Pagan Prayer Beads

[Penthasilia]

For those of you who have not heard/seen these- pagan prayer beads are becoming a very popular way to spend time in devotional prayer to the pantheon/gods/goddesses that you work with.

I have a set of the heathen/northern tradition beads that are amazing and wonderful- and are lovingly used each night as part of my devotional practice. The experience is powerful- because as pagans/witches/heathens, there can be a tendency toward lack of prayer- so the growing popularity of these beads hopefully means there is a shift in that trend.

A great site to check some out is here: http://www.pagan-prayerbeads.com/

There is also a great book that details the making of prayer beads as well as devotional prayers inside: http://www.amazon.com/Pagan-Prayer-Beads-Meditation-Rosaries/dp/1578633842

Just wanted to share- as it has lifted my practice and so I hope it can do the same for yours!

Oh- and if you are interested in runic prayer beads- the same company has them listed here: http://www.menglothsmarket.com/prayer-beads.html#ecwid:category=315832&mode=product&product=7260789

 

[AJ]

Interesting concept, they are certainly busy with the idea.

I think it would be far more meaningful to use the idea as a jumping off place and make your own using colors and materials or beads that are meaningful to yourself (meaning generally and not aimed at you Penthasilia) with words that are meaningful to self. A mala imbued with your specific thoughts and personality. My hackles go up at the idea of chanting someone else's litany following someone else's concept of faith/pagan, more dogma with a new name. But then I'm one of the great unwashed untethered ~

Thank you for sharing.

 

[Carla]

I have seen this product before, and like AJ, my first response is that it's nice if you are into it, but I would rather make my own beads and make up my own mantras than buy them from someone else, particularly if they are not part of a very old tradition. I believe they would be more meaningful and powerful, certainly for me.

I actually collect prayer beads from all faiths. I have many Catholic rosaries, Anglican rosaries and Buddhist malas. So I certainly see the appeal. Funnily enough my favourite mala is one I bought from a Hindi guy on a street corner in Birmingham. I use it to chant Sanskrit mantras, my favourite.

 

[Chronata]

I really do like the idea of prayer beads...for any and all faiths.

I read the book that penthasilia linked to, and it does give some great ideas and prayers to use.

But yeah, in the end, I too created my own, because it seemed a better fit with my beliefs.

I created a multi-faith strand to be used with Sanskrit, and Affirmations, and Unity prayers, and Buddhist and Hindu and Pagan prayers.

My personal Mandala has three sets of 3 beads (in my case malachite) interspersed with two sets of 12 beads,(rose quartz) and has a labyrinth charm that hangs from one end.

 

[Bhavana]

Very pretty. I am in the market for a mala right now, but I like any type of prayer beads. I too have many rosaries...but that is about it. THere is a new age store near me that has pagan prayer beads that are really the same exact thing as a catholic rosary, only with pagan symbols or medals where the cross and catholic medal would be. For me, they are just too similar to the rosary, they sort of bother me....in the way that I find it wrong to wear a rosary as jewelry - the way I was raised, that is just something you do not do (needless to say, I never was big on Madonna's style).

These are nice though. Bright, pretty, and different enough that I would not see them as a copy of something from another faith. Thanks for posting!

 

[Carla]

I really do like the idea of prayer beads...for any and all faiths.

I read the book that penthasilia linked to, and it does give some great ideas and prayers to use.

But yeah, in the end, I too created my own, because it seemed a better fit with my beliefs.

I created a multi-faith strand to be used with Sanskrit, and Affirmations, and Unity prayers, and Buddhist and Hindu and Pagan prayers.

My personal Mandala has three sets of 3 beads (in my case malachite) interspersed with two sets of 12 beads,(rose quartz) and has a labyrinth charm that hangs from one end.

Chronata, how lovely! I would love to see a photo and a description of how you use your beads. If it's not too personal.

 

[inanna_tarot]

Inspired by the Pagan Prayer Beads I really really wanted to make beads and use them for devotional work. However, it never happened.

Until this christmas - I made a 'rosary' out of the colours of the Spheres on the Tree of Life (Kabbalah) and the serpent's path down/up it. I have been thinking about rejigging it to add the other paths that I didnt include at the time, but not sure.
I created a set of prayers or affirmations based on those that Regardie used for the tree in his Garden of Pomegrantes, and it works for me.

I made the rosary out of crackle glass beads - maybe one day if I have money I'll make it out of the appropriate crystal beads, but I'm happy with my set the way it is

 

[Laura Borealis]

I made my own prayer beads with some Job's Tears (seeds of a grain plant) that were given to me by a friend who grew them in her garden. They're really pretty, shiny seeds in shades of gray. Extra meaningful because my name is Job. I use them either with a Buddhist mantra, or with a nonsense mantra that I got once in a dream, years ago. The dream mantra is particularly calming for me (though the words don't make sense).

 

[Penthasilia]

Interesting concept, they are certainly busy with the idea.

I think it would be far more meaningful to use the idea as a jumping off place and make your own using colors and materials or beads that are meaningful to yourself (meaning generally and not aimed at you Penthasilia) with words that are meaningful to self. A mala imbued with your specific thoughts and personality. My hackles go up at the idea of chanting someone else's litany following someone else's concept of faith/pagan, more dogma with a new name. But then I'm one of the great unwashed untethered ~

Thank you for sharing.

Oh, I agree one hundred percent. Mine are actually not "quite" what you see online- as I had him custom make them with those I wanted and I use my own poems. Being craftmaking-stupid, I figured if I did them, the beads would be all over the floor and I would be in a dog-ER sitting with either Hoover, Dyson or the Dustbuster (read that as one of two huskies or a yorkipoo).

No- the reason I posted was to see how many people out there are using some type of prayer bead. I never realized how much I missed having something physical to add to my devotional practice (that may be the old Catholic schooling coming out there)- something to help keep me focused and aligned.

Chronata- would LOVE to see a copy of what you made. I am sure they are gorgeous.

And I would love to hear/see pics from anyone else who made their own. I think sharing prayers would be a lovely idea- if not too personal for those giving them. And it is great to see the interest- that is what I was checking in on.

 

[Debra]

Your dogs are named Hoover, Dyson and Dustbuster? That's brilliant!

I have a blue glass komboli from Greece. They don't seem to calm my worries; I must not be doing it right. But they are very pretty.