Defending the Truth

hey, ali, ever make a mala (tibetan prayer bead chain)? (not that you needed me to explain that to you)

Welcome!!!

Ali,

I also in my enthusiasm shared about handfasting with a friend, who told me of a ceremony she and a friend had called 'heartfasting'...

Have you done it or seen any?

OD

Yep. In fact, I have one of my own that I use...Green jade and etched ivory....You'd love it I bet. I also have a few Buddhist prayer chains made that are very lovely.

Of course...Are you're looking for a specific one made with specific gemstones and focals? I've got a huge selection of gemstones, swarvorskis, focals, and silver if you're looking for something unique...You know me and my bead addictions...ROTFLMAOL!!!

Just give me a tingle if it's something specific you're looking for eh? Or you want the link to what I do have made already?

Yes I have. There's a number of 'heart fasting' rituals I'm aware of and in fact participated in one just this past Samhain. I'd be interested to know which type of ceremony your friend participated in?

There's the one that is an indoctrination of both the High Priestl/Priestess which includes a heartfasting binding them together and to the God/Goddess they'll be emulating.
There's the Amazonian 'heartfasting' of the Diananic traditions (all female society and is considered a marriage).
There's the marriage handfasting ceremony that includes a heartfasting ritual binding spouses together body, mind, and spirit.
Then there's the heartfasting that is similar to 'blood brothers/sisters' ritual.

well, i've meant to make one.... there's a lovely bead place here where i can find pretty much whatever i want (i'm a bead junkie too) but i can't seem to find the right "findings", specifically, that kinda t-shaped bead (with 3 holes) and a tassel. unless you have an alternate method of making them. but if you have links or whatever, feel free to send them or post them, either way. it's this user id @yahoo.com

my specialty is ID lanyards (for holding work ID badges). people at my work love them.

Pagan Spiritualist... very cool.

Always good to have different faiths represented on the board. Makes the discussions less polarized.

Welcome dear lady

ALRIGHTY!!! You're in luck girlfriend. I just don't have any pictures up of these particular prayer chains (just the traditional buddhist is up on my site) up yet. I forgot that our computer crashed and the pictures were lost before I could get the buggers up. ROTFLMAOL!!!

You don't need a 3 holed finding. In fact, you don't use one unless you really, really, REALLY want one. Making a proper mala, you just run both ends of your string (typically you use silken cord, but you know me. I use the sterling silver I buy from Isreal) from the top of the bead through to the bottom then tie off. Or you could use a crimping bead and crimp it inside the tassel.

Now, there's actually 3 types of mala. What I explained above is for the wrist one (23-2 and then the traditional (108 beads).





There's also another one, with the 108 beads, but there's an addition of two more tassels added at these point counts (between the 25th and 26th beads on right and on left-mantra points). In this case, you're running 2 thin cords through the beads, but the 2nd one only runs from the upper portion of your chain, the ends left dangling at both of those points, then additional beads and focal added then closed off with a tassel as well. Here's a picture of what I'm explaining...



I've got to get running for a bit, but when I get back, I'll add my store's link to my profile so you can look at the buddhist one's I've got made and pictures of. In the meantime, these pictures will give you the idea of the malas I was describing.

Thanks for the warm welcome. ((((HUGZ))))