If you are feeling like you want to make a change in your life but don’t have clarity on what needs to change, this book and the tool you will learn to use through it— meditation beads, also called Buddha beads, prayer beads, rosary beads, worry beads, or malas—will help you make that change.
Modern Guide to
MEDITATION
BEADS
Shannon Yrizarry is an astrology writer, healer, kundalini yoga teacher, and clairvoyant. She has been featured on Refinery29, The Zoe Report, and Viceland TV as a healer and dream interpreter. She writes about tarot, astrology, meditation, yoga, and more for AstrologyAnswers.com and DailyLife.com. Her first book, Psychic Yoga: Ignite Your Intuition with Chakra and Energy Work, was published in 2020, and she has also been published in The Sedona Journal of Emergence, Conscious Magazine, and Light of Consciousness magazines.
Modern Guide to
MEDITATION
BEADS Shannon Yrizarry
Llewellyn Publications WOODBURY, MINNESOTA
Modern Guide to Meditation Beads © 2020 by Shannon Yrizarry. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Publications except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
first edition First Printing, 2020 Book design by Rebecca Zins Cover design by Shannon McKuhen Llewellyn is a registered trademark of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd. Library of Congress Cataloging-In-Publication Data Names: Yrizarry, Shannon, author. Title: Modern guide to meditation beads / Shannon Yrizzary. Description: First edition. | Woodbury, Minnesota : Llewellyn Publications, [2020] | Includes bibliographical references. | Summary: “This book explores the history and symbolism of meditation beads, which are spiritual tools that have been used around the world for thousands of years, and shows you how to choose beads, make your own bracelets and necklaces, and use the beads for meditation, self-improvement, goal setting, and more. Readers also will learn how to integrate essential oils, astrology, crystals, numerology, mantras, and ayurveda into their meditation practice”—Provided by publisher. Identifiers: LCCN 2020029702 (print) | LCCN 2020029703 (ebook) | ISBN 9780738765013 (paperback) | ISBN 9780738765150 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Beads—Religious aspects. | Meditation. Classification: LCC BL619.B43 Y75 2020 (print) | LCC BL619.B43 (ebook) | DDC 203/.7—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020029702 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020029703 Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd. does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business transactions between our authors and the public. All mail addressed to the author is forwarded but the publisher cannot, unless specifically instructed by the author, give out an address or phone number. Any internet references contained in this work are current at publication time, but the publisher cannot guarantee that a specific location will continue to be maintained. Please refer to the publisher’s website for links to authors’ websites and other sources. Llewellyn Publications A Division of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd. 2143 Wooddale Drive Woodbury MN 55125-2989 www.llewellyn.com Printed in the United States of America
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book is a cosmopolitan of different times, different places, and many long traditions. I am extremely grateful for the friends who took time to share their stories about using meditation beads of all kinds for a specific intention. When I was starting to learn about the power of intention, I read books that included personal stories, and it was those stories that helped me see a new possibility and personal power because I felt those people writing the stories were like me. I would like to personally thank Naha Armady, Afimaye Galarraga, Rachel Surinderjot Zelaya, Madre Jaguar, Martine Brown, and Danielle Tyrrell.
When you welcome meditation beads into your life, you will unlock the power of intention. That power can change everything. This is not just an instructional book but a way to make you come alive again.
