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Symbolic Spiritual Necklaces

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The Sense and Non-Sense of Spiritual Symbols

Symbolic and spiritual necklaces come in many varieties. Very well known are the Catholic, Buddhist and Islamic beads (subha). Another form of Buddhist necklaces are the so called OM mantra necklaces. Also Egyptian symbolism is used commonly in necklace designs and other jewelry. Less well known are spiritual Maori necklaces.

On the photo a bear claw necklace made out of grizzly bear claws, strung on a buckskin tie.

Courtesy photo by RL65 | Wikimedia Commons
Important!

This lens is about spiritual and symbolic necklaces. Apart from the beautiful designs, their origins and meanings interest me.

Necklaces you'll find here are Buddhist, Tibetan, and Catholic beads, Egyptian symbols. bear claw necklaces, and Maori necklaces.

This is a Squidoo Lensography which means it links to more in depth lenses.

Purposes of Spiritual Necklaces

Praying, worshiping, commemorating ancestors, showing off status, warding off evil, attracting inner strength, good luck, prosperity, fertility, and creating peace of mind are some of the most common traditional purposes of wearing spiritual necklaces.

Many cultures around the world have their own spiritual or symbolical necklaces. These necklaces come in a variety of forms and meanings and their designs sometimes date back many thousands of years.

Beads, bone and stone carved pendants, amulets and charms are all expressions of this form of spiritual symbolism.

Courtesy photo of prayer beads by themanwithsalthair Wikimedia Commons

Spiritual necklaces and beads have been used since the Neanderthals and their spiritual meaning generally had to do with the intention:

''to prevent misfortune and danger, to counteract or divert the effects of supernatural powers, and to bring luck and strength''

source: Morris J, Preston-Whyte E (1994) Speaking with Beads: Zulu Arts from Southern Africa
(Thames and Hudson, New York), p 55.

The Power of Wearing Spiritual Symbols

superstition or common sense?

four leaved clover, good luck symbol Although a large deal of the world population loves to wear and use spiritual or religious symbols there is also the widespread notion of this use being superstitious behavior.

I myself am a rather skeptical person but I do know it is unjust to dismiss this symbolic use as superstition. Facts are there are benefits of wearing spiritual symbols such as necklaces, rings, amulets, and other good luck charms.

Picture by Xalkep | Wikimedia Commons

Research done by professor and psychologist Richard Wiseman and his students of the Hertfordshire University England shows: "people have found corrected destiny after wearing these symbols". This means people are inclined to think more positive about themselves, others, their life. Their optimism helps them get rid of disappointments and boosts self-confidence thus realizing more success in their lives.

Spiritual Beads

origin and etymology

spiritual beadsBeads have had a connection with praying for centuries. The origin of using beads as a prayer tool lies in Indian Hindu culture around 800 A.D. Through Buddhism, which evolved from Hinduism, the use of spiritual beaded necklaces spread around eastern Asia.

The Catholic rosary, a derivative of the ancient eastern spiritual beads, became common in Europe by the late Middle Ages. The Anglo-Saxon words bede (prayer) and bidden (to pray).

Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam are the major religions that use symbolic beaded necklaces in important ritualistic roles.

The Catholic Beaded Cross

originally Tibetan, adopted by Catholic church


When asked to name one type of spiritual necklace chances are the first what comes to mind is the Catholic rosary rope.

The beaded cross as it is called also is probably the most well known symbolic, spiritual necklace of the world.

photo by vadaveccs

The use of the Christian variant of the beads was already commonplace in European monasteries in the late Middle Ages. Only a few centuries later, in 1520 the Catholic church officially embraced the rosary when Pope Leo X gave the rosary sanction (official approval).

Since the 1960's of the 20th century the use of the beaded cross expanded by becoming a fashion item. Famous pop singers such as Madonna started wearing the necklace for reasons other than religious. The necklace became a popular accessory in movies as well.



