Support for the widows of Vrindavan

All of Strength Within's jewellery pieces are hand made in New Zealand, but the materials used to create the pieces are sourced internallationally.  Purchases of Sandalwood, Rosewood, Rudraksha and Job Tears pieces support the Widows of Vrindavan.

 

Bringing Love, Hope & Jobs to widowed, destitute women in Northern India.

 

In many parts of India, when a woman’s husband dies, she is blamed for his death.  She is considered bad luck and ostracized from the family and social life in general.  Now a financial burden to the family, she is often thrown out of the house to fend for herself.  Many make their way to the holy city of Vrindavan to live out the remainder of their lives hoping for rebirth into a better life.

 

Unwanted and unloved, they spend their days chanting in Ashrams for a handful of rice; their nights spent begging and sleeping on the streets…younger ones are forced into a life of prostitution.

 

Our supplier supports the charity Mahima Creations which is a sustainable social enterprise that seeks out these beautiful, forgotten women and empowers them through unconditional love, acceptance, and JOBS!  In a friendly, social and supporting environment, they are trained to make accessories, jewelry, and clothing from recycled saris and local sacred beads, and paid daily an above fair market wage.

 

Materials sourced in the creation of Strength Within products that support this charitable venture:

 

Sandalwood

Premium round Sandalwood beads from Vrindavan to inspire your yoga, meditation or general everyday well-being with their heady scents.  If you wear your sandalwood beads, they will eventually change in color and scent, this is natural.  Just let them age gracefully and enjoy the changing beauty!  Enjoy the lovely patina that comes with wear.

 

Here are cleaning and caring steps to keep them looking and smelling their best:

 

1. Periodically wash in soap and water using a sponge to scrub off dirt and grime.

2. After washing and drying with a clean, soft cotton cloth, oil the beads using mustard seed oil.

3. Add a few drops of sandalwood oil to the mustard oil to bring out the fragrance

 

Sandalwood stimulates the base Chakra enhancing trust and self-identity. Sandalwood can promote energy and enthusiasm; increasing your zest for life.

 

Rudraksha

Natural and traditional Rudraksha seed beads are from the Elaeocarpus ganitrus tree, and are the fruit (stone) that is left after the removal of the outer fleshy layer, much like a peach pit.   Rudraksha beads are known for a variety of benefits in spirituality, health, prosperity and for the resolution of psychological issues, fear or problems involving emotions.

 

If a situation is not conducive to your energy you can become unsettled.  At these unsettling times, rudraksha is supportive as it creates a cocoon of your own energy.   Five-faced beads  rudraksha beads create general wellbeing, health and freedom. It lowers your blood pressure, calms your nerves and brings a certain calmness and alertness to your nervous system.

 

Rosewood

Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia) also known as small leaf Rosewood, small leaf Venus Rosewood.  This wood has no fragrance, and ranges in color from deep red to dark brownish red.

 

The scent of rosewood has healing properties which awakens with age.  Rosewood’s scent is used for nervousness, headaches. and aids in calming. Rosewood is associated with the heart chakra, and resonates compassionate, healing feminine energy.  The feminine grace is enhanced when wearing rosewood, and intuitive health is also given a boost.

 

 

Job's Tears

Job's Tears, ( Coix lacryma-jobi ,) called Vaijanti beads in India.

 

Jobs Tears is a naturally grown seed with a hole grown into the seed like a bead.  In groups of 7, Jobs Tears can be used to make wishes come true.  Jobs Tears can also bond family to the surface representing kinship.