*crunch*

[qos]

My teacher gave me a strand of prayer beads as an ordination gift: a cycle of rose quartz, bone skulls, and wood, with a special charm on the end.

I just stepped on it and severed the strand.

I was holding it in my hand with the intention of putting it in my jacket pocket and taking it with me to pick up my daughter, but then had to stop and sift through my suitcase to find something else. I never noticed the strand slip from my hand and onto the floor -- just the "crunch" as my heel came down on it.

Strangely enough, none of the beads seem to be broken -- and it broke within the wood beads, which I imagine are more resilient than the quartz or bone. Evidently the edge of a hole severed the cord.

I'm taking this as a sign that I've done more than enough resting and not enough integrating of my weekend -- and that restringing the strand this evening will provide an opportunity to do exactly that. I also think that restringing it will be a way of owning and claiming the energy I received.


Even though none of the individual beads are broken and I feel very strongly that there's a real purpose in it happening, I'm feeling rather awful that I *stepped on* and *broke* my teacher's gift.

Comments

[freyasman.livejournal.com]

I'd feel awful too. I commend you for reframing what happened into a constructive thing. You can't change what happened, but you can move forward in a constructive way just like you're doing.

[shadowandstar.livejournal.com]

you can move forward in a constructive way just like you're doing

Thanks, I do try to do that whenever possible. :-)

[rin-x-x.livejournal.com]

I've always been interested in making a set of prayer beads. Aesthetically, I seem to be partial to the Anglican prayer beads (which I thought was suprising, but then again most of my heritage hails from Jolly Old England). Er, sorry about the babbling.

But like freyasman said, you're going in the right direction, and I would feel awful as well, but I think you have the right attitude towards this. (Plus I think it would be bad if you -didn't- feel bad.) I'm sure your teacher won't be mad. :)

[shadowandstar.livejournal.com]

If you haven't already done so, check out Pagan Prayer Beads by clare_vaughn. It's a great resource with a lot of information about a wide range of ways to design and use different kinds of strands, as well as the how-to's. And she has an LJ, if you have questions.
;-)

I'm pretty sure my teacher will be understanding and approve of my interpretation -- but yes, I still do feel bad.

[silverhawkdruid.livejournal.com]

Aww, Honey. When the pocket piece my dear friend gave me broke, (natural wear and tear in my case), I felt dreadful. But eventually I learned to bead myself and restrung mine. It is a little looser than her gift was originally, but I felt so proud to have succeeded in fixing it, and it goes everywhere with me.
I am sure that you are right, and that this happened for a reason. That reason will make itself known soon enough. :-)
Hugs

[shadowandstar.livejournal.com]

Thank you. And it's not like there's not already a precedent between my teacher and me for re-doing a strand. I made us almost identical strands for our work together and she re-did hers with wire.

It's the *crunch* aspect that makes me cringe.

[oakmouse]

The crunch was probably the tiger tail snapping, but in your place I'd check the beads just to be sure none are cracked.

This kind of thing happens, and it's not a big deal. Often when something like this happens with a dedicated strand, it means the strand needs to be remade to be more suitable for the work. It sounds as though your remake is lovely!

[shadowandstar.livejournal.com]

I really like the way it turned out -- except for the fact that my crimp beads and the tigertail length above the pendant are nowhere near as neat and precise as the original.