CONTENTS
Introduction…1 1:
History of Meditation Beads…5
Tibetan Buddhist Use of Meditation Beads 6 Meditation Beads in Hindu India 8 History of Catholic Traditions Using Meditation Beads 9 Muslim Use of Meditation Beads 10 History of Meditation Beads in Africa 10 Materials Used to Make Beads 11 How We Can Apply This History 12 2:
Components of Meditation Beads…15 The Significance of 108 16 The Significance of the Guru Bead 19 The Significance of the Tassel 20 The Significance to Different Cultures 20
Contents 3:
Mantras to Use with Your Beads…23 Mantras That Help You Manifest 26 Base Mantras for Meditation Beads 30 Mantras to Help You Manifest Love 33 Mantras to Help You Be Creative 35 Mantras for Courage 36 Mantras for Intuition and Wisdom 37 Mantras for Protection from Negativity 39 Mantras for Peace 41 Mantras That Lower Stress 42
4:
How to Use Meditation Beads…51 How to Hold the Beads 53 How to Set a Clear Intention Using Meditation Beads 54 5 Steps to Crafting Your Perfect Intention 60 5 Steps to Infuse the Beads with Your Intention 64 How to Use the Moon Cycles with Your Meditation Beads 69 How to Use Essential Oils with Your Meditation Beads 73 Spells for Meditation Beads 86
x
Contents 5:
Choosing Materials with the Right Energy…111
Choosing Crystal Meditation Beads and Their Healing Properties 112 Different Types of Wooden Meditation Beads 120 How to Make Meditation Beads for Your Dosha 125 A Mala for Each Dosha Season 129 How to Make Meditation Beads for Your Personal Astrology 131 Choosing Essential Oils Based on Western Astrology 134 Crystals for Each Moon Sign 139 Crystals for Each Sun Sign 144 Crystals for Your Second House 146 How to Use Numerology to Make Meditation Beads 149 How to Choose the Right Meditation Beads as a Gift 156 6:
Making Necklaces and Bracelets…159 What You’ll Need to Make the Necklace 160 Where to Find the Materials 160 What Can You Expect to Spend for Beads 161 Simple Steps to Make Your Necklace 163
xi
Contents
Optional Techniques for Making Your Necklace 165 How to Make a Tassel 166 54-Bead Necklace 168 27-Bead Bracelet 169 Other Types of Wrist Meditation Beads 170 Fun Group Activities for Making Meditation Beads 175 Meditation Beads for Children 177 7:
Caring for Your Beads…179
What It Means If Your Meditation Beads Break 180 How to Clean Your Meditation Beads 181 How to Clear the Energy of Past Owners or Handlers of Meditation Beads 182 How to Reset the Intention for Your Meditation Beads 183 How to Care for a Sacred Power Object 184 Saints, Sages, and Gods to Call On to Bless Your Beads 187 Conclusion…197 Glossary…201 Sources…203
xii
Introduction Look not for refuge in anyone but yourselves. Buddha
This book is about the cross-cultural practice of using meditation beads as a life-transforming tool. You will get a clear understanding of where the practice of using meditation beads came from as well as instructions on how to use them and make them. You’ll be inspired to use them to develop parts of yourself you want to work on and even things in life you want to manifest. Meditation beads can be a powerful sacred item in your life that will allow you to see how your own mind can be harnessed to help you in practical ways. They are great for both the deep spiritual seeker and someone needing a tool to help them with more simple day-to-day things. If you are feeling like you want to make a change in your life but don’t have clarity on what needs to change, this book and the tool you will learn to use through it—meditation beads, also called Buddha beads, prayer beads, rosary beads, worry 1
Introduction
beads, or malas—will help you make that change. When you welcome meditation beads into your life, you will unlock the power of intention. That power can change everything. This is not just an instructional book but a way to make you come alive again. As you learn about how to use meditation beads and develop a daily habit of using them, you will experience how the object itself represents much more than a decorative piece of jewelry and instead exemplifies the actual ability you have to co-create your reality. If this feels confusing now, by the end of this book you will understand much more. The tradition has lasted and expanded throughout the world not because it’s a fashionable look but because it opens the mind and expands your energetic ability to dictate the story of your own destiny. Are you ready? Let’s learn how to use this special tool and help you live the life of your dreams, deepen your spiritual connection, heal your emotions, and find peace. When I began writing this book, I reached out to friends to gather their personal stories about meditation beads. They enthusiastically replied with a variety of inspiring experiences. Rachel Surinderjot Zelaya relayed a story of using the beads to feel safe and at ease while working in the Peace Corps in a remote area. She was so inspired by how the beads shifted her experience that she started her own bead-making business. World-renowned medium Afimaye Galarraga shared an amazing story of healing wherein his client’s son
2
Introduction
was in a coma from a shooting. The deceased spirit of the grandmother relayed a message to him for the mother to use a healing prayer with meditation beads for her son. When the boy came out of the coma, he said his grandmother had been with him during his coma. Another amazing story came from Danielle Tyrrell, who used the beads to shift her financial status from struggling to abundant. She also was so inspired by the experience that she and her mother started making meditation beads to share with the world. Naha Armady, a good friend and incredible esoteric teacher, said she uses meditation beads to reduce anxiety while flying. Meditation beads involve the recitation of an affirmation, or mantra, which is a form of self-hypnosis. Hypnosis is not just about hoping you can change; there is science that proves it really works. Hypnosis is used successfully to reduce pain, aid in weight loss, reduce the pain of childbirth, reduce depression, help people stop smoking, and reduce anxiety and the symptoms of PTSD. We are always getting subconscious programming from our environment and our experiences, so hypnosis is merely digging into that programming to redirect the thoughts we are having that aren’t helpful. In many ways, using meditation beads is a form of retraining our thought patterns that occur in the subconscious. What’s interesting about hypnosis and mantras is the use of the spoken word to direct the unconscious mind. There are different types of hypnosis or hypnotizing practices from
