Celtic Soul Prayer Beads

Monday - Tales from the Studio

I used to wonder what the definition of prayer was until I came to realise prayer is what you make it.

Prayer could be a walk, it could be the action of making or creating something, or sitting in meditation.

It’s been many years since I made my first set of Celtic Soul Prayer Beads.

The day I created a prototype with an antler pendant, I had this urge to go outside. As I looked down the hill to the small stream at the bottom of the garden, after a few minutes I suddenly saw movement - and then suddenly I saw a herd of eight deer.

It was so odd I hadn’t seen them. While yes they are well camouflaged I also wonder was there an element of me not seeing them as this was the first time I had seen deer in the garden and perhaps seeing them just didn’t register?

On coming back indoors and working on the prayer beads - the idea of the symbolism of all the beads just came to me and from then on hundreds of prayer beads have been created with prayer and intention and gone out over the world into peoples hands.

This is my first collection of Prayer Beads since arriving back in Scotland (which will be three years this May). I think it’s only fitting that they honour the Goddess Brighid for to me Brighid is less of a figure in human form, and more of an energy.

Brighid for me is transformation in many forms. She is that magic in creativity, the movement in active hope - when we engage in doing something rather than just wishing or hoping for something. She is there in the action of making a difference, of taking the initiative, of working with people for the same goal, she is there in the heart of community.

Some previous Celtic Soul Prayer Bead sets

The tone of the prayer beads are set by the pendant and over the years and although my initial inspiration was creating sets related to the Ancestral Mothers - such as Eye of the Cailleach, Orca, Bear I went on to create sets with sets with pendants such as Sheila na Gig, with hagstones, snake, wolf, owl and spinning wheels.

Each bead in the set has meaning and symbolism.

The main circle of beads represent the wheels of the year and the holydays and energies of the season.

The three silver step beads after the pendant represent an invitation into sacred space

A mini course which goes into the symbolism and meaning of the beads is available with purchase.