Prayer Beads!

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This was a homework assignment from a few weeks that I am pretty proud of. Dad has been doing leading more rites and classes and activities as part of his work for the Conflux, and I've sorta come along, helping out as a rite-tender for a few kid-focussed things, and that's made me want to explore more of my personal connection with the Wanderers too.

So my assignment here was to figure out what about my spirituality I wanted to focus on as a regular (like every-day-ish) thing. I wanted something that's a bit more involved than casual talking-to-gods, but not quite as flowery as traditional Conflux ritual language (which I like, but it's also Very Adult Formal usually). The repetition of something like beads is really helpful for me, plus just having something in my paws to fidget with really helps me relax and focus.

(click for full-size!)

Each distinct bead type has its own phrase, meaning there's one set of four phrases to begin, then a similar shorter version of those that repeats, alternating with sections that focus on specific spirits. Four of those are Wanderers, while the longer wooden-bead section at the top is for the wolf/pack spirits (which is technically a different tradition altogether from the Conflux, but we're pluralistic like that ;))

Here's the whole thing, since there was intereat ^.^

(starting with the four round beads; the pendant at the bottom isn't part of the prayers)
I walk below the Lights above, and Spark charges me

I walk among the Streets around, and Stone supports me

I walk atop the pulse below, and Smoke changes me

I walk with you Wanderers, and we follow the Rivers

(then the repeating colored beads, starting with the blue-green one)
Lights above me

Streets around me

Pulse below me

You are with me

(warm gray bead with dark iridescent beads)

Dancer-Between, you lead me to wonder

Thank you for the rhythm of your guiding beat

Help me to hear it wherever I go

I walk with you, Dancer-Between

 

(repeat the short phrases)

 

(fancy multicolored beads)
Player-with-Light, you show me how to be seen

Thank you for the inspiration of your radiant colors 

Help me to find the right shifts for my shape

I walk with you, Player-with-Light

 

(repeating section)

 

(wood and bone beads)
Pack, I am always among you.

May our Howl be clear wherever we go

May our Teeth and Claws bring us sustenance

May we live in harmony with Earth and Sky 

May we be brought together through Silence

Pack, you are always within me.

 

(repeating section)

 

(metal beads)
Sculptor-of-Pieces, you mold me to be strong

Thank you for the fine forgework of your bonds

Help me to make the best fit with those close to me

I walk with you, Sculptor-of-Pieces

 

(repeating section)

 

(cool gray bead with light iridescent beads)
Singer-in-Silence, you call me to be heard

Thank you for the clarity of your heart and your words

Help me to know how to share my own voice

I walk with you, Singer-in-Silence

 

(repeating section)

 

It looks a bit long but the whole thing takes just a couple minutes to go through and it is indeed really focusing and grounding and connecting to go through all of it. And I'm very proud of how they came together!