Prayer Beads for Hekate

I made these prayer beads for Hekate several months ago, and while they've been adorning her shrine, I had not yet ever used them in ritual/prayer.

However, as I was walking my dog tonight, enjoying the light snow coming down, I felt Hekate's presence, and I knew it was well past time to finally sit down and find/write prayers for these beads.

This is what I came up with...





(Medallion prayer.)
Hekate of the roads and of the crossroads, I honor you.
In heaven, on earth, in the sea, saffron-cloaked,
pleased with dark ghosts that wander through the shade,
haunting deserted places, I honor you.
Night-wandering, dog-loving, key-bearer,
unconquerable queen, I honor you.
Hekate, hear my prayers to you, with ever joyous heart.

(Prayer for the lava rock beads.)
Hekate, you who roam the moonless night, who walks
in the dark with certainty, torch-bearing goddess,
keeper of the keys, I follow where you lead.

(Prayer for the labradorite beads.)
Hekate, you who see things hidden, whose torches light the dark;
you who dwells on the threshold,
who receives due offering wherever three roads meet;
To you, Hekate, are the mysteries known.
To you do the lost ever turn for protection.
To you do those who work magic pray for wisdom.
Hekate, ancient one, I praise you.


[First prayer based off the Ophric hymn to Hekate, second and third prayer altered from the prayers found on this website.]

Prayer Beads for Artemis

(This week's prompt at The Pagan Experience is about Deity and the Divine, a prompt that will repeat once each month.)

In the past I have written a few posts on creating a set of prayer beads for Artemis. I wrote about how I chose the materials, how I actually made the prayer beads, but I haven't really shared how I actually use them. There are many examples of how to make prayer beads out there, but I think there are fewer examples of prayers to actually go along with them, which is something I find helpful in making my own.

I begin by reciting an opening prayer, a modified version of a traditional hymn, on the largest bead:
I sing of Artemis, the pure maiden, who cheers on the hounds, the hunter of stags, who delights in archery over the shadowy hills and windy peaks, who draws her golden bow, rejoicing in the chase. I sing of Artemis...

I then recite one of her titles for each bead...
Goddess Queen
Daughter of Leto
Daughter of Zeus
Queen of Beasts
Delighting in Arrows
Deer Shooting
Of the Wilds
Of the Broad Pastures
Of the Marshlands
Revered Virgin
Of the Moon
Of the Fire
Leader (of the dance/choir)
Ancestral Goddess
Guardian
She Who Soothes
Light Bringer
Savior

From there I can either recite the titles again, or return to the large bead with a simple closing prayer:
O Artemis, beautiful and powerful goddess, I honor you on this day, and on all days.

I debated quite a bit on whether to recite the titles in English or in their original language, Greek. There are pros and cons of each, and for me I felt that at least for now English would be the better choice, but certainly either way could work, depending on which makes more sense to the individual. These prayers can be used in at least two ways. First, by slowly reciting each title, and really taking time to meditate on the title, what it means, the image it conjures, and so on. The second is to quickly recite the titles as more of a chant, focusing a bit less on what each title really means, and instead allowing yourself to slip into a bit more of a receptive meditative state of mind.

For additional information on Artemis, including more of her titles, hymns to her, her myths, and more, her article on Theoi is a fantastic source. 

Prayer Beads for Hestia

I'm considering making a set of prayer beads, and writing prayers for them, for part of the 30 Days of Deity Devotion project. I have a few ideas kicking around, but it's a bit difficult because Hestia doesn't have very many traditional associations or symbols to work from. Some deities have metals, gems, woods, numbers, and more associated with them, but Hestia has none of those. I'll have to go almost entirely from my own gut on this.

I've been running through a few options for the beads, but I keep coming back to peach moonstone. To be honest, I don't always consider the spiritual properties of stones when making prayer beads or jewelry, it's really more about color, pattern, texture, shape, overall feel, but I thought I'd dig around a bit and see what lore I could find out there on the internet specifically about peach moonstone. There wasn't a lot, and much of it seems to have been copied and pasted from the same source.

Still, what I did find seemed to always come back to the same few things; peace, soothing anxiety or worries, removing fear or anger, gentle love, and divine love, or being aware of the divine all around you. This all seems quite appropriate to Hestia, so I'm pretty sure that's the main material I'll be working with.

The rest is really still up in the air, though, I'll have to spend some more time considering the options. 

