A quick search for spirit beads results in many beaded bracelets.

I feel this is a bit inaccurate and glosses over a really important cultural contribution to spirituality and religion given to us by the Métis people.

This article goes over the differences between spirit beads and spiritual beads— mainly malas and beaded bracelets (the ones I'm the most familiar with).

Spirit beads

A spirit bead is a defining characteristic of Métis beadwork, which comes from an indeginous culture in the pacific northwest, primarily nestled in present day Canada. It is a deliberately placed "wrong bead" in an otherwise perfect pattern. The intention behind such a decision, is that only the creator themselves can create something perfect.

The Métis were and are known for their creation of floral works, utilizing roses, stems, buds, tendrils, leaves, berries, and grapes. The style of beadwork is intricate and involves using beads of various colors, needles, thread, and a base fabric.

As recent as 2022 an artist's Métis Beadwork was minted onto a Canadian silver coin.

For a more in depth story surrounding Jennine Krauchi's (artist above) design making it onto a minted coin, click here.

The Métis wove the spirit bead into their work to pay homage to The Creator, as well as to guard against excessive pride and hubris. People could never create something perfect, and this was a way to honor that which only the divine are capable of creating.

Spiritual beads

If you ask me, perfection and imperfection can be looked at as two sides of the same coin. I argue that each moment is both wholly perfect and imperfect from a variety of angles. There is much peace to be gained in the practice that each moment is want of nothing. Just as there is much wisdom to be learned from moment to moment when sitting with the imperfect nature of all things.

Both spirit beads and spiritual beads have a way of bringing awareness to the present moment. The former capturing your intention through its otherness, the latter often being used as a tool during ones meditation practice.

Spiritual beads are often marketed as shortened versions of the 108 beaded malas. They are often a single string of beads that fits around one's wrist and ccontains anywhere from 9 to 18 beads (on average) that are strung through their center.

First we'll take a look at the full malas, as the shortened beaded bracelets share many things in common with their full cousins.

108 Beads

Image courtesy of Anitmatterjewellry on etsy. To view this mala, click here.

I have come across so many interpretations of the number 108. Often times something akin to the divine is cited. Reference to the heart chakra, the number of mortal desires in humankind, and the distance between us and the god that dwells within are all explanations behind the signifcance of the 108 number.

I cannot personally speak to these. I am left to wonder.

I will never know the true meaning of that number. I was not there to practice during that number's inception. So, I choose to honor it the best I can and accept wisdom that is passed along to me by others.

In my own practice (for reference, I'm going on 11 years), malas have made their way in and out of my meditations.

I think back fondly on a sandal wood mala that I carried daily for years. I would wrap it around my wrist and unwind it every morning, passing my fingers from one bead to the next with each breath.

Some recite mantras mantras during their practice. And there were many times I would drop the ever present truth that each moment dies to give birth to a new one into the waters of my mind as I meditated.

I'd sit with the ripples my intention created.

It wasn't always comfortable.

Mala bracelets (beaded bracelets)

This is a forged beaded bracelet, made by me. If you'd like to check it out, click here. :)

Even though a full mala can be worn as a bracelet, I'm referring to the more fashion oriented ones, like in the image above.

I have often used these as well during my practice. Once again, moving from one bead to the next as my breath passes.

One of the reasons I always wanted forged steel beads was because of the cool sensation of them on my skin, as well as the soft chill as they pass through my fingers. It's very soothing and helps bring me back to the moment.

These bracelets as a whole tend to have less adornment associated with them. I also feel as if they are generally considered less spiritual (whatever that means) by the general public.

All of that said, they make a great tool for one's practice.

Final Thoughts

There are many more beads that have been used in various spiritual practices and religious faiths. One example of these being the rosary in Catholicism.

I'll dive into that in a future post and put the link here.

Remember, spirit beads are the intentional imperfection woven into an otherwise perfect work of art. Whereas spiritual beads are often attributed to malas and buddhist prayer bracelets.