What do you think of these developments? You can share your opinion on the page listed below.
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The Tibetan Prayer Necklace

108 beads offer spiritual relief

Spiritual Tibetan beaded necklaceAnother very common, worldwide known symbolic, spiritual necklace is the Buddhist mala beaded necklace.

Originally these Buddhist spiritual necklaces consist of strands of 108 beads. The number 108 reflects the impurities or lies that one must overcome in order to reach Nirvana (being free from suffering).

Check out the page below for background info, more symbolics, materials used for the beads and more.

Courtesy photo of Japa beads made from Tulasi wood by GourangaUK. | Wikimedia Commons
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Buddhist OM Mantra Necklaces

recent scientific research proofs ancient notion of universal Om sound

"What science discovers at the end, the mystics have known since the beginning". Hazrat Inayat Khan

The most common Buddhist prayer is the OM mantra. Used for many spiritual practices, this mantra is also the most important in Yoga. Om or Aum consists of three basic sounds. These sounds are believed to be the source of existence, the original primordial sound which is the source of the creation of the universe.

Something I find very interesting is the link between the Buddhist notion of Om or Aum and science. Those of us who are familiar with the String Theory know that recent scientific findings show that our world and the whole universe exists of pulsating, vibrating energy.

Where researchers have thought for decades that particles are the tiniest matter we know of, now they have found everything consists of vibrating strings. These vibrations are like music. The basic sound of all life and being. And we are back at the Om concept which is also referred to as the humming sound of cosmic energy. This makes me wonder, how did the Buddhists and Hindus know this thousands of years ago?

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The Spiritual Bear Claw Necklace

spiritual bear claw necklace meaning

The spiritual meaning of the bear claw necklace lies in several aspects. One of them is the bear being the ultimate symbol of strength. Also independence, and self reliance are concepts attributed to the bear by, especially, native Americans. According to native American folklore the bear was also very powerful in the spirit world. During special ceremonies the spirit of the bear was invoked to guide and support warriors on their battles.

The possession of a bear claw was exclusive to those skilled hunters who were able to kill a bear. Hence the bear claw (and other parts) being a symbol of courage, power, and hunting skills.



Photo: Native American Chief James Rhodd Wearing Headgear and a Bear Claw Necklace. Buy at AllPosters.com


A particular point of view that appeals much to me is the following: Some Native American communities believed that the souls of the animals they killed still lived on in the parts of the animal. The wearer of jewelry crafted from the bones would adopt these traits and the animal's soul was able to live on.

Among some other tribes, such as the Apache, it was forbidden to hunt bears because of their worshiped status. The bear spirit was also thought to be able to cure illness. Shamans and other types of folk healers are known to have dressed as bears thus attempting to heal tribal members with the aid of the bear spirit.

bear claw necklaces

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Maori Spiritual Necklaces

Polynesian carved artworks

Maori fish hook pendant necklaceThe Maori culture is renowned for its beautifully crafted, significant symbolic necklaces. Created and worn to honor the gods, to pass on cultural heritage, commemorate ancestors, function as good luck charms, enforce prosperity and more.

This kind of art work is highly valued for its symbolics. The Maori fish hook necklace for example is very popular among boaters and kayakers because it it said to provide safe passage over water. The page below shows some of the best items crafted by authentic Maori artists. Also more background info on symbolics, history and origin.
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Another variant of spiritual Maori necklaces are based on the Tiki god. Learn more about this mythological figure, the legend, and view some beautiful items below.
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More Maori Spiritual Symbolics

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Bes, Egyptian God of Protection

predecessor of the Maori Tiki

Egyptian God BesThe design of a human-like figure with typical characteristics is not exclusive to the Maori tiki. All over the world tiki-type art works have been found in excavation sites, sunken ships and other archeological treasures spots. This proofs a similar godlike figure was acquainted by various ancient cultures such as the Egyptians, ancient Greeks, and Celts.

photo Egyptian god Bes by Chosovi | Wikimedia Commons

According to this interesting article the Maori Tiki is the "local version of "Bes", the Southern Egyptian God of pregnant women and the protector of mothers, children and the home". Bes, many times described as the southern Egyptian god of childbirth and protection children, mothers and the household, in fact is not a god of Egyptian origin. It is thought Bes originates from Somali. Ancient texts refer to this deity as

Bes was a charming, hairy, dwarf god known in other cultures as Pan, Puck, Rongo, and Tiki. The similarities in both appearance as well as symbolics between Bes and Tiki are significant.



