Customer Reviews

A String and a Prayer: How to Make and Use Prayer Beads

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I found that there were a couple of nice ideas I hadn't seen before: one was the idea of making a string of beads to memorialize some occasion or person. A woman who had lost custody of her children, for example, made a string for each of them and told them when they held them she would be holding their hands. Another woman whose cat had died made a string using the colors of her cat's fur, and little charms that reminded her of her cat.

The other idea I liked was making a strand that was not in the form of a circle, but had a loop on one end and a pendant on the other, rather like a button and buttonhole. The strand could be buttoned into a circle around the wrist as a bracelet or around the neck as a neclace.

But beyond that I was a little disappointed in the book. It seemed mostly to be about prayer beads as an art form, rather like any other book on jewelry art, but there wasn't much about their actual use in prayer. There was a little lip service to prayer beads in world religions (including modern uses), but not much detail on the subject. I've found that sites on the Internet have a lot more information than her book did. There was a nice compilation of prayers at the end, but nothing about how to arrange them for use with prayer beads. The beads shown in the photos were in random arrangements, chosen more for length than number of prayers. The instructions would talk about using enough beads to make the necklace two feet long, for example.

Anyway, just my reaction. I've found so very much great information on the 'Net that the book just seemed to fall short. Actually Basil Pennington's book on the Catholic rosary ("Praying by Hand") had more information on prayer beads in world religions than Wiley's book did.

I originally bought this book hoping to find new styles, patterns, and detailed instructions to make the traditional Catholic style rosary.....however, what I ended up with was a wonderful tool explaining the meaning of rosaries and the spiritual significance and prayerful practice of making 'non-traditional' rosaries (Malas, Rosary Bracelets, Rosary Shawls, etc.).

Recommended for anyone who loves working with beads and incorporating beadwork into their spiritual practices. Few photographs (black & white only) and some crudely drawn (but user friendly) diagrams scarttered throughout the book. A good book for beginners, but advanced and professional Rosary Artisans may find this reading dreadfully dull.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I paid full price, but would definately recommend buying it 2nd hand or when it is on sale!

I think this book is probably most helpful if you are already familiar with meditative prayer, using beads or not. Selecting the beads and resources (or finding you already have them, as I did today after getting the book as a gift) and making the beaded object are all parts of a prayer in themselves. When you come back to the object you have created, you are aware of the process and the feelings you put into the work and can call these up again--either in actual prayers you have memorized or which come to you at the time *or* simply in holding the beads and moving them through your fingers. If you assign a special prayer purpose to each bead (red bead = pray for your mother or whatever) then you may use the beads with a prayer for each one like a traditional Catholic or Anglican rosary. But making the beaded piece itself creates a prayerful mood you have access to when you use it--or which you can explain to others if the piece is a gift.

It's a great little book about making and using stringed prayer beads. Now I am a spiritual person (in no way religious) and I have always thought prayer beads were interesting, mainly as a personal thing that would help you focus your energy in creating your intentions. I think sometimes with everything that goes on in our daily lives, it's hard to find that quiet still place inside yourself and I think prayer beads might be a good way to help facilitate that.

The book talks about all the different world religions that use prayer beads and what materials are used for the beads, what the significance of the number of beads mean and also the symbolism behind the colours used. It was really, really interesting. It also gave simple instruction about stringing prayer beads into the various traditional forms that people use. There were stories about why people made prayer bead strings and the effect they had on the people they gave them to.

I just really liked the idea that you could make strings specifically for say someone who is ill, as a tangible way to show your are sending them your love and good thoughts for their healing. Can you imagine how deeply touching it would be to be on the receiving end of that? I think that could be a very powerful gift.

My only wish is that the photos in this book were in colour because I think it would have enhansed the whole discovery experience. It might also have been nice to have photos of each of the materials used for beads (the different jems, wood, etc.) so if you didn't know what they looked like and wanted to buy some, you would have a better idea what you were looking for. (I guess I am just a very visual person.)

If you are interested in learning more about prayer beads, then this is the book for you.

I found this book to be both helpful in creating my own personal prayer beads, and also very empowering and liberating to my creativity. Although it discusses spiritual matters, it also addresses them in a playful way that makes spirituality more appealing.

I purchased this simply written book in wanting to learn more about prayer beads. Not simply a "how-to" book, it gives one inspiration for making their own sets of prayer beads with personal meaning. I got all the knowledge and inspiration I was looking for, and then some.

this is an easy to follow wonderful journey --- a mantra in itself - to be read over and over --- a treasure in the library of life --- peace --- rv

I found Eleanor's book to be very inspirational. Her prayer shawls are outstanding.