Below are some images from the Mijan Interlocks fashion show of models wearing our blessing bead malas/ necklaces and protection bracelets.
Island inspired necklaces and bracelets made from locally sourced materials, made by a small community of artisans with disabilities. Made with thought and intent, meant to bless, guide and protect the wearer.
Butterfly Woman
Stories, Myths and Ancient Folklore about Butterflies ~
Many of the ancient civilizations believed that butterflies were symbols of the human soul.
The Greeks believed that a new human soul was born each time an adult butterfly emerged from its cocoon.
Aristotle gave the butterfly the name psyche, the Greek word for soul.
Butterflies have been used by the Chinese and Japanese cultures for centuries as symbols of joy and the essence of happiness.
Both cultures have added them to manuscripts, paintings and drawings for centuries.
Early Europeans believed that the human soul took the form of a butterfly so, they viewed the butterfly with great respect and often with fear.
Northern Europeans thought that dreams were the result of the soul-butterfly's wanderings through other worlds.
In southern Germany, some say the dead are reborn as children who fly about as butterflies, resulting in the belief that they bring children.
The Irish believe that butterflies are the very soul of a human being. And they believe white butterflies hold the souls of departed children.
A small town in Mexico also sees the butterflies as souls, and it is that town that the monarch butterflies migrate every year on and around the holiday of the Day of the Dead. They are seen as the returned souls of the deceased.
In Roman culture they were placed on coins as a symbol of the soul.
Native American Indian legends told that butterflies would carry the wishes to the Great Spirit in heaven to be granted.
Shoshone Indians believed that butterflies were originally pebbles, into which the Great Spirit blew the precious breath of life.
The Blackfeet Indians believe that dreams are brought to us in sleep by a butterfly.
The butterfly is a symbol of the fertility of the earth among some tribes of Mexico.
Born out of the caterpillar in the chrysalis, butterflies were a symbol of rebirth, regeneration, happiness, and joy to Native Americans in Mexico.
A dying man in the Solomon Islands has a choice as to what he will become at death and often chooses a butterfly.
When the butterfly dies, that is the end of the soul forever.
The Aztecs believed that the happy died in the form of beautiful butterflies and would visit their relatives to assure them that all was well.
These butterflies flew around the house and around bouquets of flowers which were carried by Aztec men of social rank.
Metamorphosis of butterflies and moths is one of the mysteries of Nature. For Christians, the butterfly's three steps of metamorphosis as caterpillar, pupa and then winged insect are reminiscent of spiritual transformation. The caterpillar represents our earthy selves, the chrysalis represents our tomb and the free flying butterfly represents our spirit reborn.
Blessings to You
Model Lauren Mackay wearing stacks of blessing bead protection bracelets and semi precious gemstones and a 108 Blessing Bead mala/ necklace with insert gemstones and a handmade tassel. The tassel represents the 1,000 petal lotus a symbol of enlightenment. Clothing by Mijan Interlocks. All available at Lee's Fifth Avenue in Manor Park and My Jamaica in Liguanea Plaza.
Below are some images from the Mijan Interlocks fashion show of models wearing our blessing bead malas/ necklaces and protection bracelets.
Below are some images from the Mijan Interlocks fashion show of models wearing our blessing bead malas/ necklaces and protection bracelets.
Mijan Interlocks
http://www.facebook.com/storyandmyth
Backstage at the Mijan Interlocks Fashion show where our jewelry accessorized the collection. It was a spiritual themed fashion show with chanting, drumming and world beat music. Models Gabrielle Davis and Maylynne Lowe wearing our Blessing Bead Protection bracelets with gemstones and 108 blessing bead mala/ necklace with gemstone inserts.
Shop Story and Myth
If you see something on our facebook page send us a message and we can place it in our etsy shop for you to buy. Items take 3 to 4 days and ship anywhere in the US from Jamaica, you can also track your items online. Contact us for the discount code before checkout.
Darkness to Light
This styling is more dark in comparison to sunny island sea and sand imagery. It represents an awake and grounded individual an empowered human being, a warrior, a goddess. Someone who has confronted the shadow and sees it for what it is.
