Beginning a Prayer Bead Practice
Prayer beads make a connection from our spiritual selves to a greater energy, and in their use, create a sacred space in which to be still and renewed. They are wonderful tool for stress relief, meditation or prayer. Prayer beads, especially those made from natural materials, offer a connection with the natural world, the Web of Life, and the Sacred.
Unlike the traditional prayers used with rosaries or malas, there is no set way to use prayer beads. With prayer beads, you are free to create your own meditation or prayer ritual. Through spiritual exploration and frequent use, you will discover new insights, blessings, and uses for your prayer beads.
Some common uses for prayer beads include meditation, structured prayer and prayers of intention, affirmations and power words.
Meditation Exercise:
Prayers of Intention:
Prayer beads assist your focus in praying for specific person or problem. For example, if a friend or family member is sick, you can use the beads to send healing.
Affirmations:
Affirmations are positive healing phrases that counter the negative thoughts and energies we tend to throw at ourselves. You can repeat them even when you can’t believe them, because saying them will plant seeds in our mind and help us grow in positive directions. Affirmations can help accomplish goals, boost self-esteem, and recognize the goodness in ourselves. Affirmations are a great tool for improving health and wellness and sustaining recovery.
Power Words:
Power words are special words that focus on a particular need. They can be used for inspiration, insight, healing, problem solving, and many other needs. To use Power Words:
Structured Prayer:
Prayer beads can be used to repeat favorite prayers, lines of Scripture, poems, quotes, or any words that you find inspirational. Take your beads and hold a single bead. Say your prayer, either aloud or silently. Then, move on to the next bead and repeat. Another method would be to say one line of your prayer per bead.
Creating a unique prayer or meditation pattern for prayer beads can be a wonderful exercise in spiritual creativity. Over time, you will develop your own pattern and rhythms of prayer that enhance the symbolism and personal meaning of your prayer beads.
Prayer beads make a connection from our spiritual selves to a greater energy, and in their use, create a sacred space in which to be still and renewed. They are wonderful tool for stress relief, meditation or prayer. Prayer beads, especially those made from natural materials, offer a connection with the natural world, the Web of Life, and the Sacred.
Unlike the traditional prayers used with rosaries or malas, there is no set way to use prayer beads. With prayer beads, you are free to create your own meditation or prayer ritual. Through spiritual exploration and frequent use, you will discover new insights, blessings, and uses for your prayer beads.
Some common uses for prayer beads include meditation, structured prayer and prayers of intention, affirmations and power words.
Meditation Exercise:
- Holding your beads, find a comfortable position, Spend a few minutes relaxing, focusing on your breathing. Breathe in and out slowly. Try thumbing, i.e. moving the beads through your fingers, as you breathe, moving one bead for a breath in and then a second bead for a breath out.
- When you're relaxed, focus on one aspect of the beads that attracts you: texture, color, or the focal pendant. As you thumb slowly around the bead circle, be open to where that aspect takes you. Perhaps a yellow bead reminds you of the sun. Then mentally put yourself in a sunny spot, feel the warmth of the sun's rays, let that warm energy flow through you and just be in that moment.
- You can also imagine a safe, beautiful place – a special garden, the beach, a cozy cushion in front of a crackling fire – and put yourself there. Hold or thumb the beads as you experience that place, continuing the slow, steady breathing, and letting yourself relax.
Prayers of Intention:
Prayer beads assist your focus in praying for specific person or problem. For example, if a friend or family member is sick, you can use the beads to send healing.
- Take your beads and center your self by letting go of distractions and focusing on your breathing. Then shift focus to your beads, recognize that they were carved from the heart of the living earth and have a connection with the earth’s vital energy. Let that energy flow from the beads to your hands.
- Next, picture your sick friend. Hold their picture in your mind and thumb around the beads, and say either aloud or to yourself "I send healing to _____." Repeat that phrase as you make a circuit of the beads, letting energy flow to them.
Affirmations:
Affirmations are positive healing phrases that counter the negative thoughts and energies we tend to throw at ourselves. You can repeat them even when you can’t believe them, because saying them will plant seeds in our mind and help us grow in positive directions. Affirmations can help accomplish goals, boost self-esteem, and recognize the goodness in ourselves. Affirmations are a great tool for improving health and wellness and sustaining recovery.
- As an example, if you struggle with insomnia, try affirmations as an aid to healing that problem. At bed time, take your beads and repeat these three phrases: "I am relaxed," "I can change," "I will sleep well tonight." Repeat the affirmations aloud or to yourself, as you thumb around the beads. Repeating this over time can make a change in our habits and bring about healing.
Power Words:
Power words are special words that focus on a particular need. They can be used for inspiration, insight, healing, problem solving, and many other needs. To use Power Words:
- Find a comfortable position, sitting or reclining.Hold your beads in both hands for a few moments. Focus on them and feel their connection to the Web of Life. Draw on this energy as you pray.
- Choose three strong words that resonate with your situation. For example, if you are looking for a new job, try: "guidance" "wealth" and "success." For health issues: “healing,” “strength” and “energy.” For solutions to problems: “insight,” “inspiration,” “guidance.” Repeat the three power words, out loud or to yourself as you thumb around the beads.
- When you are done, again hold the beads in both hands and offer a prayer of thanksgiving to your Deities, or nature, or even yourself.
Structured Prayer:
Prayer beads can be used to repeat favorite prayers, lines of Scripture, poems, quotes, or any words that you find inspirational. Take your beads and hold a single bead. Say your prayer, either aloud or silently. Then, move on to the next bead and repeat. Another method would be to say one line of your prayer per bead.
Creating a unique prayer or meditation pattern for prayer beads can be a wonderful exercise in spiritual creativity. Over time, you will develop your own pattern and rhythms of prayer that enhance the symbolism and personal meaning of your prayer beads.
Copyright 2014 ~ Sacred Strands