REGARDING BEADS
 About Beads
Beads come in a variety of colors, sizes, shapes and materials, but all are pierced with a small hole so they can be threaded together. Those who string or weave beads often report feelings of calmness after finishing a project. However, when making Mantra Beads that will be utilized as part of a meditation or contemplative practice, there is a special purpose. Each bead is added with good intent.
Most historians believe that the origin of using beads arose in the Fertile Crescent with the earliest evidence of humankind. Our natural tendency to count things incorporated fingers, pebbles, knotted cords, and strings of seeds, berries, and eventually fired clay beads. These were also utilized when saying a specific number of prayers as evidenced on cave paintings and art/religious objects worldwide.
Archeologists have unearthed beads made more than 40,000 years ago made of grooved pebbles, bones, and teeth. From the beginning, beads have had talismanic and symbolic connotations. Wearing an animal bone or tooth affirmed success in the hunt and has been used to enhance beauty in many cultures. The ancient Egyptians, whose use of beads goes back to 3200 BCE, called them sha-sha ("luck").
 Beads in Sacred Traditions
Beads have been used as spiritual instruments to become centered in many religious traditions, including Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and Buddhism, and in cultures as diverse as the African Masai and Native American Yaqui. They have had many names such as Mala Beads, Prayer Beads, Rosary Beads, Prayer Chaplets, Komboloi, Subha or Tasbih Beads and Mantra Beads. Third-century Desert Mothers and Fathers carried a specific number of pebbles, which they dropped one by one onto the ground as they said each of their mantras or prayers. Travelers of older times have recorded the use of prayer beads, Marco Polo wore a fine silk thread strung with one hundred and four large pearls and rubies, on which he used to pray to his idols. Alexander Von Humboldt is also quoted as finding prayer beads, called Quipos, among the native Peruvians.
Traditionally, beads have consisted of strings of similarly-sized beads, seeds, knots, or even beads made from crushed roses (from which we get the word "rosary"). The Sanskrit term japa-mala means "muttering chaplet," which refers to prayer beads' function of recording the number of prayers or mantas spoken near-silently.
Prayer Beads are used in many cultures; In Eastern cultures among the Buddhists, whose religion is of Brahmin origin, various prayer-formulas are said or repeated with the aid of beads made of wood, berries, coral, amber, or precious metals and stones. A string of beads cut from the bones of some holy lama is especially valued. The number of beads is usually one hundred and eight; but there are also strings of thirty or forty. Buddhism in Burma, Tibet, China, and Japan alike employs a number of more or less complicated forms of devotion, but the frequently recurring conclusion, a form of salutation, is mostly the same, and contains the mystic word OM, supposed to have reference to the Buddhist trinity. It is not uncommon to find keys and trinkets attached to a Buddhist's prayer beads, and generally each string is provided with two little cords of special counters, ten in number, in the form of beads or metal disks. With the aid of this device the devotee can count a hundred repetitions of his beads or 108 x 10 x 10 formulas in all. Among the Japanese, especially elaborate systems of counting exist. One apparatus is described as capable of registering 36,736 prayers or repetitions.
In Western cultures prayer beads are strung as a loop which people use as a focus. Anglican prayer beads consisting of 33 beads divided into four groups of seven. This signifies wholeness or completion in the faith, the days of creation, and the seasons of the Church year. These are called weeks; between each set of seven is a single bead, usually larger than the others, termed a cruciform bead. The four of them form the points of a Cross within the circle of the prayer beads. Anglican prayer bead sets customarily begin with a cross, not a crucifix. The beads are made of a variety of materials, including precious stones, wooden beads, dried and painted seeds, colored glass beads, antique jewelry, or jade. Knots, if any, also vary in size.
The purpose and use of Anglican Prayer Beads are somewhat different than those of the Catholic rosary. While both types are intended as an aid to contemplative prayer, Anglican prayer beads are considered a tactile aid to focus attention. There is no set format of prayers, but are in effect disciplined personal prayers. The words "I" and "we" figure prominently and God is addressed directly. There are many sources and inspirations for Anglican prayers; while some have been developed based on the traditional hours of daily prayer, upon the church seasons, upon the mystery of God's nature, others are in effect disciplined personal prayers such as for healing, for members of the armed forces, for family life, for challenges of specific professions, etc.)
