SageTree

Hey Folks,

Been seeing these all over the young folks necks here in Toronto:


(This is more or less the style, although sometimes the beads themselves are MUCH larger, and the tassel isn't kept either)




Now I know these as mala beads or meditation beads.

They appear to be the traditional Hindu/Buddhist 108 beads, rather than the Muslim prayer beads that are 99 and have spacers in them to keep them in groups of 33.


The other week on the subway I engaged some two young men about them and while one insisted he 'started wearing them to school and now everyone does', not telling me where he got the idea, encountered them or anything like that. Although he did mention that he bought his at a 'spiritual shop' in town, and told me where it was and all....

The other boy however, didn't say much but was REALLY interested in me talking about my encountering the beads through learning/practicing meditation.

It was like it blew him mind....

I pulled out my own small set, of 27, which when went through 4 times is 108, and let him take a look at them.

I got to answer some questions about meditation for the curious one, which I thought was worth the encounter with the two.... and over all, it was a good conversation, that went on for about 10 mins..... but it really didn't go anywhere with my question of 'where did these things come from?'



SO YAHOOKA!

I'm hoping you can give me a little intel on what you know about these if these are indeed a new trend/fad or if this is a local thing or what....

All I could think of is when people where wearing little band-aids like Nelly back in the day... one that was all style and not use (no comments on how 'stylish it was' )

So am curious about seeing an object I know one way, but seems like it could just be a accessory to fashion....


Thanks Friends,
SageTree

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deadhead94

I've never seen it and I'm in Ottawa, but then again, my area is about as white as a sheet of paper.

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SageTree

I've seen kids of all colours wearing them.

I don't want to say Toronto is 'cool' or anything....
But I have to say I don't think I've ever been in a big enough place where something style/fad wise might be starting....

I mean... it's possible.

But I thought that perhaps it was some singer/actor etc that tipped people off on to them.


They ARE nice to see instead of big gold crosses
More organic/natural looking and all...


....and avoids the irony of a huge gold cross, as opposed to the wooden one an ascetic supposedly hung on.

Know what I mean?

Thanks for the quick local comparison.

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deadhead94

Next time I use public transit I'll let you know if I see any on anyone who doesn't look like they should be wearing them.

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Roach

thems love beads baby...

you filthy hippy


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_beads

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לזיין את הקופים

deadhead94

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my_scatterheart

probably no meaning, but derived from what you posted. I remember when the kabbalah bracelets were what everyone was wearing. I've been driving north a lot, and been noticing a lot of wooden beaded bracelets. also a lot of these whack resin bracelets with religious figures on them... not worn for religious reasons. sold in the mall, etc.

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Be mindful even if your mind is full. -J. De La Vega

Lloydy

twat beads

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Keep the red flag flying high

Roach

I understand that disco is big in Russia.

"cool"

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לזיין את הקופים

shai_hulud

I thought for sure Merc would be all up in here, judging you, you and your terrible taste in style.

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"There are only three useless things in this world. Nuns' nipples, bishops' balls and an employer's praise without a raise."

Mikey

huh

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RIP Gov

Mercury

Sorry, I was at work.


But yeah, that necklace is oogly as hell and I've never in my life seen anyone sporting one. Even if it had a "meaning" it's not going to look good with anything but a t-shirt.

shai_hulud

it's okay sage, i wear one of those gay gangsta silver chains. i know its gay but i like it all the same.

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"There are only three useless things in this world. Nuns' nipples, bishops' balls and an employer's praise without a raise."

my_scatterheart

you really shouldnt do that.

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Be mindful even if your mind is full. -J. De La Vega

Qui-Bong Jinn

Nobody it Kingston wears them either that I've noticed. Buncha fags up in Toronto anyways.

That ain't gangsta Shai hulad, this gangsta:

Snowmayne

Wearing wooden beads/necklaces/bracelets has become popular over the past few years

Heres one of the main distributors that pushed the trend

Good Wood NYC

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We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn't enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.
We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.
Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: "How amazing am I ?! "

SageTree

Heh....

'Doesn't look like they should be wearing them', isn't exactly what I meant

It was the regularity with which I've seen young people wearing them on their wrists and necks that made me notice the 'difference' in 'normal', I suppose you could say..... As I don't really think much of seeing a set in a yoga class, temple or mosque.

Come to think of it, when I met up with Herbinator he had two sets of beads on each wrist...

I know folks wear them for rolling around/stress beads, so didn't think anything of it then either.

It was really the long ass 'necklace' ones that grabbed my eyes recently.

I DO remember the Kabbalah bracelets you are talking about though.

When you say north, you mean up around and into NYC?
Toronto apparently has a 'fashion scene' which is kind of why I wondered where they came from or how they got popular, so seeing them around another hub would seem to be a parallel in that manner.

I'll have to keep my eye out for the resin bracelets... I'm not 100% sure I haven't seen them actually, come to think of it.

Thanks for the intel

I know right.... 'cool' is a funny word.... I suppose 'hip' would have fit too !!!

straight out of the "I'll tell you what I really think about you thread" by Merc!!!!

GOLD!!!!!

But hey man.... I'm not hatin' on folks neck wear and thanks for sharing yours.

The million dollar question is "Do you take it off when you are swimming or do you strut it on the beack..... BOI!!!?"

Thanks Mayne.... this post wins!!!




And Thanks folks.... You know you're getting old when you start wondering what the hin those kids are up to!!! Just in time to turn 30 this December!!!

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Snowmayne

TBH I like the wood look a lot more than any silver/gold/platinum. You even see 'rappers' these days wearing wood, with or without a piece at the bottom.

Some of the pieces they make are kind of ridiculous, like a big wooden jesus head, but I think theres some cool stuff. Wouldn't mind owning a few myself.

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We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn't enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.
We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.
Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: "How amazing am I ?! "

adventure

I haven't seen "a lot" of wooden beads per se, but I have rocked wooden beads on and off for a long time... since the early teens, not for any real reason, I just like the way the look, I wear kind of a lot of jewelry though.

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Coming Full Range

SageTree

Yea, it makes me wonder/hopeful for sure man.
To me there could be some really good implications from folks sporting a simple wood piece over a huge flashed metal one.... know what I mean? I think it makes 'status' about something else.... idk what exactly... but nearly any joe/sette can afford a string of beads w/ or w/out a carving on the end.

Thanks for info man.... I didn't figure that 15 year old kid was really the first one

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