 Prayer Beads And Recovery Jewelry Made Exclusively For The Twelve Step Community SHOPS {PRAYER BEADS {JEWELRY |
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{ ABOUT GWEN R. { ABOUT PRAYER BEADS { ADDICTIONS { CONTACT { HELP { LINKS { PRAYERS { STORIES { TWELVEBEADS SITES { USE OF PRAYER BEADS TWELVEBEADS PROUDLY SUPPORTS { SoberMusicians { SoberSources { TheSoberVillage { SoberTeensOnline ©GwenR2008 TwelveBeads is not affiliated with any twelve step program TwelveBeads Birth Date 9-24-2005 { "You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it." ~ Margaret Thatcher (1925 - ) British stateswoman and prime minister (1979 - 90) { "However many holy words you read, However many you speak, What good will they do you If you do not act upon them." ~ Buddha (c. 563 B.C. - c. 483 B.C.) Siddhartha Gautama, founder of Buddhism { "Some people pray just to pray and some people pray to know God." ~ Andrew Murray { "Pray, and let God worry." ~ Martin Luther { "There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as praying for him." ~ William Law { "Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude-an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God." ~ Arthur W. Pink { "There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God." ~ Brother Lawrence { Still your mind in me, still yourself in me, and without a doubt you shall be united with me, Lord of Love, dwelling in your heart. -- Bhagavad Gita { The practice of japa is the repetition of a single mantra until it fully integrates into ones consciousness. The repetition of the sound calms our senses and our mind. This is done silently (Manksika Japa), whispered (Upamshu Japa), or out loud/Chanting (Vaikhar Japa). Focal Point Yoga { Learning to meditate and visualize is the cornerstone of magickal training and practice, but it can often seem a frustrating and daunting skill for the novice to master. CourseJunction { How to Prostrate by Gan Starling |
 How to use Twelve Step Beads Please keep in mind this is for your Spiritual development. It is your practice. Holding your tassel or pendant recite an anchor prayer such as The Lord's Prayer or The Serenity Prayer. Next move from one core bead to the next reciting your ring of prayers. This can be the same prayer on each of the twelve beads or you may have a selection of prayers. You may also pray for a person, resentment, character defect or use a positive affirmation in the same manner. Move through your Twelve Beads, when you return to your pendant recite your anchor prayer again. You can also just hold your beads while you pray. Keep a set in your car to help you maintain calm during heavy traffic. There is no wrong way to pray using your beads. Experiment and use them however you feel comfortable. You may need to try several times before you find what works for you. The key is to not give up. "As beginners in meditation, we might now reread this prayer several times very slowly, savoring every word and trying to take in the deep meaning of each phrase and idea." Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Page 99 Core Beads Core beads can be used in many ways. Some suggestions~ Roger T's website has a prayer for each step ~ The Long & Winding Road Pray for ~ • abstinence • a resentment • acceptance • a loved one • recite positive affirmations • removal of a character defect Suggestions of Affirmations ~ • I am safe • I am not a victim • I am complete • I am strong • I am a good person • I am healthy and happy • My mind is calm. • Create your own ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A TWELVEBEADS MEDITATION FOR THE TWELVE STEPS written by Gwen R. It is suggested to read this entire meditation before starting. You may print it out and keep it with you as a guide. You can do this meditation lying down or sitting. However you are comfortable. On each bead of your meditation you will begin with a deep breath, extending your belly out like a balloon and slowly releasing the air on the exhale. When you finish the meditation for each bead sit quietly for a moment or two before moving to your next full breath. Starting on your anchor (this is your cross, tassel or charm) recite the Serenity Prayer. wBead 1 "I admit I am powerless over _________________________." wBead 2 "I believe a Power greater than myself can/will/has restore/restored me to sanity." wBead 3 "I turn my life and will over to the care of God so I may be of service to Him and others." wBead 4 "I admit to my imperfections in thought, word and deed." wBead 5 "I admit to myself and to You these imperfections of ______________________________." wBead 6 "I am entirely ready to have ________________ removed. I commit to working towards their removal" wBead 7 "God I am willing and ready. Please remove ___________________ so I may be of service to You and others." wBead 8 "I am willing to make amends to those I have harmed." wBead 9 "I pray for courage to make direct amends to those I have harmed." wBead 10 "I am willing to take my personal inventory daily and promptly admit my wrongs." wBead 11 Sit quietly on bead eleven. Focus on your breath and your connection with God. wBead 12 "God I pray for "names of people in need" , that I may be of service to them if it be Your will." Ending on your anchor you may choose Amen or Thank You God. You may choose a special or personal prayer. Sit quietly and allow your mind, body and soul to absorb this meditation. Be still and know God is with you. This meditation is in no way intended to replace working the Steps with a sponsor or counselor. It is merely a guided meditation to deepen your own connection with the God of your understanding and the Twelve Steps of recovery. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4~4~8 Meditation Meditation Station recommends doing either 3 sets of 12 or 12 sets of 12 for this simple breathing meditation. TwelveBeads prayer beads are perfect for this practice. Directions for 4~4~8 meditation. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Praying Bead by Bead How to incorporate prayer beads into your spiritual practice. By Maggie Oman Shannon and Eleanor Wiley ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Poem To Meditate On Is anybody happier because you passed his way? Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today? Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that’s slipping fast, That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed? Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said: Does the man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead? Did you leave a trail of kindness, or a scar of discontent? As you close your eyes in slumber, do you think that God will say “You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today? Anonymous ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Flower Of Change ~ A 5-Minute Meditation Take a moment alone and settle into your body. Close your eyes, relax and breathe... deeply, slowly. Visualize yourself walking through the woods. Glistening, new-fallen snow carpets the trail beneath your feet. Breathe in the cool air and feel it refreshing you. Exhale slowly, letting all your worries out with your breath. Spirit is with you and you are expanding your consciousness to take in the life-giving love that Spirit wants to share with you. Up ahead, you see a beautiful, golden wildflower, standing tall, growing right in the middle of the snow. There is a glorious, warm, loving light beaming out from this amazing flower. As you step closer to this flower you feel its light permeating you, and you feel lighter, like a weight has lifted. The purest love is flowing all through your entire body, energizing you. Now think of something you'd like to change in your life. Imagine yourself experiencing this change in total harmony, success coming to you with incredible ease. See yourself celebrating your success. Feel the fulfillment, the joy, the peace that comes from living your dream. Take it all in. Let yourself bask in the glow of this feeling and continue breathing. When you feel ready, give gratitude to your golden wildflower in the snow for its light and for helping you bring this wonderful change to fruition. Walking back through the woods, you see that same loving light beaming out from you, too. Extend this light to everyone you meet. Open your eyes, stretch and return to your day, renewed and energized. This 5-Minute Meditation by Avalon De Witt. Visit http://www.AskAvalon.com for more original content like this. Reprint permission granted with this footer included. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Meditation 101 • Written by Deborah Shipley • Thursday, 29 September 2005 "Still your mind in me, still yourself in me, and without a doubt you shall be united with me, Lord of Love, dwelling in your heart. " -Bhagavad Gita Meditation is a bit of a buzz word these days. For some it is a requirement and a respite from life's hectic pace. For others it may be misunderstood, overwhelming, too new age, too difficult, or completely feared. Yet, meditation, if practiced with commitment, will inevitably lead to the successful quieting of the mind. It does not stand alone, however, as it needs to be first nourished with concentration and focus. If someone is willing to make meditation a daily practice, the benefits will unfold and create a life lived in clarity and with a purpose aligned with the higher self. The common phrase, "The answers are within," cannot be attained without clearing the mind of all the daily clutter. Meditation leads the way. If one wants to be successful in meditation, one must understand that it is an ongoing process. It is a discipline, just as physical exercise, that reaps benefits only from concentrated and continual effort. Meditation needs to be cultivated; and a dedicated practice is essential. That being said, just like exercise, some is better than none. A student may start with small increments and gradually increase his/her practice with time. Meditation may sound like a complex assignment, especially for a beginner. The mind is used to wandering, and focus does not come easily for most. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras share that yoga poses, breathing exercises, and relaxation all contribute to the preparation of a mind space that is open to receive meditation. It is a mind-body experience, and therefore, the body needs to also be strong for the prolonged periods of meditative sitting. There are several sitting postures the body can assume although the classic is seated comfortably on a mat or a pillow with spine erect and legs folded, hands resting on the knees. The best time of day for meditative practice is in the early morning upon rising or in the evening just before bed. The unconscious mind is at its strongest at the edge of sleep and when waking up, and therefore, the meditation is more likely to work in harmony with the mind. It is recommended that one meditate for at least ten to twenty minutes one or two times per day, but five minutes is certainly a place to begin. There are many different types of meditation. Each individual has a unique experience with each one. One example is that of a witness meditation. In a witness meditation, the individual will only observe how the mind/body is reacting in the silence, without judgments. The individual will allow the mind to lead them in the meditation, as they quietly follow. Anytime the mind wanders off, and it will, the individual would recognize the mind wandering and gently bring it back to the moment and the silence. Some other examples are following the breath, repeating a mantra, or gazing at a candle. The important thing is just that the individual sit down to do it, no matter what comes up or how the experience plays out. If one just keeps coming back to practice, results will begin to present themselves. There are both psychological and physiological benefits of meditation. Some psychological benefits are focusing of the mind, remaining in the present, allowing clutter and worry to fade away, clarifying the purpose of self, and developing a peaceful mind. Physiologically one of the biggest benefits is the calming of the nervous system and release of stress-induced physical symptoms. Rarely is there a reason not to meditate. My own experience with meditation began back in my early twenties. In my quest for personal peace, I picked up a few books about meditation that offered suggestions for getting started. I attempted many meditations, but my attention neverlasted longer than a minute. I was not prepared at this time to quiet my mind, and my life was in utter chaos. I gave up on the concept then, figuring I just was not capable. I realize now that I was reluctant to get quiet, because I was afraid of what I might learn about myself. In the past few years, meditation has become extremely important in my routine, in whatever form I choose; and it is a time that I look forward to and embrace. It's "my time for me, "and it is usually after I meditate that my "answers from within" appear. My meditative journey brings me closer to living my life with clarity and keeps me present in my true authentic self. Meditation is said to be a universal requirement for everyone. The highest joys can be attained during the meditative process. I often wonder what our world would be like if everyone carved out some sacred time for meditation. If everyone had the courage and personal motivation to get quiet would we still see the prominence of such things as lying, stealing, "road rage", rampant disregard for human emotions and life, self-inflicted suffering and illnesses, wars between nations, terrorism, and the list can go on and on? I see meditation as a vital tool enabling me to experience the life that I was meant to live. Have you got five minutes? Article Source ArticleBlast.com About The Author: Deborah Shipley is a registered yoga teacher, publisher of a free monthly e-zine on self esteem and an e book author. |
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