Anglican Based Rosary Inspired by YhWH/Breath
This original rosary is inspired by a piece of writing I found in Frank Rogers' book Practicing Compassion. Working with the thought of Lawrence Kushner, in Eyes Remade for Wonder: A Lawrence Kushner Reader (144), Rogers writes:
“Our breath, the Hebrew Bible suggests, flows from the very breath of God. Humanity is created when God breathes the sacred breath of life into the mud-formed being of the first human. And God’s continuous breathing sustains our lives each moment. If God’s breath were held, humanity would perish. (Gen. 2:7, Ps. 104:29) Indeed, some observe that the Hebrew letters for God’s name, YHWH, are associated with the pattern of breathing - Yod (inhale), Heh (pause), Vav (exhale), Heh (pause). If spoken aloud, God’s name would sound like breath. Breathing itself is a prayer. It is a prayer we have been praying since the moment of birth.”
There is also, within the thought behind this rosary, a bit of conversation with a mentor/friend of mine, Rodger Hunter. There was a gentleman who lived in a boarding home in Rodger's care, whom we both loved. Alfie was a festering anger, abusive to all who passed, spewing obscenities with each ragged, alcohol enriched breath. There was no peace within him, only angst and despair frothy with the agitation of rage. When he died, Rodger turned to me and said, "Won't Alfie be surprised when he finds himself in the arms of love?" I have married the two Rogers' thoughts in this rosary, and am indebted to them both for their wisdom.
Of all the rosaries I have been playing with, this is by far my favourite. It is wondrous to pray. Though it should be noted that when I recorded the prayer, I did not follow it exactly as I have laid it out. Close, but not exactly. But it matters not, it is lovely, lovely in either form.
I am not only pleased with the cadence of the prayers, but with the physical rosary as well. I used an old pin for the starting point that looked like ruah, or the breath of God.
I have heard it said that in the Buddhist tradition, one is encouraged to consider one's death on a daily basis. Within the Christian tradition, death is not so much discussed, even toward the end of one's life. This rosary would suit anyone wishing to consider the natural progression of death within the fullness of life. It would be particularly beneficial to those with a fear of death, or those in a palliative way. But I wonder too, if it would not be good for children as well.
As in the Anglican rosary, one begins at the first large bead on the stem, then progressing to the second, and then following the beads on the right side of the circlet, moving counterclockwise. But i have adjusted the layout of the beads from the original Anglican proposed rosary. Instead of four sets of seven beads, marked by a single larger bead, I reversed the order, with seven sets of four beads, marked by two larger green beads to match the breath in and out, which is two lines, really. This rosary works perfectly, prayer wise, bead wise, contemplation wise.
This one is so full of love, much more than could come from my little self.
And here, a final word from Tilden Edwards, whose writing is always infused with the Spirit. "Breath is invisible to the naked eye, yet it is very real and powerful. It cleanses, enlivens, and calms us. It cannot be confined to one place. It has a dynamic quality of movement, drawing on the air that pervades us inside and out. Breath reveals the illusion in any sense of ultimate self-isolation and separateness: we are always drawing it into us and returning it, demonstrating the fluidity of our embodiment, its literal interdependence with the rest of life. Breath is our breath, and yet it is not: it is air that we cannot possess. Such physical realities help us to understand the subtle intimacy of our human-divine interconnectedness." (Living in the Presence, Spiritual Exercises to Open Our Lives to the Awareness of God, 21.) Crushing on the Tilden, such a sweet, sweet spirit, and oh, the deep wisdom. Mind altering.