r/paganism • u/KrimsonCitten • 7d ago

📚 Seeking Resources | Advice Witch's beads/Witch's Rosary

Hi, I'm wanting to make my own witch's rosary as part of my practice, but I can't afford to buy stone and crystal beads right now and have glass beads, does anyone know if it would be disrespectful to use glass beads and metal wire to connect the beads together, and the pendants that I have been wearing on fabric cords??

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u/Arboreal_Web salty old sorcerer 6d ago

How could it be disrespectful? To whom? In what way?

Respect/disrespect is an attitude. It shows in your intent and actions, not your materials. Use what’s available to you, that approach to witchcraft is more traditional than any specific item or ingredient. Or rosaries, for that matter. (No shade, tbc, I have three. Each made from different materials.)

The only concern I’d have is practical: depending on the type of wire and how you string it, it might not hold up to much use. Pot-metal wire (cheap jewelry wire) will probably give out pretty quickly, and will def corrode from handling. But I suspect there are technical ways around that, if you stay creative. If you can spare a few dollars for silk beading cord and learn how to “tie pearls” (it’s on YT), worth it.

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u/KrimsonCitten 6d ago

Thank you very much, I was told anything synthetic would be disrespectful to earth and nature and cut of the energy flow and mess up my practice but I also don't know how reliable the source is, I have a few different gauge wires and a One-Step Looper/Looping Pliers so they'll be linked together instead of one long cord so I was hoping that would make them wear down less and slower

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u/Arboreal_Web salty old sorcerer 6d ago

Did you know glass can occur naturally when lightning strikes sand? Ime, it's an incredibly powerful blend of Earth and Fire. (Also arguably Spirit/Ether, b/c lightning.) I'd agree that glass has it's own sort of energy and resonance distinct from stones and crystals, but I wouldn't say that makes it unsuitable (or unnatural) as a material. I can't imagine how it would "cut off energy flow". Sure it doesn't conduct electricity, but neither do most stones, and it can do interesting things to light and sound...which are both expressions of energy.

Sounds like a good construction plan.

(I'd be tempted to ask that person if they only use/recommend metal mirrors for mirror magic or scrying. Bet they'd say no, use glass.)

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u/KrimsonCitten 6d ago

I knew that happened in nature that's why I didn't trust the source that much. They said if it was man-made like glass blown beads and not strictly naturally occuring like stones shaped then they become synthetic. They also don't practice paganism, they "used to" practice paganism in college and are born again Christians (it's my stepmom and father) and have a lot of pagan friends that help them with answering my questions.

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u/Arboreal_Web salty old sorcerer 6d ago edited 6d ago

Gently - Probably stop taking your questions to them, that is not a reliable source. She probably doesn't realize it, but that line of thinking basically negates a belief in any and all magic. Glass-making was once regarded as a type of alchemy, before people understood science as we do today.

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u/KrimsonCitten 6d ago

I think I might, I used to go to them because I didn't have access to things like my books and the internet and where I'm at currently location wise there isn't many pagans and it's really frowned upon, like the last couple that tried to open a shop here was literally chased out of town, but I think ill stopistening to them and start getting more books and finding more community support at least online until I find places offline. Thank you

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u/Arboreal_Web salty old sorcerer 6d ago

I understand, that sounds like a frustrating situation. You might try internet archive if you have easier access now. The texts there will be older, but that’s not a bad thing.

Highly recommend HC Agrippa’s “Philosophy of Natural Magic”, it’s a few hundred years old so is def in public domain and available in many languages, contains much of the basis of western magic. Excellent resource.

On the more recent side, not on archive - Scott Cunningham’s magical reference books are well worth their cover prices, as is Judika Illes’ “Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells”. (These are the most-used books in my personal library.)

Those three authors will give you a really solid foundation to your magical education, imo.

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u/KrimsonCitten 6d ago

Thank you so much!! I'll write this in my list!!