Beads

The other day I was walking along the beach and began to notice bead like objects in the sand. So, I began picking them up and discovered that they were actually bits of coral and shell that time , sans and surf action had turned into natural beads.I collected a large bag of them and and will give them to my friend Mam in Thailand. She enjoys this type of natural beauty and simplicity.

I began to wonder about beads in history and how long they have been around. I was surprised to see that they have been around in various forms for over 80,000 years.

See below a short article I found on the net at ; http://www.mckenzieglassworks.com/history_of_beads.htm

you might find it interesting. If not Im sure you can easily locate more info elsewhere.

Tomahawk - scouts out!

A VERY SHORT HISTORY OF BEADS AND THEIR SYMBOLOGY

by Michelle McKenzie copyright 2006



Beads have been significant for many cultures for eons. They've been used as money and worn as talismans

and amulets to bring wisdom and fortune to the wearer. Found dating back 38,000 years, beads have

been made from pebbles, shells, teeth, claws, clay, glass and more. Glass became an important

material in beadmaking with its discovery, around 3400 years ago.

The word bead comes from the Anglo Saxon words bidden (to pray) and bede (prayer.) Prayer beads are known world-wide, and help the user recite prayers and keep track of the sequence and number of the prayers. Worry beads, also common around the world, help with decision-making, and keep the hands busy. Beads continue to be used as talismans to protect the wearer against evil, and as amulets to bring wisdom and fortune.

Used for prayers, protection, worries, money or adornment, beads have been important to us for a very long time. The history of beads is long and rich, and if you would care to read more, a list is offered at the end of this to assist you further in your studies.

Glass was discovered about 3,400 years ago, and since then has become a very important material for the bead-maker, user and wearer. Lampwork beads are made using a “lamp” (flame) as a heat source for melting the glass. Now lampworkers use torches to heat the glass to a molten state and gather it on a steel rod. Canes of glass are blended, melted and coaxed into the many colors, shapes and designs seen today.


SYMBOLOGY

There are a number of symbols used the world over in beads and other objects, and it’s useful to know the meanings of these. Symbolism, too, entails a huge body of work, and books on this subject are listed here as well. Below are a few that will be useful for this workshop.


bullet Spiral – a symbol of being, knowing or becoming.
bullet Circle – totality, perfection, unity, eternity. A symbol of completeness that can include ideas of permanence and dynamism.
bullet Eye – occult 3rd eye, or eye of the heart can mean spiritual perception. Sometimes an eye is painted on an object to protect against the evil eye. Blue is a favorite color for these.
bullet Dots – are also called eye beads and were used to protect against the evil eye.
bullet White – purity, innocence, truth, sacred or devine
bullet Black – loss, absence
bullet Red – life, strength, vitality, physical nature
bullet Yellow – intellect, mind
bullet Green – harmony, sympathy, higher mental plane
bullet Blue – inspiration, devotion, the spiritual nature


Suggested reading for further study:
bullet Beads; an Exploration of Bead Traditions Around the World. Janet Coles. Simon & Schuster. ISBN:068483462
bullet The Universal Bead. Joan Erikson. Norton. ISBN:0393310051
bullet Dictionary of Symbols. Jack Tresidder. Chronicle. ISBN:081181470X
bullet The Complete Book of Amulets & Talismans. Megene Gonzalez-Wippler. Llewellyn Publications. ISBN:087542287X