Spirit Beads..what are they??

How many of you pick up something put it in their pocket or rub it like a worry stone and just feel comforted by the feel?? Or feel an affinity for an animal or bird?? These to me would be Totems..or Talismans...

This is one type of spirit bead...another type is what do you like?? What are your hobbies?? What stones do you feel drawn to?? We all "like" certain stones..mine are blue tiger's eye and fire agates.

I started making what I call "spirit" beads for my family...one sister loves and feels an affinity for dragonflies and sea turtles...she also knits, spins, gardens and rides horses..so I found her birth stone and other stones that spoke to me about her and charms for her interests...these are my little sister's Spirit Beads..she has them in her Jeep..

Some put them around the rear view mirror, some wear them as bracelets...

I have a blue tiger's eye necklace I would wear every time we traveled or I needed a little extra confidence. Now I wear a beautiful polished Fire agate set in a gold bezel...Those are my spirit beads..

I have stones that I use as worry stones or were given to me as tokens...one sailing couple we met gave me a stone she used when crossing the Atlantic...she told me to rub it when I was on night watch...

Talismans are things people use to feel more comfortable in stressful situations...they can be a rosary, a favorite shirt, cap or in a child's (and sometimes my DH)life a blanket....

The portable "woobie" is what I was aimming for...so tell me what you like and what your hobbies are and I'll make you a portable "woobie" or "blankie"....

Lost in the Well of well worn plots...

I really had to hunt for this...I have been so lazy about posting to it...

I have been musing lately about life and things in general...need to add more items to my shops and felt a need to explain things to buyers..like..the different crucifixes the popes have chosen as theirs..I googled it..(what did we do before Google??)this is about Pope John Paul ll

The crucifix used by the Holy Father is technically his crozier, the shepherd staff that is the most senior ecclesiastical insignia of the bishop and represents his pastoral authority. As bishops and the shepherds of the Universal Church, the popes have used the crozier, but ceased doing so in the 11th century. Traditionally, the crozier traces its origins back all the way to the Apostles, and it is known to have been used in the traditional form by bishops(with an ornamental crook) from the time of Pope Celestine I (r. 422-432.

Pope Paul instituted a change upon his election. Rather than use a traditional crozier – seen as a symbol of jurisdictional authority – the pontiff adopted what was termed a pastoral staff. The staff was designed by Italian artist Lello Scorzelli in the shape of a crucifix. The staff was retained by both Popes John Paul I and John Paul II. In 1990, a new, slightly re-designed staff was presented to the pontiff in honor of his birthday. This staff is still in use today....

this is a picture of the crucifix

In a blog to follow I will find Pope Benedict's story but in the meantime here is a rosary that I listed on www.artfire.com/stringnstone

I