or spiral or a small mirror, a pentacle would be fine, too, but no crosses, please.

SignsFromAbove 12/28/2009 #

I will leave it up to my partner to pick whatever type of focal point they would like to send, please no Christian crosses however though :)

misskrystalx 12/30/2009 #

I'm not particular. I'm technically Catholic, but I love all sorts of imagery, whether its Celtic, Pagan, Wiccan, whatever. I love crosses and rosaries, but am very open to other pendants, especially earth-based ones.

My only "don't like" would be a pentacle.

Lrainehill 04/ 2/2010 #

"My only "don't like" would be a pentacle."

Why not? It is a symbol of protection and each of the points stand for an element: Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. Also, the Christians once utilized this symbol themselves. Please know it is not a symbol of evil any more than a cross is.

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