One distinct skill I learned from my Saudi Arab friends is the making of worry beads. I will never forget how enthusiastic I was making strands of beads (mishaba) of 11, 22, 33, and 99 for my Saudi boss. He said, that my worry beads were better than those sold in the market. He was and probably still collecting different worry beads made of amber, coral, wood, glass, marble, aloe, and other bead materials. I was curious enough to ask him the purpose of the worry beads. He said, they use the string beads in time of stress, to overcome boredom, to meditate, when they are nervous, when impatient, to pacify anger. He said, each bead represents praises to Allah.
A few theories suggest that worry beads were first used on Mt. Athos in northern Greece, where strands of beads made of woolen knots were tied on a string. These knotted prayer strings are called komboskini or komboloi. They are still used to count prayers by the monks in the monasteries of Mount Athos. The monks make worry beads from handy, inexpensive materials, such as wood, shells, hazelnuts and olive pits.
Today throughout Greece these beads are used as a way of taking ones mind away from particularly bad feelings and or habits such as excessive eating, and smoking.
The tradition of carrying beads has gone from history to cultural tradition, and is now being introduced for the first time as simply the best form of helping people all over the world cope with, and change some particularly bad or annoying habits that could ultimately result in high blood pressure and possibly even death.
8 comments:
OO nga, lagi kang pinagagawa ni Mr. Dulaijan. He's retired now! Why don't come and visit us. Don't you miss SCECO? I have one worry bead. It was given to me by one of our colleagues. An addition to my collection of Arab novelties.
I think you're missing something here, Bay!
So this is the blogspot you were talking about! I also collect worry beads, different colors, shapes, and sizes. We used to do simple beads before, but now they are produced commercially.
I'll visit again!
Joey, thanks for swinging. I thought you were interested to do some bloggings, too!
Yes, Saleh, I am missing two para. I need to edit this entry. Don't worry. Thanks for helping me out with this article. I am editing it soonest possible.
When is your trip to Cairo? Don't forget the handful of sand. I am posting something about the trip to Egypt.
Khalid, thanks for the visit. So how's the eyeglasses business? Is it picking up? Let's get together this weekend, with Yusuf, of course. How is Arman, is he still at the fleet control with you? I heard you were promoted lately.
I like this entry. Do you want to see my collection of mishabas?
Hey, hey, I can relate to this entry 'coz I have a good collection of worry beads courtesy of my Saudi colleagues. I can show them to you, if you want!
Neat post!
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