Bound By Buddha

A trip downtown with friends and an eye grabbing display, “all items 90% off,” presented a cheap buy for my frugal pack. Buddhist merchandise from chains to frames, then the wooden bracelet drew me in. Eighteen spherical balls with an oak wood wash banded by a brown elastic tie with a butterfly knot at the end. Each bead is engraved with a Buddhist symbol thought to bring good luck. One bead features a figure sitting Native American style in front of a semi-circle. Another is etched with a Chinese symbol submerged in a circle. When each bead is rolled around, the oak wash begins to fade to a tinted olive color. While this color is faint around the center of each bead, it become prominent at the top creating a contrast of deep brown and green. When in the light, this contrast becomes more visible as some beads have tinted faster than others. A beautiful contrast between, light and dark;day and night. The band binding these wooden spheres together seems to be extremely durable despite every tug and pull it faces. The beads themselves are equally as durable, with a smoother surface, until your fingers come across one of the sketched in little men for good luck.

This good luck charm serves purpose and meaning as it hugs tightly on my wrist. As the beads sit upon my skin there is a smooth and subtle roll. Neither my friends or I were Buddhist, yet we intrusted in a bracelet to bring us closer as we grew older. Subconsciously we knew that this bracelet would be the one common ground we held as we began to change like seasons. Two years later and the bracelet is in solid condition. It's almost as if the wood has gotten better with age while the original butterfly knot has held its own as well. Realistically, the polished staining on the beads is most likely just wearing off however my imagination is more inclined to appreciate the beauty. Nostalgic and slightly painful, this lucky charm is the only thing that has kept me close to the ones that have drifted away.