3
  Introduction 
many cultures. If you look at most religions, they often include practices that will put you into a trancelike state and direct your mind in a positive direction. When people pray throughout the day, they are building a state of trust in their subconscious mind. Many of these practices, including using meditation beads, are employed without the use of a therapist. It seems we have always been using tools to redirect the subconscious and create positive patterns of thinking to override negative ones. What one experiences in the process of repeating a mantra 108 times is similar to what one would experience in a hypnosis session where the therapist uses language to direct the subconscious mind while you’re in a relaxed state. The more you visualize the desired outcome while using the meditation beads, the stronger the mantra will work. You can visualize to the extent of feeling real emotions based on what you visualize, just as if you were completely engrossed in a movie. The brain has a mechanism that analyzes and compartmentalizes, and there is a part that triggers emotions and allows creativity. The use of meditation beads harnesses both of these parts of the brain to create lasting change and train you to become the person you wish to be, leaving undesirable thoughts behind. In many ways, meditation beads are creating a structure for your creativity to amplify the energy you want to grow in your own mental patterns.
4
CHAPTER 1
History of Meditation Beads There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness. Dalai Lama
We’ll begin by exploring the history of meditation beads and what they have been traditionally used for. The history is very expansive since it began around the time of our first written language and first written texts. Think of the rise and fall of nations that has occurred since written history began. Consider the significance of an item that has lasted that long and the value it must confer upon its owners by its use. Few other rituals have lasted the test of time and even expanded so exponentially. Before you picked up this book, you probably didn’t
5
History of Meditation Beads
realize how meditation permeates such a large portion of the world. Two-thirds of the world use some type of meditation beads. They have been traded, used to show status, used for protection, used to count mantras, and used to realize one’s intention or remind one of it. They are still used by Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians. They may be called Buddha beads, prayer beads, rosary beads, worry beads, or malas. Meditation beads have been used since the eighth century BCE. They originated in India and then began to be used in other countries. The tradition was originated by Buddhists and was adopted by other religions and spiritual systems. It inspired Catholics in Europe to use a rosary, and the practice was picked up in China, Tibet, Japan, and Korea. Just to put this in some context, let’s think about what we know was going on in the world during that time. During the eighth century, Rome was founded and the Vedic period of India began. This was the time of Homer’s epic poems. Needless to say, times were very different than today.
Tibetan Buddhist Use of Meditation Beads Meditation beads were known as Buddha’s pearls and can be traced to a sutra where Buddha instructed a king to make the beads of soapberry and recite the three jewels of Buddhism. In different sects of Buddhism in Japan, the beads are sometimes longer and sometimes shorter. They were used to count the recitation of mantras as well as the recitation of the names of
6
History of Meditation Beads
Buddha, which are many. They were also used to count prostrations and breaths. Monks became known by their shaved heads and the beads they wore on their neck, although the beads were not originally a symbol of being a monk. The story of the Buddha telling the king to chant the three jewels of Buddhism is quite revealing about how the meditation beads can help us today. The very first story of the use of meditation beads that is recorded says that the king was distraught over the conditions the people of his kingdom were living in. It was bleak, and the time they could spend in prayer and meditation was shortened by the need to labor for food and shelter just to survive. The worried king then asked what one could do that was less time consuming but still allow them to achieve spiritual consciousness. The practice of using the beads was for those who could not afford the time to be monks, and now the beads bring to mind the very notion of a monk. This is when the Buddha told him to start using 108 beads and chant “I take refuge in the Buddha, I take refuge in the dharma, I take refuge in the sangha” on each bead except the guru bead. Dharma means the power that upholds the universe as well as one’s duties for right action. Today when yoga studio teachers say dharma, they mean that dharma is the person’s soul purpose that will lead them to fulfillment. It is said that once one gets past their karma or moves beyond it by clearing it, they can move into their dharma, which is living for
7
History of Meditation Beads
the highest good. This concept is not necessarily a religious one. It is the voice within that is connected to the higher spiritual self. Today we often talk about goal setting, and the term “dharma” can help guide us to non-ego-based goals that can help us focus on helping others instead of just ourselves. The more we serve, the better we feel, and the better others feel about us. It’s a nice sentiment to meditate on even in the modern age. Sangha means community or group of spiritual people. It is the people you are around that help you on your spiritual path by living simply and humbly. It is the group that focuses on higher consciousness, mindful living, and being of service where needed. It is a group of people that help you focus on your spiritual identity, compassion, and relinquishing the desires of the ego that can lead to pain and suffering. It can also refer to a community of nuns or monks.
