'Ello, my name is Anna. I'm a newbie. Woo.
I have question. Does anyone have a good recipe for rose beads? Y'know, the beads made out of...oh my...rose petals.I would like to make a Buddhist mala and I just moved into a house with a lot of pretty rose bushes. Thanks:)

ok, this is from _the complete book of incense, oils and brews_ by scott cunningham...

1 part fresh rose geranium leaves
2 parts fresh rose petals
rose water

remove the white stem ends from the rose petals. cover the petals and leaves with rose water in a nonmetallic pan. simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. ensure that the mixture doesn't actually boil. turn off heat and let soak until the next day. repeat the simmering again for a half hour. repeat this for three days in all, adding rose water when necessary. on the last day squeeze out all water until you have a fragrant mess. the mixture should be dry enough to hold its shape. form into small, round beads with your hands, each about 1/4 inch long. push a large needle or stiff wire through each bead while it's still wet to form holes for stringing. let dry for a week or so, moving then around to ensure even drying. string on on a pink thread, yarn or ribbon. the beads are ugly and black, but when worn on the body they release a delicious rose scent.

i've never tried this myself, but remembered the recipie when you asked. i hope this is what you were looking for. welcome and good luck!

*heather*

oh my gosh!
I had no idea you could do something like that!

you can use that same recipe, but do it in a cast iron pot, and it makes black beads. or so i have read. i havent tried it.

stella

i believe that the reason it should be done in a cast iron pot is because the chemical reactions will turn other types of pots black and completly destroy the finish.

There is a recipe for rose beads in "The Victorian Grimoire," published by Llewellyn Press. Great book--highly recommended.

--lynda

Thanky, everyone. I'm trying those recipes in a few days. Silly question, but why were all of them from Wiccan-ish books? Heh...I thought those were a Catholic thing. I'm turning it into a Buddhist thing. I'll shut up now :)

Be sure to tell us how it works out. I wouldn't mind having a go at making them myself.

I did it and they're drying. It does work...I didn't have any geranium but...yeah. No matter. I added some cadmium red oil paint, but if any of you try that, make sure to wear masks, because some pigments are poisonous.

Wiccans are far more in touch with earth mother stuff, DIY, natural, aroma and massage, etc. It isn't that they are they only ones into it, or that all Wiccans are, or that you have to be Wiccan to do these things. It's just alternative and, um, interesting.

I'm an atheist, a former Catholic, and I have tons of herbal stuff, Wiccan stuff, organic stuff, Catholic stuff, even some Santeria stuff.

Santeria is interesting. my boyfriend is Cuban (from Miami) and he knows some Santeros. his mom does some Santeria-ish stuff, but it sounds like she's kind of ashamed of it, which i think is sad. i think rituals like that are much closer to God than going to church and feeling bad because you thought about sex. or something.

stella

I don't know any Santerians, but I do know a few Catholic-Stregherian Italians. They have the elaborate Maria staues and the like, very cool.I guess Catholics are the Pagans of Christianity.
I was raised Catholic and I still have all my little statues. They're very beautiful. I'm now Buddhist, so I'd probably look like a double idolator to any Fundie.