These Sacred Body Adornments Are Sensual And Spiritual

#1: Fertility & Sensuality

Historically waist beads were used to celebrate femininity and fertility. Yoruba women would rub scents into their beads to attract a partner.

Ghanaian women placed bells on theirs, the sound indicating they sought partnership. Spiritually protected waist beads were worn to conceive and carry children to term.

#2: Health & Wellness

Waist beads are a natural way to check how your body is doing. Waist beads can improve posture and breath patterns.

Waist beads can also naturally inform you if you’ve gained or lost weight without tying into toxic, anti-Black diet culture.

#3: Spiritual Protection

Waist beads celebrate milestones like naming ceremonies, beginning one’s menstrual cycle, or getting married. Each bead and charm are intentional.

Charms can be used for spiritual protection or to manifest blessings. The color of the beads is important as each has a different meaning and attracts different energy.

#4: Honoring Ancestors

More recently anti-Blackness has appropriated waist beads. But while they rock “waist chains” for the aesthetic, we understand waist beads honor traditional customs anti-Blackness tried to erase.

They’re literal ties to our ancestors.

Wearing waist beads are just 1 of many ways we can adorn ourselves.

Just like you’d adorn your altar with care, how are you adorning your body in ways that help you to align spiritually?