Story and Myth Blessing Beads, sacred, spiritual, sourced from secret island finds. Protection bracelets and malas (assorted prayer bead necklaces shown).
Island Inspired Spiritual Jewelry
A Mala of Love & Victory
Lord Krishna was born in the city of Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh and it is said that these seeds are found only in the forests around Mathura - the land of Krishna. In India they are known as vaijanti. They are associated with love & victory over any adversity, a mala (prayer bead) made of these vaijanti beads was believed to be a favorite of Lord Krishna. The beads are beautiful, smooth and shiny and feel like a pearl or porcelain when tapped against the teeth. I have always known them as Job's tears named after Job in the bible. Sometimes I wonder if Krishna is Christ and vise versa - phonetically they sound similar. There are no documents of Christ after age 12 or before age 30 ~ I wonder if he was travelling throughout India as both teachings are similar. It is said that Krishna made a mala for Radha out of these seeds, as did Ram for Sita. It is also said that the Vaijanti seed comes from the forests where the god and goddess eternally make love and is a mala of love and victory.
So all this time I have been using these beads which I absolutely love and mixing them with gemstones and just found out this wonderful new Story and Myth about them.
Yoga, Tea & Mala Beads
Eat.Bead.Love – A Mala Bead Workshop
Enjoy a gentle yoga practice followed by a workshop where you will make your very own mala prayer beads.
Job's Tears & Gemstones
Sleeping in the Dark: Protection Bracelets
Its raining in Florida, flood watches yesterday and there were tornados in North Florida. But I am up early could not sleep had images of the Pied Piper. The character who was able to rid the German town of Hamlin of its rat problem, he did this by playing a tune on his flute which entranced the rats who followed him into the river and drowned. The mayor and towns people did not follow their financial agreement and did not pay him, so later he came back dressed as a hunter and played a different tune which only the children could hear. The children including the mayors grown daughter followed the Pied Piper never to be seen again. I mention this story because I look a little closer and tend to observe more of late. After volunteering with two separate groups of inner city kids, whose topics are current happenings in the Kingston newspaper: police brutality, neighborhood dons, murder, violence, child abuse etc. I did some beading with them when the art supplies and art room was locked, both boys and girls were so concentrated as they beaded and strung up their own piece of jewelry, unbeknownst to them they were making a protection necklace a string of prayer beads. Many witness violence daily they are all so young in the six grade about to go into high school, yet full of curiosity and tenderness, I wanted to somehow protect all of them when they venture out into the neighborhood, away from the school.
Later today I am hopeful there will be a great turn out inspite of the weather here. The blessing and protection of a most beautiful space, the intention setting of several people many of whom are yogis, lovers of life. Looking forward to a great afternoon of community, meditation, intention setting and holding sacred space, power, blessing and protection for all.
The photo above is a thank you note from the mother of a four year old who had trouble sleeping in the dark and who is now able to sleep in the dark because he wears his blessing bead bracelet which protects him.
Prana Yoga hosts Mala Making
Make Your Own Mala with Kristie Stephenson
Sun Date: Jun 23, 2013 From: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Blessing Bead Malas (prayer beads) serve the yoga and wellness communities by providing them with an island inspired and designed necklaces and bracelets made from locally sourced materials, made by a small community of artisans.
Jamaican made malas or prayer beads. Made from the job's tears bead, we call them blessing beads. The tear shaped bead is named after Job in the bible a man who went through great suffering and loss yet kept his faith and god blessed him with double.
We create sacred spiritual jewelry by researching ancient myths and creating modern narratives in metal with precious and semi precious stones and secret island finds.
Fee Includes All Materials
Register at the Front Desk or online at www.pranayogamiami.com
Jamaican made malas or prayer beads. Made from the job's tears bead, we call them blessing beads. The tear shaped bead is named after Job in the bible a man who went through great suffering and loss yet kept his faith and god blessed him with double.
We create sacred spiritual jewelry by researching ancient myths and creating modern narratives in metal with precious and semi precious stones and secret island finds.