"Bes of Egypt was an ugly little bowlegged dwarf with a large head, flat nose and deeply creased "V" forehead brow. He had big bulging eyes, a comically round protruding belly, was mostly depicted with his hands on his hips or upper thighs, tongue poking out and genitals prominently displayed... in exactly the same way as many Maori statues by portals or gates."

The link between the Maori Tiki and the Egyptian Ankh

Egyptian Sa / Ankh = Maori Patu (Mere)

Bes, being a protector god, was frequently depicted with a weapon in his hand. This weapon, representing protection, refers to the Sa hieroglyph which also stands for protection, and is the basis of the Ankh symbol. Apart from that the Maori Tiki god also was depicted with a weapon in his hand. The Maori equivalent is called a mere (a type of patu) which is in fact a short flat club with a similar shape to that of the Sa hieroglyph and the weapon Bes carries.
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The Beauty of Symbolic Charms Defined

what I like about them

For me the beauty in all these symbolic, spiritual necklaces lies in the following aspects:

  • History ( e.g. the spreading of beaded spiritual necklaces or deity concepts such as Bes and Tiki, throughout the world)
    legends and mythology (e.g. the Legend of the creation of New Zealand)

  • Craftsmanship, (e.g. carving one of the hardest types of stone (jade) into the most beautiful designs with only the limited availability of primitive tools )

  • Natural materials used (seeds, woods, bone, stone)

  • Significance (e.g. the Aum concept and its relation to the String theory)

Materials Used To Craft Spiritual Beads

The the earliest known beads worn by humans, found in northern Africa, were made of mollusk shells. Later on also bone, teeth, antler, ivory, rock, semi-precious stone, and ostrich egg shells were used to craft beads.

Your Favorite Spiritual Necklace?

a quick poll..

Let others know what your favorite type of spiritual or symbolic necklace is.

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Creating Your Own Luck

Most spiritual or symbolic necklaces are worn for prayer, meditation, or contemplation. Other reasons are to ward off evil, to create peace of mind, to commemorate ancestors, or other religious purposes.

Another major aspect of spiritual necklaces is to enforce luck onto the wearer. Opinions on the ability to create ones luck differ. Many are cynical about this use where others really believe in the benefits. The aforementioned psychologist Richard Wiseman states:

"we have far more control over events than we thought previously. You might say, "Fifty percent of my life is due to chance events." No, it's not. Maybe 10% is. That other 40% that you think you're having no influence over at all is actually defined by the way you think.".

More on this in this interesting interview with Richard Wiseman; How To Make Your Own Luck

Spiritual Icons in Jewelry

a Washington Post Article

Spiritual icons making their way into necklaces, bracelets, charms
Pop stars Miley Cyrus and Taylor Momsen wear rosary necklaces, sometimes four at a time over a slinky corset dress or vintage rock T-shirt. "Eat Pray Love," whose protagonist travels to India in search of enlightenment, has spawned a collection of charms, rings and bracelets. And the reali
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What do YOU think about Spiritual Necklaces?

I would love to hear your opinion..

Your favorite spiritual necklace or symbol? Do you agree there about the common sense of the positive influence of spiritual symbols? Or do you think it is just plain superstition packed into a quasi scientific coating? Or maybe there's something else you want to share? Don't hesitate, drop your comment here.




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MikLint

Hi all, I am Mik and I love history and nature. That's why I am, for example, interested in Maori artefacts. But I have many more interests. I hope I will... more »

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