Meditation Beads in Hindu India In the Hindu tradition, meditation beads were rudraksha seeds, which mean the tears of Shiva. The Vedic scriptures say that Shiva went into deep meditation for humanity and woke crying tears of compassion, which are represented by the tree seeds. The seeds themselves are viewed as healing and a gift for humanity. This reflects similar stories in religious scriptures that tell of the healing properties in nature.
8
History of Meditation Beads
History of Catholic Traditions Using Meditation Beads To practice something is to work towards perfecting it. The Sanskrit term for practice is sadhana, and the repetition is japa. When India traded these beads to Rome, they thought the word japa was jap, which means rose, which is where the term rosary came from. Interestingly, before most people could read and write, rosaries were used as a way to recite the stories of Mary and Jesus. Practitioners would chant because they could not read the Bible even if they could get one. Producing books was very difficult, and few had the opportunity to learn to read. They were also used by those who could not attend the monastic hours of prayer and contemplation in the Catholic tradition. In the sixteenth century, Pope Leo X made rosary use official after Christians in Ireland used the beads tracing back to the ninth century. The practice of using rosary beads became an icon of the church, but many people don’t realize that the rosary’s history originates in India. The meditation beads are categorically used to overcome worry. In Catholicism the guru bead is a crucifix and the symbolism is different, but the intention to overcome worry remains.
9
History of Meditation Beads
Muslim Use of Meditation Beads Muslims began using prayer beads in the seventeenth century, and theirs traditionally have ninety-nine beads to symbolize the names of God. Their necklaces are called subha beads. There is also a stopper bead (a bead of a different size that marks one complete recitation of prayers or mantras) in this tradition. Later in the twentieth century, Greeks used prayer beads that warded off bad energy. Theirs were shorter, usually with 17–23 beads. Using the beads as protection or as a talisman is still very common in many cultures.
History of Meditation Beads in Africa There is a long history of bead making in Africa. In Nigeria beads are a big part of the culture and have a long history. Nigeria is well known for its glass beads and long beads. While there are many cultures throughout the world that use beads, one cannot travel to Africa without seeing how significant beads are to everyday life. Beads are made from shell, seeds, bone, wood, and clay, as well as metal. In the religion of the Yoruba people, the necklaces represent the deities who are called Orishas. Yoruba is an African religion linked to the area formerly known as Yorubaland, which is now southwestern Nigeria as well as parts of Togo and Benin (smaller neighboring countries). While not all Yoruba people practice the Yoruba religion, it is a religious system with three main deities and hundreds of others. Beads worn around the
10
  History of Meditation Beads 
waist traditionally have been used to prevent stillborns or miscarriages, and more rare beads were the signatories of royalty in the community. The people in West Africa have been making beads since the eleventh century BCE. Beads have a strong spiritual significance; some are used for fertility, while others show the rank of the priests. The beads carry so much significance that only certain ranks in the religious society are permitted to wear certain beads. The beads connect them to the gods and are holy. Some beads adorn talismans for protection and curing disease, and many beads are used to draw the attention of the opposite sex, although you’d want to be sure not to wear the sacred beads in the wrong way. Surely the curative, manifesting, and protective qualities given to the beads further the argument that these beads have been helping people for a very long time, just as in other cultures who found they became great tools.
