The “usefulness” of craft and spirituality is sometimes lost in the appreciation of the end product. We are so used to seeing icons in museums that we marvel at the technique, the creativity, and (in some cases) the survivability of the piece, but because of where it is situated (a museum) the practical, spiritual/devotional “use” of the object has to be consciously drawn to the fore of our thinking.
Prayer ropes (or chotki) are hand made. I’m not aware of any that are produced by machine. Though I suspect this is not so much due to the inablity of machines to manage the knot, as it is that such an enterprise would not be profitable. I admit, I’m happy that they are not (usually – just in case I’m wrong) machine made. There is prayer, reflection, and “spirit” that goes into the making of a prayer rope. When you get one, you know it was produced as much as a part of the spiritual life of the maker, as it will become part of your own.
Whereas icons have become an industrially produced devotional item (not necessarily a bad thing in itself) chotki making remains (or so it seems) a cottage industry. The link between the spirituality of the maker, and that of the reciever remains concrete, palpable.
Just as I was inspired to learn how to paint icons – I wanted to learn the “how” of chotki. For a number of years I kept my eye out for a book or a video that I could learn from. A year or so ago I found it, studied it, book marked it, and waited for the opportune moment to use it.
This year, I learned how to spin wool. A number of friends have asked: “Now that you can spin wool, what do you intend to do with the ball of yarn once you’re done?” A reasonable question to be sure.
For starters, I’m finally going to make my own chotki! If I’m reasonably happy with the end result, I’ll do with this what I’ve done with my icons – share them (either giving them away, or selling them – thereby funding other creative projects). Through the act of sharing something made in prayer, that will be used in prayer, a product of a personal spiritual practice, my own prayer, will intertwine itself with the prayer of another in a very tactile fashion.
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