Anglican Prayer Beads, also known as the Anglican rosary or Christian prayer beads, are a loop of strung beads which Anglicans, Episcopalians, as well as Christians of other denominations, use to order their prayer.  This particular way of using prayer beads was developed in the latter part of the 20th century within the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and has since been used by Lutherans, Methodists, the Reformed, as well as by members of Anglican Ordinariates within the Roman Catholic Church, thus giving rise to the term "Christian prayer beads".

Prayer:  Unlike the Dominican rosary used by Roman and Anglo Catholics, which focuses on the seminal events in the life of Christ and asks the Virgin Mary to pray for their intentions, Anglican prayer beads are most often used as a tactile aid to prayer and as a counting device. The standard Anglican set consists of the following pattern, starting with the cross, followed by the Invitatory Bead, and subsequently, the first Cruciform bead, moving to the right, through the first set of seven beads to the next Cruciform bead, continuing around the circle. He or she may conclude by saying the Lord's prayer on the invitatory bead and/or a final prayer on the cross as in the examples below. The entire circle may be done thrice, which signifies the Holy Trinity.

The Cross

In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Invitatory
O God make speed to save me (us),
O Lord make haste to help me (us),
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

The Cruciforms
Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon me (us).

The Weeks
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
Have mercy on me, a sinner.

The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

The Cross
I bless the Lord.
(Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God.)

The new journey

The new journey is this, take care of me.  I am not trying to change everything overnight.  I want to look at today, each moment and observe opportunities for positive change.  As I type this short entry I am checking in with my shoulders where I hold all my stress...deep yoga breath in, filling my lungs and as I exhale very slightly drop my chin and release the muscles at the base of my neck and shoulders.  Another quick breath and back to typing.  There, I just did something nice for me.  Throughout today I will ask myself "what is the next right thing" and make tiny baby steps toward a healthier thought process and healthier habits.

What can you do for you today that will be healing, loving, comforting and healthy...

Be well on your journey friends.

Sometimes Rainy Days are the hardest

Sometimes, rainy days are the hardest days.  The skies are cloudy, the light is dim, the rain starts to fall bringing that white noise that lulls most people right to sleep.  The dampness makes it feel colder than it actually is and it works on your spirit. 

I love the rain.  I love the sound and the out of the ordinary feel of a day with a lot of rain.  Things are slightly off kilter, but you can choose to be sad about it or remember that you can choose to look at it in a completely different way.

Some nice folks that have bought a few of my items from my Etsy site, Sacred Strands by Carol have written to me to actually share the story of why they wanted to purchase the items.  I was so blessed by this that I just wanted to pass it on. 

One lady wrote to me about the strand of beads she purchased pictured here

RA Awareness

Last night I decided to make a bracelet in honor of my sister, Emily.  She was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis a few years ago as were some other members of our family.  Our family strongly supports the Arthritis Foundation and the efforts to find a cure.  We have participated in the Jingle Bell Walk-Run as well as other fund-raising events for the Foundation.

I was inspired to make something to show my support for her and for this worthy cause.  This is what it looks like when I get started...

And the finished product...

Please click the picture above to see this listing on my Etsy site.

Please support the Arthritis Foundation

New Beginnings

Another new year and another new beginning.  Today I realized that I am doing much better at taking care of myself.  I am actually learning how to relax.  I have not been very good at that in the past.

If I do not make an effort to take care of me first, I won't be of any use to anyone else.  Today I worked on some new items for my shop and they were all recovery related.

Take a look at my newest listing (just click the picture to be taken to my Etsy site):

Step 3 Bracelet

Step 3:  Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.

This is a very important step, and a very difficult at that.  The great news is our higher power is very forgiving and patient and waits for us each time we need to "turn it over" to him again.

One day at a time, one moment at a time, one step at a time...we are not alone.

Blessings and peace for a happy and safe new year!

Carol
Sacred Strands

Serenity Prayer - take it with you

Each day at one point or another I have to remind myself to stop...drop...breathe and return...
1. Stop...stop panicking or carrying on about whatever stressor has hold of me at the moment
2. Drop...drop my shoulders, as they are inevitably raised to the level of my earlobes wracked with tension
3. Breathe...Inhale deep, filling my lungs and strong breath out releasing the bad thoughts/feelings/etc.
4. Return...Then as I take another inhalation...I return "here" to this moment...I sometimes even press a finger to the top of my sternum as if to say...we are right here...not in the past and not in the future...we are right here and now.

I started making Serenity Prayer items in my Etsy Shop.

Silver plated double mobius ring with the full version of the Serenity Prayer engraved on all sides.  This is a size 5 ring which I attached to a lobster claw clasp to be used as a zipper pull or add-on to your key ring.

Zipper-pull Serenity Prayer Ring

Serenity Prayer pewter tokens have the three words "Serenity, Courage, Wisdom" engraved on one side and  the serenity prayer engraved on the opposite side.  I attached a large jump ring, small length of chain and a key ring.  

listing for above item can be found at:  Serenity Prayer Key Ring

I made another version with a different type of key chain clasp, which can be found here:

Serenity Prayer Key Chain

Please let me know if you have any questions.  I would so appreciate you "liking" my Facebook page as well, which can be found at:  Sacred Strands Face Book Page

Remember...One Day at a Time...One moment at a time...step by step...we can do this together!

Sacred Strands

I know that in my life, with each advancing step I take I realize I need prayer more and  more and more.  I need the help of the community around me and the help of my higher power.  Lacking self-esteem I was not able to believe that anything I could make with my hands would be worth anything to anyone else.  I had, what I thought were, well-meaning friends trying to be nice complimenting the prayer beads I made.  They said "do you sell these?"  I thought...'what are you CRAZY?'  Then as I continued to work my recovery and take another look, I was very happy with the beads that I was stringing together.  I gave them as gifts or made them for others to give as gifts.  A friend suggested I try ETSY.com and I was skeptical.  I went online 11-11-11 and started my shop.  I have made 30+ sales in the last year, not including things I have sold offline.  I love making the beads and new creations.  I hope you will check my site.

I started making a line of recovery-themed items and those seem to be the best sellers.  Serenity Prayer keychains, bracelets themed after the 12-steps with focal beads flanked by bead caps to signify a specific step.  I include angel, cross, wing, key and dove charms all as symbols of freedom from that which brought us to need of recovery.  We are not alone.

I am so pleased to share my items on my etsy site located at  Sacred Strands

Please come by and visit.  Do let me know what you think.  I am always open to suggestions.

Blessings and peace,

Carol