Materials Used to Make Beads Most groups used materials that were readily available to make them. Seed pods were the first bead necklaces. Seeds were originally a way to keep track of money, and eventually the seeds were put on strings instead of kept loosely. The abacus, which is the first counting machine, came from this time. The different materials used to make meditation beads also carry traditional significance. Because meditation beads can be used for many different intentions, pairing the beads with the
11
History of Meditation Beads
material that aids in that purpose is also focused upon. The energy of certain earth elements is known throughout cultures to connect with different spiritual properties. For example, the precious metals of gold and silver are used to help increase life span and knowledge. The bodhi tree, or fig tree (Ficus religiosa) that Buddha sat under to reach enlightenment inspires the use of the phrase “bodhi seeds.” Bodhi came to mean “seed of enlightenment.” These seeds are referred to today as rudraksha seeds, and they can also be made from the wood of the tree. There are many different types of woods used, depending on the intent of the prayer. The most basic beads used were rattan seeds, which are ivory with spots. They become darker with use. These were considered good for general use, which could be the counting of prostrations or general reciting of the traditional mantras. And believe it or not, some meditation beads were made from human bones.
How We Can Apply This History In the original Buddhist tradition, the action was to remind the person that it is possible to break the cycle of birth and death. That truth is one that is quite hard for our modern mind to grasp. How can we conceive of still being alive in some form yet not being in a body? While it may feel odd at first to contemplate, let’s look at why spending time with this idea of an eternal spirit is valuable in our day-to-day life. This perspective has a significant amount of power in it.
12
History of Meditation Beads
Think for a moment of the spiritual practices that all tend to renounce physical or material desires for a greater desire to reach enlightenment. How would one get upset about losing a job, not getting picked for a team, or even breaking up with a significant other if they were focused on none other than breaking the cycle of death and birth? It would encourage them to do something every day that pointed their thoughts towards purifying their spirit instead of accumulating security in the physical world. It’s actually not a religious idea but an energetic one instead. Meditation beads have traditionally been more than a tool to send out a request from the universe. They are also sacred power objects that are known to provide spiritual healing and protection. They are also known to bring out positive qualities of the person who wears them, such as inner peace, spiritual oneness, joy, and inner wisdom. Interestingly, the word bead actually means “to pray.” The old English word bede or bid means “to command, wish, or direct.” In Sanskrit the beads are called malas. The word mala means “garland.” They were often blessed in a ritual that was meant to imbue the beads with power and healing properties for the person using them. While the meditation beads were never used to control others in a negative way, they were and still are used to help others. They can be used to send healing to others or even tame someone’s ill intentions. The protective nature of the beads
13
History of Meditation Beads
in this way is not to control what someone thinks; it’s more about subduing negative spirits that may be afflicting someone. While it’s uncommon that we talk of bad spirits, those sensitive to the energetic world are familiar with what could be called streams of consciousness that exist on different frequencies. If a person is affected by illness, a healer may work to remove the negative energy through compassion. Meditation beads have often been given to a healer with a request to pray for a loved one who is struggling with their health or emotions. Healers in all cultures are those who can both sense and send energy; they are powerful meditators who use their own mind very skillfully. The root cause of many illnesses and afflictions is usually energetic in nature. Finding the root energetic cause can heal many ailments and emotional disturbances. For those of us untrained in the healing arts, we must combat our own monkey mind, which gets distracted easily. Perhaps the daily practice of just focusing on a mantra would begin preparing you to send healing to someone to help them be protected. It helps to know how these tools have been used so we can see how to apply them to our own lives.
14
Body, Mind & Spirit / Meditation
The Transformative
Practice of
Meditating with Beads
........
Learn how to use meditation beads to cultivate love, transformation, and peace in your life Meditation beads are spiritual tools that can change your life today. Exploring practices that have been used around the world for thousands of years, this book helps you get started with meditation beads or bring your current meditation practice to a higher level. Mindfulness and meditation are proven methods for self-care, stress relief, personal growth, and spiritual insights. Modern Guide to Meditation Beads explores the history and symbolism of this practice, and it shows you how to choose beads to make your own meditation bracelets and necklaces. Author Shannon Yrizarry provides hands-on tips and techniques for using them in meditation, and she explores how to integrate essential oils, astrology, crystals, spells, and numerology into your practice. You will discover how to use mantras and affirmations and what to do if your meditation beads break. With this book as your guide, you will learn one of the world’s most popular spiritual practices with profound personal results. SHANNON YRIZARRY teaches meditation and leads workshops on self-transformation. She is a certified yoga teacher and Reiki practitioner, and she’s worked as a clairvoyant and card reader. Shannon is also the author of Psychic Yoga. She lives in Portland, Oregon. Visit her online at www.shannonyrizarry.com.
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