Rosary Beads were generally strung either on a straight thread, or cord, or so as to form a circlet, or loop. Presently beads strung on chain have almost entirely taken the place of the corded ones. To facilitate the counting or to mark off certain divisions of a devotion sets of beads, usually decades, are separated from each other by a larger bead or sometimes by a medal or metal cross. The number of beads on a chaplet, or Rosary, depends on the number of prayers making up each particular form of devotion. A full Rosary consists of one hundred and fifty Hail Marys, fifteen Our Fathers, and three or four beads corresponding to introductory vesicles and the "Glory be to the Father".
Prayer Chaplets are a smaller version of Rosary Beads. They are comprised of at least ten beads although can go up to as much as thirty three. They are used with a series of prayers to a Saint, God, Jesus or Mary. They are extremely powerful and beautiful. Most chaplets are small, so they can be easily carried in a pocket or purse.
Mala Beads earliest use of Mala Beads can be traced to Hinduism, where it is called a Japa Mala and has 108 beads. Japa is the repeating of the name of God or a mantra, while Mala itself is a Sanskrit term meaning garland or necklace. The most common materials used for making the beads are Rudrâksha seeds (used by Shaivites) and Tulsi stem (used by Vaishnavites). They are used for repetition of a mantra, other forms of Sadhana (spiritual exercise) and as an aid to meditation. Most Hindus continue to wear the beads both for ornament and for use at prayers. In modern times the materials used to make Mala Beads have changed.
Komboloi Beads are normally used as part prayer beads, part fidget toy; the origin of this most Greek object remains a mystery. Some say the komboloi are mimics of Turkish prayer bead strands. Perhaps the most widely believed theory is that komboloi are derived from knotted prayer strands (komboskini) used by Greek Orthodox monks. Komboloi used to be the province of older, traditional minded men. Recently, however, komboloi have become a fashion accessory to modern young Greek men, and even some women. Komboloi are composed of sixteen to twenty beads strung together and tied off with a single bead and a tassel. Beads come in many varieties, including plastic, ceramic, bone, glass, amber and coral. The beads are usually strung on leather, string or fine metal chain. Perhaps the most striking komboloi are those with beads made from cobalt blue glass, which wards off the "evil eye". Komboloi indeed come in many varieties that vary in price from a few dollars to a thousand dollars or more, depending on the materials used.
Subha or Tasbih Beads The Moslems use a string of ninety-nine (or one hundred) beads which they use to recite the "beautiful" names or attributes of Allah. It is divided into three equal parts either by a bead or special shape or size, or by a tassel of gold or silk thread. The use of these Islamic beads appears to have been established as early as the ninth century independently of any Buddhist influences. There has been some thought that the Mohammedan chaplet is kindred to a Jewish form of one hundred blessings. The beads in general use are said to be often made of the sacred clay of Mecca or Medina.
Mantra Beads not only help to keep one's place in structured sutras, prayers, and/or mantras, they also symbolize one’s commitment to a spiritual life. With their circular form, a string of beads represents the interconnectedness of all who use them. Each bead counted is an individual prayer or mantra, and the rote repetition facilitates a focus on the prayer or mantra itself.
The Mantra Beads that Mari designs have been put into four categories:
Special Occasion Mantra beads are made to order for weddings, births and all special occasions. They will also include made to order Mantra Beads that can be worn as a necklace and will include a clasp, and a longer prayer shawl that can be looped, as well as smaller pocket beads. They will function as both decorative and spiritual. Wearing them or holding them also enhances the person’s personal energy. The beads are all infused with loving energy and prayer. Using them as mantra beads and/ or also praying with them will increase the energy in the beads and enhance the effects for your own personal harmony.
One of a Kind Manta Beads have an earthy, ethic appearance. It really depends on the type of beads and findings used in the design
Unique and Rare Mantra Beads have been designed and handcrafted with more expensive beads, pearls and imported Guru beads.
Spirit Focused Jewelry designs that are made in the same meditative state as the Mantra Beads; Mari transfers loving energy into each bead as she brings them together to create the finished piece. Then she holds the newly created jewelry in her own hands and blesses it for your health and harmony.
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