How to String a Mala

A mala (or japa mala) is a set of prayer beads used in Buddhism and Hinduism to count mantras, or chants. They usually consist of 108 beads, or a divisor of 108. (27 is a common one, where 27 x 4 = 108.) Occasionally other numbers are used, as well.

Stringing a mala can be difficult, as they usually contain what is often called a guru bead - a bead with three holes - two on the sides, one on the top. However, with the right materials, and a little practice, it's not so hard.

Malas can be made from many materials - sandalwood, or other wooden beads, lotus seed beads, glass, or gemstone beads.

You'll need...
Thin metal wire, I used 28 gauge for a 10mm guru bead.
Appropriate cord - for small bracelet styles, you'll probably want to use an elastic cord, although a silk cord with a special sliding knot is also an option. For this I am using elastic cord.
Scissors.
A small pair of jewelry pliers.
1 guru bead and topper
However many beads you wish to include on your mala

We'll start with stringing the guru bead, the bead with three holes.
Begin by cutting about 4" of wire. Fold the wire in half, and at the fold form a small hook.


Push the hook gently through one of the side holes, with the hook facing up. The hook should poke up a bit through the top hole, and can be pulled out with the pliers. This step may take a few tries, and may require some experimenting with what angle and how large to make the hook.


Separate the metal at the hook just a bit to form a slim hoop. Slip a length of cord through the hoop, and tighten the hook back up.


Pull the hook and cord back through the bead. The next step is fairly simple, all you need to do is string the rest of your beads on the cord coming out from the side of the guru bead.


Next we get the metal hook back out. Push the hook down through the top hole and out the other side.


Again form a small loop at the hook, and set the cord through it. Pull the cord through the top hole.


Now you can string the final bead. If the hole is small, you may want to use the metal wire again. Slip the bent end through the top of the bead, put both ends of the cord through the loop, and pull it back through the bead.


That's it! Now you just need to tie it off with a secure knot, and cut the extra cord off. Don't cut too close to the knot - leave at least a half inch of cord coming out to give the knot some wiggle room.


Instead of cutting the cord, you can add some charms or small beads on each bit of cord, as in the first picture.

Prayer Beads, Part Three

Now that I had a goal in mind - making a set of prayer beads dedicated to a Deity, specifically Artemis - I could begin thinking a bit more on design specifics. I wanted to make something simple and small, about the length of a loose bracelet, something that could easily fit into a pocket. I also knew that I wanted to include a rosary style drop pendant.

I had a large green and gold glass bead in my craft box that I decide to use for the pendant, rather than a charm. Keeping this in mind, I visited the local craft store. There I found some green-brown beads with black marbling. The coloring reminded me of the forests and mountains sacred to Artemis. I wrapped the strand of beads around my hand to see if it would give the length I desired - it was a little short, but I wanted to include some smaller beads as well, so it would work out. I also spent a bit of time touching and holding the beads, making sure they felt nice to the touch, and didn't have any little defects that would distract me from my prayers/meditation.

I picked up some small bronze-gold spacer beads, which I thought would go well with the gold on my focal bead. I like to include the smaller spacer beads because I find it helps me feel the break between each bead a little better. I'd also need something to string the beads on, and chose some 10lb hemp cord.

When I got home I set my design and began to string it. I cut off a good amount of cord, several inches more than I thought I'd need (this helps with making the final knot).

I began with the main part of my prayer beads, which was just a simple pattern of spacer bead, large bead, spacer, large, etc. I began and ended with a spacer bead, as these would be the ends that would eventually come to the drop down. (The cord was stiff, so I did not require a needle or anything special to string it. Be sure to consider the size of the holes in the beads when picking a stringing material!)


With the main section finished, I brought both ends of the string together and slipped a bronze bead down both strands. This is the beginning of the drop.
Here you can see the loop of beads, being brought together by a bronze bead with both strands running though it.



Next I added a few more bronze beads, and finally the focal bead, again stringing them through both strands at the same time.



Finally I tied a knot at the base of the focal bead, and cut off the excess cord. I dabbed a bit of super glue all over the knot to help secure it. Bead stores sell special glue for this, and school glue works as well. I've also been told a dab of clear nail polish can help. A very tight and secure knot can also stand alone.


