Using Beads in your Practice

Barrell Bead Knots
Barrel bead knots are good when you don't have anything handy but string, or you're worried about the safety, noise, or inflexibility of regular beads. They can be made different sizes by varying the number of twists, which is useful for projects like all-twine rosaries for soldiers, or making inexpensive malas to hand out to those in need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYLfqRn9HcU

Further Reading

Making an All-Twine Rosary

Knotting Between Beads
Knotting between beads keeps you from losing the entire strand if your string breaks! It's also a very meditative practice that looks lovely. It spaces the beads out so they don't bump together. This extra space also has a tactile effect on the turning of the beads from one to the next, further engaging your practice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zuNk3OLnmE

My favorite all-cord beaded string, the chotki (among other names) is used in many orthodox Christian traditions and is made of beautiful and complex knots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poP7Fu_jqrU

Further Information

The Orthodox Prayer Rope (pdf)

How to Tie Prayer Rope

(video)[/li]

https://youtu.be/N1X_oDUo5yk

You inspired me. This is a 95-bead set for use in the Baha'i daily meditation. The beds are olive wood and I'm looking forward to see how their finish changes with time and use. The focus and the two green beads are malachite. The malachite beads separate a set of 9 wooden beads, which is also a number Baha'is often use in prayer. The single bead hanging next to the malachite donut is a juniper seed, which many Native American people believe provides protection.



Thanks, Steam, for this thread

That's beautiful! I'm glad you've gotten so much from this thread.