Fee Includes All Materials
Register at the Front Desk or online at www.pranayogamiami.com
Mala Making Meditation Workshop
IrieFarm's Deanne Zaidie will be hosting a Story and Myth Mala Making Meditation Workshop in beautiful Miami Beach on June 8th from 2:30pm to 4pm. Email; iriefarm@gmail.com to secure your spot. We will be setting intentions as you make your own piece of sacred jewelry using the Jobs tears seed bead, it is named after Job in the bible, a man who went through great suffering and loss yet he did not loose his faith in the storm, eventually he was blessed with double. The Jobs tears seed bead provides blessings of Peace, Goodwill and Protection. They are of the earth, they come polished and with a hole, mother natures perfect bead, they grow similar to corn and are used as a food source and medicine in Asia. When tapped against the teeth they feel like porcelain. They are full of earth energy, grounding, mixed with precious and semi precious stones we can create your own personal talisman.
The Rani & The Raj: The Sacred Feminine & The Divine Masculine: Blessing Beads Inspiration
Let Go and Let God
I love getting bags of these tear shaped beads which feel like porcelain when you tap them against your teeth. They are harvested way up in the hills by Winston a rastafarian farmer and gardener I've known since I was about 10 years old. He supplies fresh fruits and vegetables to my family and for me he delivers a bag of beads, the sight of which puts a huge smile on my face. They grow like corn, some people here in Jamaica have never heard or seen them some have, but most don't know what they are. They are called Job's Tears named after Job in the bible a man that went through great suffering and loss and who was rewarded double by God for his faith inspite of all that he went through. I refer to them as blessing beads they are infused with the earth's energy. Grown in Jamaica's nutrient rich soil and sunshine the island is a magical place of grounding and healing, the rock as some people call it. I make malas or necklaces with the help of Miss Paula. We use a 108 beads a sacred number in Buddhism and Hinduism as well as in the sciences. 108 blessing beads and a mantra, a mantra is an affirmation or prayer you say and you can use the beads to count. I have given many away as blessings to friends and strangers here is one person's message to me.
"Kristie, I wanted to tell you that I've gotten many compliments on your beads that you gave me. I wore them today simply because they matched my outfit . Then, I did my yoga 1st thing (which is a rarity) and they must have given me the courage to quit my job. I'm so happy now! Do these beads have some magic powers or something?"
We all go through difficult situations lets support each other in letting go and just letting god. Looking forward to the Caribbean Yoga Conference, the universe made it very possible to attend this year, it lined up people, places, so many many things, so inspite of how I am feeling, I am learning myself to let go and let god.
Namaste
Caribbean Yoga Conference 2013
Looking forward to the the CYC this year in Montego Bay and reconnecting with the wellness community. Working on malas for the VIP presenters. Main Event January 31st to February 3rd.
Visual Art Workshop
Meaning of 108 Beads on a Mala
The Warrior
I had to repost this beautiful story of the Warrior Poses by Sharon Gannon, read below. The poses and the feeling they created in me were inspiration for the story and myth warrior wrap bracelets.
Warrior Poses
If one is hurt by the arrows of an enemy, one is not as aggrieved as when cut by the unkind words of a relative, for such grief continues to rend one's heart day and night.
— Lord Siva, Bhagavat Purana
Underlying each yoga asana a story can be found. Some of these stories are ancient myths that can reflect to us our own deepest drives, obstacles and desires. — Lord Siva, Bhagavat Purana
The origin of the warrior poses, Virabhadrasana I, II and III is derived from an ancient story of Lord Shiva. The warrior poses illustrate an incident that occurred in the celestial realms in a timeless time long ago. This is a story of love, attachment, pride, shame, vengeance, violence, sadness, compassion and renunciation. The whole gamut of emotions can be found in this tale of pride and transformation.
Lord Shiva was married to his beloved Sati and lived in the pleasure city, Bhoga which he had created. Sati's father Daksha had never approved of his daughter's marriage. To Daksha, Shiva was an unorthodox hermit, who frequented cremation grounds. No yogi with long matted hair, who consumes intoxicants, sings and dances whenever he pleases, was a worthy husband for his daughter. Daksa the Prajapati (the worldly creator), was the upholder of civilization, he thrived on rules and regulations. Shiva was his antithesis.
