Praying Bead by Bead

Beginning a New Day

Each morning when you wake, reach for your prayer beads, let the texture awake your fingers, and allow this vitality to permeate your entire body. Now you are ready to set your intentions for the day. These can include anything you would like to emphasize during your day: listening to people more carefully, telling the truth, being grateful for small things. Later, as you make your way through your day, touching the beads will return you to your initial intentions.

Walking in the Present Moment

As you move from one place to another during the day, use these moments as a time to acknowledge the transition between tasks. Bring your beads into the palm of your hand, and as you feel their texture, let that be a reminder to feel your feet on the floor and take a breath -- feeling both the inhalation and exhalation. Focus your mind on the physical activities of walking and breathing. Bring yourself into the present, and this focus will slow down the pace of your mind and heart.

Grounding Practice

During important conversations or even thinking about things by ourselves, we can find ourselves getting caught up in "what was" and "what if." You can use your beads to ground you when you find yourself worrying about the past or the future. When things get difficult, take up your beads and allow their pleasing weight to bring you into the present moment. You will then be able to see more clearly into the current situation. By remaining grounded in the present, you will be more open to listening and accepting life as it is, rather than as you wish it to be.

Continued on page 2: »