Saturday, September 7, 2019

Life with Chronic Disease: Gathering Bracelets for Support


For years I’ve made “gathering bracelets” to help unify people in their support of a loved one who is dealing with a life-altering event, such as chemotherapy, radiation, rehabilitation, about to give birth, going to war etc. The bracelet, with its reminder to think about the person,  gathers together the hopes, wishes and prayers of all those who wear it in solidarity.

At the moment, the Bahama hurricane disaster has me digging out black, aquamarine and yellow beads (the color of the country’s flag) to make bracelets, which will be part of a fundraising effort.

Thought this may be a good time to post how I make these bracelets.

• Hold a “gathering” party, where everyone makes their own bracelet. Memory wire works better than stretchy cord, but use whatever you have and can afford. Avoid plastic beads. Provide color meaning information, see below, and ask people to bring beads to share.

• One person makes the bracelets and distributes them to friends and family with a note explaining its purpose.

• Make bracelets as part of a baby shower, wearing them until the baby is born and Mom is safely home. The beads from the various bracelets can be collected and put together in a necklace to be given to the new mother.

• Keep in mind the meaning of the colors. The bracelet should reflect the person, or situation, who is being honored. Colors can mean different things to different people. For example, in many Western Cultures, black is the color associated with death, while the Amish view white as the color of death.

Color chart:

YELLOW: symbolizes sanctity, preciousness, royalty, wealth, spirituality, vitality and fertility. In Chinese Medicine it is used for healing the spleen. It is also the color of intellect and it is used for mental stimulation. Good for clearing a foggy head.

PINK is associated with the female. It is the color of the breast cancer movement.

RED Used for healing the heart in Chinese Medicine, it is symbolize heightened spiritual and political mood, sacrifice and struggle.

BLUE represents  spiritual sanctity, good fortune, peacefulness, harmony and love related ideas. In Chinese Medicine it is used for healing kidneys.

GREEN considered the universal color of healing, it also represents earth, growth, vitality, fertility, prosperity, fruitfulness, abundant health and spiritual rejuvenation. Chinese Medicine uses it for healing the liver.

WHITE used in spiritual purification, healing, sanctification rites and festive occasions. Chinese Medicine uses if for healing the lungs.

SILVER associated with the moon which represents the female essence of life. Symbolizes serenity, purity and joy.

GOLD symbolizes royalty, wealth, elegance, high status, supreme quality, glory and spiritual purity.

BROWN represents wholesomeness and earthiness

ORANGE increases immunity, sexual potency, help with digestion, chest and kidney disease.

PURPLE Connect with spiritual self. Good for mental and nervous problems.

Below is a sample note that can be modified when distributing bracelets:

The following Gathering Bracelet has been made to support (person’s name) in healing (provide appropriate details). You can wear the bracelet, or place it where you are likely to see it -such as hanging from a lamp on your desk, the doorknob on a kitchen cabinet, or sitting on your nightstand. The bracelet, with its reminder to think about (person’s name), symbolizes our collected hopes, wishes, and prayers for them during this time.

The colors chosen for the bracelet reflect what we are hoping for (person’s name):
• Green- healing and stability
• Blue- calming and tranquility
• White-spirituality and safety
• Red-energy
• Brown-wholesomeness
• Yellow-clear thinking
• Purple-spirituality



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