Shortly after Sati had left her secure home with her father to live with Shiva, Daksa organized a great party, a yagna or ritual sacrifice. He invited all the members of the entire heavenly universe, all that is except Shiva and Sati. Sati got word of this and suggested to Shiva that they go anyway. Shiva said, "Why go, were we are not invited? I do not wish to incite your father's anger any more than I have already." Sati was hurt by her father's refusal to acknowledge her marriage and her husband; she decided to go alone to the party.
When she arrived her father asked her why she was there, as she was not invited. Her father, sniggering, said "Perhaps you have come to your senses and have had it with your wild animal of a husband, isn't he also called Lord of the Beasts?" All the guests present laughed. Sati defending her husband spoke, "He is one with nature and does not seek to control animals by bending them to his will. Society is artificial and exploits nature." This dialogue between father and daughter entertained the guests. Sati was saddened and humiliated by this public argument with her father. When her father tried to taunt her again she remained silent, letting go of all desire to continue to argue with her father in hopes of defending her husband. She trembled with disgust and indignation at having been so cruelly let down by the one man upon whom she, as a daughter, should always be able to rely. Instead she made an internal resolve to relinquish all family ties. She summoned up her strength and spoke this vow to her father, "Since you have given me this body I no longer wish to be associated with it." She walked past her father and sat in a meditative seat on the ground. Closing her eyes, envisioning her true Lord, Sati fell into a mystic trance. Going deep within herself she began to increase her own inner fire through yogic exercises until her body burst into flames.
When news of Sati's death reached Shiva, he was first shocked and saddened, then enraged. He fell into the deepest and darkest place he could find. He tore his hair out, and fashioned from this hair the fiercest of warriors, Siva named this warrior, Virabhadra. Vira (hero)+ Bhadra (friend). He commanded Virabhadra to go to the yagna and destroy Daksha and all guests assembled. Virabhradra arrives at the party, with sword in both hands, thrusting his way up through the earth from deep underground; this is the first aspect (Virabhadrasana I.) Establishing his arrival for all to see he then sites his opponent, Daksha, (Virabradhasana II.) Moving swiftly and precisely, he takes his sword and cuts off Daksha's head, (Virabadrasana III.)
Shiva arrives at Daksha's place to see the damage that Virabhadra had ravaged. After this vengeful action, Shiva absorbs Virabhadra back into his own form and then Siva becomes known as Hare, the ravisher. His anger is gone but now he is filled with sorrow. This sorrow turns to compassion when he sees the aftermath; the bloody work of Virabhradra. Shiva finds Daksha's headless body and giving it the head of a goat, brings Daksha back to life. Overwhelmed by this generous gesture Daksha calls Shiva, Shankar, the kind and benevolent one. With Daksha's pride put in check he bows in awe and humility to Shiva Shankar. The other gods and goddesses follow his lead and honor Shiva.
The fact still remained; Sati was dead. Shiva walked away from the scene of the party, carrying the lifeless body of his beloved wife, wandering to where he did not know. But one thing he was sure of; he would find the most isolated place possible and once again become the ascetic recluse.
The esoteric meaning of this story -
Shiva is the Higher Self who slays the prideful ego, (Daksha), for the sake of the heart, (Sati). Through means of infinite compassion, the higher Self forgives the ego but never the less withdraws to a secluded place with only the essential nature of the heart left intact. This essential nature of the heart is the power of love which will be brought to life again, in another form, but that's a different story, best saved for another time.
Sharon Gannon, April 2002 Focus
Caribbean Yoga Conference
VIP Presenters: Sharon Feanny (of shakti in Jamaica), Stacey Shanks, Gaia Buddhai (Jamaican woman who founded Synergy Yoga on South Beach), Moses Jas Jeet (founder I LOVE YOGA clothing), Seane Corn (who is Oprah's yoga teacher!), Toni Bergins, Katheryn Budig, Andrea Boyd, Jeffrey Cohen, Scott Feinberg, Amanda G., Subhadra Bowman, Paige Elenson, Jason Nemer, Coby Kozlowski, Leslie Salmon Jones, Noah Levine, Amy Lombardo, Nadine McNeil, Sadie Nardini, Simon Park, Jenny Sauer-Klein and MC Yogi.
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