Meaning of Bead Shapes
 The Meaning of the Bead Shapes Have you ever wondered what the shapes of beads really mean-if anything? Have you found yourself attracted to different shaped beads? One day the round beads seem to feel right and another day the oval or square beads feel right. The same is true for color Most often the beads of the rosary and prayer beads are round or oval, but they can be a variety of shapes and each has its own meaning. I like working with different shaped beads and also different color Bead Shapes Round (or spherical): The circle is a universal symbol meaning wholeness or unity. It can also mean completeness and endlessness, since there is no beginning or end in a circle. It is also possible to see movement or change—just think of the “circle of life.” The circle image even extends to the rosary itself, which is connected circle of beads that can be continued as long as you want. Oval: An oval bead resembles an egg, which has long been a sign of new beginnings or regeneration. For some, it has come to represent spiritual energy or the feminine principle. (In fact, the very word “oval” comes from the Latin word for egg.”) Square: In its solidity, a square evokes order, foundations, and the earth. Because of that, a rosary made of square beads is a sign of stability in an ever-changing world Rectangular: Like square beads, rectangular beads reflect stability, order and permanence. Because each side has four corners and four sides, it can also mean the earth—just think of the “four corners of the earth.” Octogonal Beads While stone beads can be cut into a variety of many-sided shapes, one of the most common is the eight-sided or octagonal bead. In its very form it evokes all the meanings that have traditionally been attributed to the number 8; power and success being only two of them. Cross Shape It is impossible to look at a rosary or prayer beads without being aware of one more shape: the cross that begins and ends each rosary. Christians see that cross and rightly see a symbol of the death of Christ, but the cross has been used from earliest times as a way of showing the intersection of the human and the divine. With the vertical line reaching toward heaven, and the horizontal line encompassing earth, the center is a graphic symbol of the fact that the two do connect. Bead Shapes So, do you find yourself drawn toward round beads one day and square the next? That's okay! I know people who have several sets of rosaries and prayer beads for that reason. You are drawn to the shape you 'need' that day. You are also drawn toward the color you 'need.' Don't fight it-just enjoy it and go with the flow! Take a look at rosaries and choose the bead shapes of your choice! Choose your color and bead choices for prayer beads |
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