Page 72 - September 2022 Magazine - Bumper Edition

Magical
Rose
Beads
Thank you to the lady who travels under the name of ‘the free wild witch of Winchester’ for contacting us and asking about Magical Rose Beads.
A subject which we too are only vaguely familiar with. This led us to ask the most glamorous of our famil- iars' (her words) Willow, to peruse our vast library here at Flickering HQ, in order to enlighten us...
The tradition of drying out roses and forming them into beads is something that has been passed down by word of mouth for quite literally millennia!
For example, rose beads would have been made by the Celts for a handfasting ceremony (wedding) and would have been a treasured keepsake.
Our ancestors also dried out roses to be used in funerary rites. Creating beads would have helped them to feel they were still in touch and would have been a great source of comfort.
And yes, by now you must have realised these are the original source of Rosary Beads often used in organised religion.
You can make your own and empower them as you will.
Sourcing rose petals may be easier than you think. Your own garden is obviously ideal if you have one and if you have roses. Ask your neighbours if they have roses and would let you have the dead heads when they prune them. If you ask them nicely, local florists may let you have discarded petals.
However, the tinternet thingy you all use will sort you out, and it’s easy peasy to buy dried rose petals on it.
You Will Need...
Rose petals - lots of them!
As your rose beads start to dry, you’ll find the rose clay shrinks quite dramatically, so make a large batch. It’s not a totally scientific art, so enjoy the experimenting!
A deep cast- iron pot or a dutch oven.
Good size mortar and pestle, or if you have one, an old food processor/blender.
72 | The Flickering Cauldron® Magazine - Magical Rose Beads