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

Inspired by Elle Macpherson's malas (prayer beads), handmade tassels,  the beautiful Caribbean Sea, warm weather, the healing properties of this place nicknamed "the rock", the ability to wear a bikini all year.  Feeling blessed to be in Jamaica, a magical place full of possibilities, lots of island spirituality and good people here, shadows dwell here too, we pass them with a smile though.  I am in love with the Job's tears seed, here I am mixing them with gemstones in bright colours, the seeds are nurtured and grown in this nutrient rich soil and they are full of earth energy, the gemstones all have their particular healing magical qualities.  The handmade tassels represent the 1,000 petal lotus a symbol of enlightenment.  They are protection bracelets and prayer bead necklaces for you to wear as you go about your day.

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

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

I have a love for Indian Bollywood movies especially historic films one of my favorites is Jodha Akbar it is about the Muslim Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great, played by Hrithik Roshan, and the Hindu Rajput Princess Jodhabai who becomes his wife, played by Aishwarya Rai. My love for Indian textiles and gems especially how in the film tons of pearls would be paired with rubies or emeralds. Here I was inspired by the spirituality in the film, the blessing beads which are tear shaped pearls from the earth in Jamaica and combining them with precious and semi-precious stones. I am creating something that gives you power and protection a personal talisman. http://www.facebook.com/storyandmyth #driven #powerul #ladyboss #sacredfeminine #divinemasculine #malagoddess #islandmala #blessingbeads #storyandmyth #108beads #rubies #jade #jobstears #yoga #mantra #prayer #intentionsetting #madeinJamaica #integrity (Rani and Raj translates as Queen and King.)