Prayer Bead Exchange

[Aster Breo]

I'm open to anything except Samhain at this point - mostly because I don't have enough supplies, or the money to get them, in time to have them posted for Samhain.

Another thought, and you can dismiss it if you'd like - no investment on this on my part. But have we thought about doing this for the Winter Solstice, as an aide through the darkest, longest night of the year? Most folk turn to prayer during the long midnight of the soul - the imagery just seems to fit to me. But it's also 2:20 in the morning and I might simply be off my rocker

Samhain is already covered by the Samhain poetry exchange, so no worries about adding prayer beads for that one.

I think the Cill has tended to put more emphasis on the fire festivals (Samhain, Imbolc, Beltaine, Lughnasa) because there is substantial historical support for celebration of those holidays, while there is not a lot to show whether the ancient Celts celebrated the solar festivals (solstices and equinoxes). That said, there's no reason we couldn't celebrate the solstice with an exchange. The Cill is not a reconstructionist group, so we can celebrate whatever we want to.

My only hesitation about a winter solstice exchange would be the proximity to the other major winter holidays. Personally, I think I could manage it with a little advance planning.

How to others feel about it?

[Juni]

My only hesitation about a winter solstice exchange would be the proximity to the other major winter holidays. Personally, I think I could manage it with a little advance planning.

How to others feel about it?

It's a touch last minute, but I think I could make it work. And I like the idea of having it for the solstice, instead of one of the fire festivals.

[Garnet]

How to others feel about it?

I could definitely do it. Otherwise, I think Imbolc would work well.

[Siannan]

How to others feel about it?

I think if we can figure out what we are going to do soon, I can swing it too!

[Aster Breo]

I think if we can figure out what we are going to do soon, I can swing it too!

It sounds like we should jump in and give it a try for the Winter Solstice.

Is there someone who wants to handle the organization? If not, I'm happy to do it.

I also want to toss this idea out: I've been researching prayer beads for another project, and I looked through 3 books (Beads of Faith, A String and a Prayer, and Pagan Prayer Beads). While doing this research, I realized I had sort of locked myself into the rosary model of prayer beads. That is, I was thinking that the only way to do prayer beads was to connect them to a specific prayer or set of prayers, so each bead would link to a particular verse.

Since then, I've started thinking differently. I'm working on a couple of designs for short sets of prayer beads that can either be worn as bracelets or simply carried as "pocket pieces". (This site has some examples of pocket pieces.) For these, I'm NOT linking them to specific prayers. Instead, each bead represents a particular idea that I want to keep in the forefront of my thoughts.

I did a prototype to experiment with the idea (picture here). There are 9 blue glass beads, each separated by 3 small iridescent beads. There's a large labradorite pendant attached to one end (a gorgeous stone, with a really beautiful blue flash), and a silver pendant with a Brighid's cross inside a sunburst on the other end. The ends are connected by a copper clasp with a silver spiral. I've been holding it sort of circling around my hand, below my fingers, with the pendants against the inside of my fingers. That lets me use the labradorite as a sort of worry stone. So far, I really like it. It's a tangible reminder to keep Brighid in my thoughts.

For this first prayer bead exchange, maybe it would work for us to take a similar approach. We could either work as a group to determine what aspects of Brighid or things associated with Her we want to link to our beads, or we could each come up with our own associations.

Thoughts?

[JuniperMorgan]

It sounds like we should jump in and give it a try for the Winter Solstice.

Is there someone who wants to handle the organization? If not, I'm happy to do it.

Since then, I've started thinking differently. I'm working on a couple of designs for short sets of prayer beads that can either be worn as bracelets or simply carried as "pocket pieces". (This site has some examples of pocket pieces.) For these, I'm NOT linking them to specific prayers. Instead, each bead represents a particular idea that I want to keep in the forefront of my thoughts.

I did a prototype to experiment with the idea (picture here). I've been holding it sort of circling around my hand, below my fingers, with the pendants against the inside of my fingers. That lets me use the labradorite as a sort of worry stone. So far, I really like it. It's a tangible reminder to keep Brighid in my thoughts.

For this first prayer bead exchange, maybe it would work for us to take a similar approach. We could either work as a group to determine what aspects of Brighid or things associated with Her we want to link to our beads, or we could each come up with our own associations.

Thoughts?

I like this idea. Having it in a less formalized form allows for greater personalization and connection - at least to me.

I'm in. And willing to help with organization if you're swamped.

[Aster Breo]

I'm in. And willing to help with organization if you're swamped.

How about this: Whoever is interested in participating in an exchange of prayer beads to celebrate the Winter Solstice, post in this thread.

Let's give it until November 1. If we get at least two more participants, I think we'd have enough to proceed. That will give us a little more than a month to actually get the prayer beads finished and sent out.

Once we've determined that we're going to do it, we can decide who will handle the organization. (It's not hard. I've done three so far, so I have a system worked out.)

Sound OK?

[Garnet]

How about this: Whoever is interested in participating in an exchange of prayer beads to celebrate the Winter Solstice, post in this thread.

I'm interested!

[JuniperMorgan]

Once we've determined that we're going to do it, we can decide who will handle the organization. (It's not hard. I've done three so far, so I have a system worked out.)

Sound OK?

Sounds like a plan!

[Siannan]

How about this: Whoever is interested in participating in an exchange of prayer beads to celebrate the Winter Solstice, post in this thread.



Sound OK?

I'm interested! And Aster, I love your prototype. Its beautiful. And I am a big fan of worry stones.