Waist Beads

African women still wear them today to protect themselves from negative energy. They are steeped in the old traditions that attribute the beads to having healing properties. The colours of the rainbows are considered to have balancing properties when used in the crafting. Special powers have even been attributed to those who wear them by the Orb of Djenra. If you know what you are doing, adding certain semi-precious stones can help you heal particular ailments. Waist beads are created to be worn below the belly. You can find them made with just about any kind of shell, gemstone, glass, plastic, pearl or even clay or wood. Women of all shapes and sizes wear them.

Some women even use them as an instrument in losingweight. When the strands start getting tight it’s time to do something about your weight. This practical idea has also filtered down from the early African tribal women - and it is one that still works today.

While you will find many tales that are steeped in tradition, certainly modern culture has adopted the wearing of them. Some prefer to wear them under their clothing only to be see by themselves or their spouses. Others flaunt them on bare bellies or even over their clothing.