That's it, my beads were made and ready to be cleansed and dedicated to use in the worship of and meditation on the Goddess Artemis. All in all, the project cost me around $13 - although $5 of that went to the cord, which I have plenty of for future projects now (as well as having a number of the bronze beads left). It's an inexpensive project that's not hard to do, but can be very rewarding in the end.

Again, this is just one of many uses/designs, so expect a few more how to guides in the future.

Prayer Beads, Part Two

Prayer beads are fun to design and create, but before you can start thinking about the design of your prayer beads you must first decide what you wish to use them for. Will you chant traditional mantras with your beads? Dedicate them to a specific deity, or pair/group of deities? Use them to meditate on a specific topic - such as the Wheel of the Year, the elements, or the moon phases?

What you wish to use your beads for will help you determine how many beads you want to use, what material and color(s) the beads should be, if you want to include charms, and other such details.

For example, say I wish to make prayer beads dedicated to a specific Deity. I now have a basic goal, and it's time to start working out the details. I can consider which gems, woods, and other materials are sacred to, or associated with this Deity. I should also consider which materials are disliked by the Deity - for example, bone is often considered to be ritually impure for many Egyptian Deities. I can also take into consideration any colors or numbers that may be associated with the Deity.

Many Deities can be associated with symbols. Artemis has several sacred animals, including the deer, bear, and wolf. She is also associated with her bow and arrows, the cypress tree, and the moon. Hathor's symbols include the mirror and the sistrum. An ankh would also be a good symbol for many Egyptian Deities. You may want to include charms or images of the Deity in your beads.

Now is also the time to begin considering if you wish to use a set of prayers with your beads, if you'd like to have longer prayers on larger beads and a shorter prayer on the smaller beads, or the same prayer on each bead. Alternatively, you may wish to meditate on a different title or attribute of a Deity for each bead. You can also just hold beads while you pray from your heart or meditate on the Deity in general.

After thinking about all these things a bit, you may start to have ideas on what you want your beads to look like. Next, it's time to gather your materials, lay out your design, and put it all together! That's another post though, coming soon.

Let's Talk Prayer Beads

I've had an interest in prayer beads for a very long time now. Growing up I had several Catholic friends, so the first type of prayer beads I was exposed to was the Catholic rosary. I saw them a few times, delicate strands of beads in a small silk pouch with snap button, usually tucked away in a bedside drawer. At the time I only had a vague idea what they were for. I didn't know that a prayer was said on each bead, that there was a method to praying the rosary.

In my second year of high school I was exploring Shinto-Buddhism (the religion my grandmother was raised), as well as Hinduism. I learned about the mala, beads used to count mantras on (usually 108 beads). I was very interested in using a mala and mantras for meditation, and eventually bought one to use. These were my first prayer beads. Rose quartz beads on metal links, with a Radha-Krishna pendant. I used them to chant the Hare Krishna mantra. I did it often, even keeping the beads in my coat pocket to count silent mantras on the school bus.

It was around this time that I was also taking my first jewelry class. It occurred to me that I knew how this particular mala had been made, and it was a rather simple technique that I could replicate with ease. While I did make some religious jewelry during that time, it wasn't until a few years later that I started to make my own prayer beads.

The first set I made as a Kemetic reconstructionist, even though there was no evidence that prayer beads were used by the ancient Egyptians. I wanted to try a different style from the mala, so I went with a rosary style - a loop with a drop pendant. It was a series of small turquoise beads broken up by larger lapis lazuli and howlite beads. The pendant was an ankh. I used the stand to count the 42 purifications (also known as the negative confession) as well as using the larger beads to pray to Ma'at and my "patrons."

Eventually I made a second set, dedicated to the Goddess Nut. Very simple, blue goldstone (for those unfamiliar with the stone it is a manmade gem, dark blue with silver flecks all through it - looks very much like the night sky), with silver spacer beads. It also ended in a drop pendant style, a small frame which I pasted a picture of Nut in.

That was a few years ago. While I still make use of devotional jewelry, my interest in prayer beads wasn't there any more. Very recently, however, I came across a lotus seed bead mala, and it rekindled my interest. I thought of all sorts of prayer beads I could create, and not just for prayer, but also in various meditation and ritual for different goals.

In the coming weeks, and likely beyond, I'll be posting a bit more on the various uses of prayer beads, as well as how to make your own set. It's not a hard project to take on at all, even for someone with no knowledge of jewelry making, and they can be helpful spiritual aids.