Prayer Beads
I was in my local bead shop the other day and browsing through all the new pendendants they had gotten in when I saw a woman on the other side of the table who was piling on pieces like there was no tomorrow. Most of them were cross pendants of one form or another, most were sterling silver but a few were made of jade or some other colored stone. I said hello and we started talking. It turns out she was teaching a class at the local senior center on how to make your own prayer beads just in time for Easter. But then she told me that she normally makes her own Rosaries and regularly sells them at craft shows and church bazaars!
I came home and started looking into this and it turns out the the Rosary is just one of many different types of prayer beads one can use in a variety of different faiths and religions.
In fact, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam many different faiths of Christianity and even some Native American and African faiths and cultures all use different types of prayer beads! And since over 75% of all Americans claim to follow some sort of faith, whether it be an organized church or simply a belief system, it would only make sense that a lot of people would be interested in beads which could help them celebrate their spirituality.
Prayer Bead are not really bead jewelry in the typical fashion sense, but rather the beads are usually used as a counting mechanism where the person says a prayer or thinks about certain things for each bead on the string. Prayer beads can be made out of just about any material, including cheaper material like glass and plastics to more expensive materials like crystal, stone and some unique wood.
There are lots of bead jewelry artisans making prayer beads on the Internet, but not very many are going to craft shows or local artist fairs. This means the market is wide open if you’re going to try to expand your jewelry business with prayer beads.
If you’re going to make prayer beads then I suggest you pick you craft shows carefully, do your homework and think carefully about packaging. You’ll want to make sure you are creating bead pieces that are faithful to whatever faith the beads are used by, and you might want to go to a local house of worship and show your wares to the people in charge there. Some churches and other places of worship will even bless your items for a nominal donation!
Prayer beads in particular often come with sample prayers, instructions on use or even a written history of the prayer bead tradition for a particular faith. I suggest you carefull research this and always include something written with each set of prayer beads you sell. You could even put that information on the back of one of your business cards for repeat business!
Laura Kay runs http://www.beadboard.net, a Bead Jewelry Resources Blog that highlights bead jewelry resources, supplies, artisans, design ideas and more! She is a bead jewelry artist who delights in exploring all aspects of bead jewelry, from new ideas to new designs to new trends in what is hot now.
Do you own a rosary, prayer beads, or a mala?
I was wondering how many of you own or use prayer beads.
I carry a gratitude stone.Its from the film “The secret”.I remember to thank god for his gifts and what he is sending when i touch it.I did hear a great way to make a prayer bead s set.You put a bead on for everyone that you love,family, friends, lover,pets, teachers, your prophet, god etc Even atheists can do it.Just sit and remember the love as you touch each one. See how it makes you feel!
Prayer Requests
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j9905 Agate prayer beads 10” $7.00 |
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Chinese Keep Lucky Words Wooden Beads Prayer Bracelet $5.89 |
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Buddhist Prayer Buddha Wooden Beads Elastic Band Bracelet $8.22 |
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Unisex Chinese Safe Words Wooden Beads Prayer Bracelet $9.24 |
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Golden rutilated quartz crystal Islamic Muslim 33 Prayer beads YT51 $8.99 |
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Ethiopian Prayer Bead Necklace Copper-Washed African $22.00 |
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Tibet Prayer Beads Necklace lucky ！ $0.20 |
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YSB155 Natural colorful agate buddhism prayer beads $2.99 |
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Tibetan Buddhist Sandalwood Beads Prayer Bracelet $0.17 |
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Heaven Eye agate faceted Islamic Muslim 33 Prayer beads YT66 $12.99 |
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Heaven Eye agate Islamic Muslim 33 Prayer beads YT67 $9.99 |
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Lapis Lazuli Islamic Muslim 33 Prayer beads YT41 $9.99 |
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Vintage Turquoise 108 Prayer Beads Necklace 9-10mm $0.22 |
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Vintage Turquoise 108 Prayer Beads Necklace 9-10mm $8.88 |
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Vintage Turquoise 108 Prayer Beads Necklace 9-10mm $9.99 |
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Mighty Bright Fold-n-Stow Book Holder $5.99 Increase your work space and decrease neck pain. The Mighty Bright Book holder comes with a carrying case that will clip into standard three ring binders. Excellent for students studying or cooks in the kitchen…. |
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Black Wood Bead Catholic Rosary 15+7 Inches $14.99 … |
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Waterford Celtic Rosary Beads $100.00 135580 Beautifully crafted Rosary Beads is 18” long. Italian made, it features a Mother-of-Pearl beads with Madonna medal; adorned with a 2.4” Celtic Waterford cross. A wonderful gift for First Communion, Easter and many other Christian occassions. Features: -Quality construction. -Beautiful craftsmanship. -Length: 18”…. |
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Mother of Mercy – A Rosary of Healing $14.58 Father Kevin Scallon C.M. leads us in prayer. We ask Jesus to heal. Songs by Dana… |
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Wallmonkeys Peel and Stick Wall Decals – Prayer Beads 001 – Removable Graphic WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
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Prayer Beads: Complete Series $10.79 Studio: Mpi Home Video Release Date: 02/27/2007 Run time: 270 minutes… |
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Beads of Faith: The Sacred Name and the Heart’s Celestial Garden: The Universal Use of the Rosary [VHS] $14.00 Stunning imagery is chronologically presented as the practice of the rosary in various faiths are discussed. The word bead itself has an “interfaith” origin; it comes from both the Sanskrit buddh, which refers to Self-Realization (the Buddha is the Enlightened One), and also derives from the Saxon verb bidden, to pray. The video concludes with a demonstration of how to make a rosary from rose peta… |
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BLACK OBSIDIAN – Power Bead Mala Bracelet $7.95 Gemstone power bracelets carry the stone energy and can be used to count prayer or intention cycles. Each bracelet is made of 22 polished, round genuine black obsidian beads ( 21 x 8mm and 1 x10mm) strung on an elastic cord and finished off with a mala bead. These affordable power bracelets are great for daily wear to give you the benefit of the stone’s energy all day long. Bracelet stretches to f… |
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AMETHYST – Power Bead Mala Bracelet Gemstone power bracelets carry the stone energy and can be used to count prayer or intention cycles. Each bracelet is made of 22 polished, round genuine amethyst beads ( 21 x 8mm and 1 x10mm) strung on an elastic cord and finished off with a mala bead. These affordable power bracelets are great for daily wear to give you the benefit of the stone’s energy all day long. Bracelet stretches to fit mos… |
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Lotus Seed Wrist Mala (Prayer Beads) Brown 18 Beads $9.99 Lotus seed represents purity and the 18 Bead Lotus Seed Wrist Malas are used by His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Lotus Seed Wrist Mala – Brown -18 Prayer Beads are meditation tools used for balance in your everyday life, spiritual life, emotional life. Mala’s have been used for centuries to count one’s breath and/or prayers during meditation. When one absentmindedly touches the mala throughout the d… |