What is it?
Well, its basically a rosary. Now, I know images of old ladies in black robes, kneeling in churches is what comes to mind but actually, it dates back further then that. Rosaries (or strings of prayer beads) originated in India where yogins and yoginis were using what is still the standard Hindu mala before the 8th century B.C.E. Then, Buddhist monks adapted the mala to there own needs. Then the Jews, Christians, etc… all adapting it to fit their religion. And that is no doubt how it found its way into pagan culture.
So what do you use it for?
Lots of things. To name a few:
- Mediation
- Prayer
- Chants
- Rituals
- Offerings
- Journeying
- Spiritual Growth
- ETC, ETC, ETC
Making a Rosary
It is pretty simple. The basic materials you will need for most rosaries are:
Beads of some time (seed based, crystal, glass, etc), something to thread it on (elastic, wire, etc), a catch (cripper beads, hook and eye, etc) and an intention!
So there are three basic parts to making a rosary: material choice, pattern choice, and symbolic choice.
Symbolic choice: you need to decide what this is gonna represent. Anything. Maybe personal spiritual growth, or a deity, maybe the elements. Anything that you want to make one for.
Material: Once you have an intention, you gotta pick out what its gonna be made of. You can either free lance it and just got to the store and pick out what speaks to you: that’s chill. Or you can research and plan what colors, stones, etc relate to your intention and what you might want it to look like.
Pattern: Finally before stringing, lay out the order you want to put the beads in. Its always good to do this first to check for balance and symmetry within the design. And to make sure it looks as you imagined.
(A really good book/reference on all of this is Pagan Prayer Beads by john Michael Greer and Clare Vaughn)
odditiesoflife:
Red Beach, China
Red Beach is located in the Liaohe River Delta, about 30 kilometers southwest of Panjin City in China. The beach’s unique color is caused by a type of plant called Suaeda vera or Shrubby Sea-blite which is a coastal species that flourishes in the saline-alkali soil. The plant remains green during the summer but in the fall, when the plant has matured, it takes on a deep red color creating a stunning red sea landscape. Most of Red Beach is a nature reserve and closed to the public. Only a small, remote section is open to tourists.
I hope your May 1st weather is better than mine! :)
purplestockings:
Basics
This is the celebration of May 1s! To the ancient Celts, it symbolized the coming of spring. It was the time of year when the crops began to sprout, the animals bore their young, and the people could begin to get out of the houses where they had been cooped up during the long dark…
Great to give/leave for family and friends!
Supplies:
Heavy-duty paper
Scissors and glue
Flowers
Procedure:
This is what the pattern will look like. So draw this on whatevr size paper you would like. I suggest scrapbook paper because it is thick and comes in a bunch of different designs.
Roll the circle into the cone and glue/tape. Attach the strap over the top. Fill the basket with the flowers and herbs of your choice!
Decorate the circle with ribbons and symbols that you want!
Some spring flowers and there meanings:
bleeding hearts- elegance, fidelity
daffodil- gracefulness respect
tulip- love (different kinds depending on color)
cherry blossom- power,
Lillie- virture, friendship, devotion
neonchurro:
anarchie-bluna:
stella-corona:
blackheartedlove:
Giant amethyst geode from Uruguay
This actually made my heart ache. It’s like I’m staring into another universe.
Aika…
who says it isn’t a magical gateway into another universe?
ironinomicon:
mineralists:
Rhodochrosite
Huachocolpa Mine, Peru
wow it’s a rock made out of roses this is soft grunge as fuck
the-absolute-funniest-posts:
lolsofunny:
My lovely followers, please follow this blog immediately!
danceabletragedy:
Chiang Mai’s Floating Lantern Festival
caprileothevirgin:
Good to make your own BoS.