The Healing Power of Beads

I decided to make a meaningful strand of beads. See, I had accumulated quite a few beads for someone and instead of making something right away, I tucked them away in my bead box for future inspiration. I love to give beads as gifts, and so when I see something that I believe someone may like, I purchase it and then save it for an occasion or an inspiration. Just about every person dear to me owns a piece of my beading that they received as a gift.

So I was combing through my bead box the other day and I found some beads that I had chosen for a special person in my life that is now gone before their time. Gone young and unexpectedly. So I sat and thought about them for a while. And I did some more digging in my box and discovered that there are many beads in there that I had intended for her. I began pulling them out and noticed a theme. Purple. Lots of it. And there were some leftover beads from a bracelet I had made for her. Actually, it was part of a set of necklace/earrings/bracelet but for some reason the bracelet didn’t seem to leave her wrist much. I think the other pieces lived in the jewelry box, except for more formal occasions. I can’t tell you how many times she mailed that bracelet back to me to repair. It had a lot of mileage on it! And then at Christmas time I made her a bracelet with crystals that had her kids names in sterling cube letters. I still have some of the leftover cosmo jet crystals in there. I realized that all these beads were ones that I’d never part with. I’d never be willing to build them into another piece of jewelry because they had too much emotional attachment to them. So I decided to make them into a single strand. Not a necklace, because they don’t really go together and to be honest, I wouldn’t wear it. More like a tribute strand. A strand that I could hold and think of her. It would be like a trip down memory lane, remembering how those beads had touched our lives together. She would “try on” jewelry that I was wearing and then tell me that she’d never give them back. I have some of them back now, but I wish she were still here to have them. So I accumulated them together and made a strand.

I’m sure you’d agree that beads are healing in themselves. When you touch them they’re so tactile that they comfort and soothe away our stresses and worries. We get zoomed out of reality and go someplace wonderful. They’re rejuvenating and uplifting. I love holding this strand of beads in my hands, inching my fingers along each bead. These beads are significant and tell a story, even though its only to me. Touching them made me think of a rosary. I thought of how many times I had seen people praying the rosary and touching their beads. It made me curious about the spiritual side of beads and how different cultures use beads to help them be centered, calm, and closer to their higher power. So I did some research.

Beads go back to the earliest days of human kind. Imagine the first human beings, finding a stone or piece of bone with a natural hole in it, and then threading a piece of grass through it to wind around their arm or neck. As humans evolved over time, so did the beads and charms, becoming more meaningful and representational.

There are records of the use of beads for many reasons dating back thousands of years. In India there are images etched in sandstone as early as 185 BC. These are called Mala prayer beads, and are made up of 108 beads used for counting your breath, such as in a mantra. The word Mala translates into “Heavenly garland”. They were worn on the neck and carried with the wearer everywhere. Buddhists also adopted a Mala with 108 beads on it, representing the number of worldly desires or negative emotions that must be overcome before attaining nirvana. They prefer black lacquered beads, but also use sandalwood or bone. Early Malas incorporated the bones of holy men to remind their user to live a life that is worthy of the next level of enlightenment. Muslims use a string of either 33 beads or 99 beads with a leader bead. These number represent the number of time Allah is found in the Koran. The leader bead is called a masbaha or subha and is from the Arabic word meaning “to praise”. In parts of Indonesia, beads are scattered around temples to invite divine blessings. Beads are sprinkled in rice fields to ensure abundant harvests. Beads have a magical appeal that transcends time and culture.

Cultures have used bead to heal, as well. Native American’s have used beads and other objects in ceremonies to heal sickness and to represent enlightenment. They bring a spiritual philosophy to their beadwork, believing that the time invested in working on each piece is time spent honoring the spirit world. A spirit bead is a single bead that stands out from the rest, and represents an intentional mistake that states that we are not perfect. Only our higher power is perfect, and this spirit bead keeps us in our place. The African cultures places beadwork up high in the importance factor. Beads are used for communication, currency, and some were considered to be ambassadors of the Gods themselves. The Masai have more than forty words in their language that describe different kinds of beadwork.

Are you thinking about beads in your collection that are special, meaningful or sacred to you? I recommend that you gather them up and make them into something where you can touch them, hold them, hang them up or generally keep them where you can enjoy them instead of tucking them away in your bead case. Or… perhaps you want to make a meaningful and personal strand to give to someone who could use some comfort, help, healing or happiness. Here are some things to consider when making a strand…

Color
Choose colors that are significant for the person. Favorite colors, or birthstone colors or ones that are representational. Blue could be for water, white for spirit, green for growth.

Numbers
You could chose 3 special beads to stand for 3 children in a family. Numbers can represent age, also. I made my friend Lynda a strand of 60 magnificent beads for her 60th birthday. She says she can’t cut it apart, so for now its her special strand.

Stones
Many believe that stones possess healing abilities and are highly symbolic. Other materials are held in this same regard, such as bone, clay, glass, feathers, mirrors, knots, seeds, nuts, shells and wood.

Amulets and charms
If you’re making a strand for someone who’s going off to school, then you could make them a comforting strand of home. Use charms like a house, a cat or dog, and other things that will remind them of where they came from. Then when they’re home sick they can pull the strand out.

Animals
Like stones, animals are very symbolic. The turtle is a symbol of the universe. The dog is symbolic of loyalty, while the cat is a symbol of mystery. Perhaps there is a significant animal you want to make a strand for, such as a pet you’ve had your whole life.

Shapes
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘circle of life’. Well, triangles can symbolize strength, or the oval an egg of rebirth.

Whatever you decide to put into your strand, let it be meaningful and significant to YOU. That’s what really matters. And there are many good reasons to make a strand of beads, such as honoring a person, memorializing a life, battling sickness or addiction, celebrating achievements, commemorating a journey, weddings, babies, it can go on and on. And it can be a wearable strand, or something that is just meant to be held.

The word bead actually translates into “prayer” and is derived from the Anglo-Saxon “bidden” (to pray) and “bede” (prayer). So its only natural that we see our beads as meaningful and sacred and we let them touch our hearts. They’re like old friends. A good way to touch someone’s heart is to make them a strand that is significant to them. Make one for your children. Or your bead friends. How about as a birthday gift. Or a housewarming gift. Make it for sentimental reasons or as a tribute. Or….. You could gather up some beads that are really significant between you and someone in your life and give them a bead, charm, or pendant that connects the two of you.

Even just giving beads to someone can lift their spirits, pull them out of the current abyss their in… or just make their day. Beads have a way of touching our lives. Corny, but true! :-)

I know when my sister randomly sends a bead to me in the mail its such a nice surprise and just makes me beam! I’m inspired to send one to her today, to spread some sunshine her way. Hmmmm...what will it be?

Happy Beading!
The Bead Belle