Using Beads in your Practice

I look forward to the Paper Bead demonstration. Thank you for this.

I love this Steam! Thank you so much!!

So I have a question for you. Do you find the materials used matter? From the string to the beads?

I love the idea of making my own beads from paper or whatnots. Especially using your idea of meaningful texts. And there always seems to be more power in things I make for myself or others. But I'm also irresistibly drawn to some stones.

And I haven't the foggiest idea what to use to string them!

The mala I made recently is made from silk thread, the beads are stones, and the tassel is cotton. I try to use all-natural materials in my personal work as often as I can, because I find they're more comfortable for me. However, I have nothing against using whatever materials are most handy or best suited to the needs of the final user. I find that materials in my own spiritual practice must mean something to me, which is why I like the paper bead idea with prayers or something written on them. It sanctifies them, to me. Sets them apart.

I thought I might add a use for beads that I have in my own practice. Daily I wear a set of two different colored beaded bracelets that are a physical reminder for me to act like a Jedi and to honor the simple oath that I took over a year ago. I have two more bracelets waiting for when I finish my apprenticeship and the seminary. When I look at moving forward as a senior knight or am bestowed with the honor of the master badge I would add bracelets then too. Yes, six bracelets total might seem like a lot but to me, its weight is a reminder of the increased responsibility to live up to what it means to be a Jedi each bump up along the path carries.

Tutorials

Paper Beads

Barrell Knot Beads

Knotting Between Beads

Chotki Knott

Paper Beads
Beads can be made of almost any kind of paper and in many different shapes. They can be blank or printed or handwritten-on, and there are many ways of finishing them. In this video, I show you a simple paper bead template and how to roll them by hand. There are many options available for tools, but you can get started with just some scrap paper and a paper clip!

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

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

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https://youtu.be/N1X_oDUo5yk