After much meditation and consideration, I have opted for three prayers that are meaningful to me. 

The first is the English translation of the Aramaic prayer taught by Jesus. Not the church litany version, but a more recent translation that is closer to the meaning.  It is a prayer asking for what I personally need each day. 

“Holy Creator of us all, breath of life beyond yet within everything.
May your true nature be recognised as sacred.
Let your way of harmony and right-ordering take form.
Let your deepest intention unfold through us.
As in the unseen, so in the seen.
Give us today the nourishment we truly need.
Release us from the weights we carry.
As we release others from what they owe us.
Do not let us be overwhelmed by testing.
But draw us away from what harms and distorts.
For the pattern, the power, and the radiance belong to you — always.”

The second is a 20^th century prayer that reflects the values of Saint Francis of Assisi, as asking for help to have a right relationship with those in the community.

“Holy One, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine One, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

The third is another 20^th century prayer, a variation on the Great Invocation, written by Alice Bailey and inspired by Theosophical teachings. Here I am asking for my prayers to be part of the work for planetary upliftment.

“From the point of Light within the mind of the Holy One

Let Light stream forth into the minds of all mankind.

May divine Light descend on earth.

From the point of Love within the heart of the Holy One

Let divine Love stream forth into the hearts of all mankind.

May the Christ spirit live within us.

From the centre where the will of the Holy One is known

Let purpose guide the lesser wills of all mankind.

The purpose which the Angels and Ascended Masters know and serve.

From the centre which we call the race of Mankind

Let the Divine plan of Love and Light work out

And may it seal the doors where evil dwells.

Let the Holy One’s Light, Love and Power restore the Divine Plan on Earth.”

In the style of the rosary, I shall use 3 marker beads to indicate the start of each prayer.  Each bead in between will be one line of that prayer. That meant I needed 38 beads for the lines making a total of 41 beads.

Ideally I should make the beads myself – but that would be an impossible task for me.

I felt inwardly that for making something sacred I should use natural materials, or as near natural as I can get.  I began browsing the internet for beads made from natural materials like wood, bone, ceramics, fossils & stones.  I soon became disillusioned with the retailers that promised natural stone beads but sent plastic.  And as such I now have a stash of beads for which I have no purpose – yet.

The good news is that after much trial and error, I have finally found the right beads.

The larger brown beads are ten-millimetre round beads made from natural picture jasper. In crystal lore, picture jasper is associated with grounding — helping people feel connected to the earth and often linked with calmness and emotional balance. Because of these associations, it is often used as a supportive stone for quiet reflection and meditation.

The smaller cream beads are ceramic spacer beads. Their light colour provides a gentle contrast to the picture jasper and creates a natural rhythm as the beads move through the fingers in prayer.

The beads will be threaded on gold-tone silk. The golden thread serves as a reminder of the Divine light that runs through all things, quietly linking the whole of creation.

Once the beads are finished and strung together, I will add a photograph here so you can see the completed prayer beads. I hope you will return in a little while to see how they have come together.