Interfaith Prayer Beads by Cami

Welcome to my workshop!

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Thanks for stopping by.

I make custom prayer beads with natural materials, hand-knotted on hemp, or strung on wire. The typical structure uses either black or natural hemp, the beads, complementary interim beads, and a large "Mountain" or "Anchor" bead, that serves as the pendant and carries the theme of the piece. While I've used a broad variety of anchor beads, they are frequently hearts, or buddhas or other mystical symbols, including crosses, keys, trees, goddesses, lotuses, affirmative words and statements, and many more.

You can customize your order in a couple of ways at right:

1. "In stock" pieces. I generally have a few pieces in stock at any given time. Kindly refer to the images below to see what's currently in stock -- if you see a piece that calls to you, kindly use my email link at right to drop me a note and place your order. I'll send you a paypal invoice directly, and ship as soon as you complete your purchase. Stock pieces are sold on a "first come, first served" basis, and while I keep my page updated, apologies in advance if you have your heart set on a piece that has already sold. If that happens, we can still make you happy with:

2. Custom pieces. I happily offer pieces made to order -- due to the uncertain availability of certain materials, please note that it's impossible to guarantee specific shapes or finishes. I'll certainly do my best to get close to what you'd like, and you can add notes to your order, if you'd like a Christian cross for a mountain bead, or a Buddha, for example. I think if you give me an idea of what you'd like, and trust to my creative process, you'll be very happy with the outcome.

Once you place your order, if it's a custom piece I'll need a week to shop materials and to create the piece -- after that, expect just a few days for shipping. If you've chosen a piece that I already have in stock, the piece will ship the same day your payment clears. Your prayer beads will arrive in a pretty little bag, for either storage or to offer as a gift.

Sorry, I can't accept returns, but in rare cases of craft defect I happily repair my work. If there's a real problem, I promise to do my best to help solve it for you.

What are prayer beads?

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From the Wikipedia entry:

"Using Prayer beads as a tool of meditation is as old as written history. It is not a coincidence that Prayer beads are present in almost every religion.

Prayer beads may have physical, metaphysical and psychological effects on their users. Since the beads are fingered in an automatic manner, they allow the user to keep track of how many prayers have been said with a minimal amount of conscious effort, which in turn allows greater attention to be paid to the prayers themselves.

There are three widely accepted uses for Prayer beads

Repetition of the same devotion a set (usually large) number of times. This is the earliest form of prayer beads (the Japa Mala) and the earliest Christian form (the prayer rope). This is also the type in use by the Bahá'í Faith
Repetition of several different prayers in some pattern, possibly interspersed with or accompanied by meditations.
Meditation on a series of spiritual themes, as in e.g. Islam or Catholicism."

My Malas are intended for use as affirmation or meditation aids, and simply to help us remember that we are more than our day to day lives suggest. They are a simple tool to help link us to the eternal and the divine.

How to use:

Hold the Mala in your hands, touching the first bead -- either side of the Mountain, or Anchor bead, it doesnt matter which. While touching that bead, speak your prayer or affirmation, either aloud or silently. Move your fingers to grasp or touch the next bead, and repeat. Work your way through all the beads. Most Malas have 108 beads, the magic number for this kind of prayer, but mine frequently have 54 -- if yours has 54, when you get to the other end, don't cross the mountain bead, but head back the other way.

Examples of affirmations typically used in our faith:

"There is only one life, that life is God, that life is perfect, that life is my life."

or

"I surrender to the power and presence of God within me."

You can use these or many, many others -- whatever best suits you. Remember to state your prayer affirmatively, with strong, active language ... use words like "I am," "I accept," "I know," rather than "I want" or "I need" statements.

Namasté!

Currently in stock:

2009-07-31T14:58:00.000-07:00

New! The Prayer Box Mala

Open the tiny clasp and add your own special touch to this beautiful silver plated box. There's space inside for your own affirmation, for personal treasures, or more -- you decide what the best personal touch might be to lend that extra gravity to your meditation.

Amber glass beads with copper-tone key interim beads, matching copper-tone key pendant.

54 beads, 18" drop, $50.00.

Rose shell beads with magnetic clover clasp (also serving as anchor bead) with matching silver-plate interim beads.

54 beads, 16" drop, $50.00

Natural shell beads with matching shell heart pendant, fronted by silver tone filigree heart. Silver tone sperical interim beads.

54 beads, 19.5" drop, $50.00

Blue shell beads with double pendant; natural shell heart pendant, fronted by silver tone filigree heart. Silver tone disc interim beads with spiral pattern.

54 beads, 19.5" drop, $55.00

Green jade, red jade and mille fiore glass beads with blown-glass Science Of Mind teaching symbol and black jasper mountain bead.

54 beads, 14" drop, $50.00

Tiger jasper and zebra jasper beads, spaced by small glass flute beads, with silver-tone celtic knot interim beads, and matching celtic knot pendant.

54 beads, 15" drop, $50.00

Blue shell beads with silver-tone floral interim beads, double pendant includes a matching blue mother of pearl pendant under a pewter tree goddess pendant. Reverse of pewter pendant is inscribed with the affirmation "courage." Reverse of shell pendant is embossed with a silver-tone floral motif

54 beads, 18" drop, $55.00

other samples...

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(not in stock)

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