MANtra

I'm making a mala, and I keep hearing instructions that mention knotting between each bead and ones that say to no knot. Which is better, and why?

I'm thinking of making a mala (Buddhist prayer beads), and I keep seeing talk about knotting between the beads and not knotting between them, but nothing about the reason. Which is better, and why?

I'm helping my mom prepare for her wedding by tying bows for her. The problem is that the only bows I've ever tied have been on presents, and she's wanting these to be similar to the ones you see during Christmas which are usually only attached by a twist tie or something like that. How do I make this? I have to make 60 of them by Friday.

I lost a cousin earlier this year, and my aunt and other cousin have been taking it really hard since then. i can tell that his death has created a canyon between them. I plan to meditate to try to help bring them all together again.

I already have a mantra chosen, and im planning to make a mala by weaving yarn together and tying 108 knots into it. the problem is that im wondering what color would best symbolize what im trying to do, and why. Thank you in advance for your help.

This is a poll to see who has had the most ironic twist of fate in life. I'll start with my most recent one.

I had a crush on a guy that I was positive was straight. I wanted to tell him for 2 reasons. The first reason is that I know that he wouldn't really mind me saying it, and the second reason is that him saying that he can't like guys would make it really easy to move past him. I had it all figured out, and I was surprised how easily this crush seemed to be handling itself. Most of my crushes end in flames. When I tell him how I feel though text, he tells me that he is a closeted bi.

The ironic part is that I couldn't date him, because I'm too affectionate to be in a relationship with a closeted guy.

What's your story? The most ironic will get the most points!

When I was in my junior year in high school, I had no idea how to flirt. I've never had anyone to do it with before. Then, I was flirting with my boyfriend senior year, but that was mostly because of an extended metaphor about Adam and Steve. Other than that, I have little to no experience flirting. I tried to think of what I was doing while I was with that guy, but I can't put my finger on what separated that from when I normally talk to people, except that I knew it was flirting.

I've been searching The Bible, and I can't seem to find the verse that says that marriage is between a man and a woman. What is the exact verse?

I have an aunt who is suffering from depression from losing her son to a motorcycle accident a while back. One thing that has always cheered me up whenever I'm sad are the videos from the "It Gets Better" program. So, I was wondering if there are any videos from the It Gets Better program that might apply to her. It doesn't have to be exactly from the It Gets Better program; it could be something similar to it for grieving mothers?

Of course, I will plan to be looking, but I figured that Y!A may have already come across something that will be helpful. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

My sister and I are going to be spending the rest of the summer in Galveston, and I'm wondering what the gay scene is like there. Are there any 18 or older gay clubs? Are there any gay people in Galveston?

I'm rooming with a Mormon next school year, and I'm frankly somewhat anxious about it. He seems rather conservative, which I'm also fearing, because I'm gay. I'm thinking what may help me get through next semester is by at least trying to get a little info about him before I actually meet him. I figure knowing Mormon beliefs may help me out.

I usually deal with hate thrown at me in 2 different ways. I either completely combat what the haters believe with logic, or I completely ignore it.

I've been seeing this alot lately around the LGBT section, and I have never heard it before. It sounds like it's OCD over homosexuality, but if that is the case, then the way people are describing it aren't making any sense. They don't list any compulsions to counteract the obsessions.

I have a nasty habit of having trouble relating to people if I can't be my gay self. I know that being gay is not everything that I am, but I feel like I'm not myself if they don't know.

For example, I'm not aloud to talk about anything gay around my uncle's kids. I absolutely hate doing this, because I naturally make offhand comments about it. It's just like every other straight guy is perverted. Now, I don't act perverted around them, because that's something that I never do around kids. My comments are just funny things. Like, one time one of the kids asked me something about why I would be sparkling, and my instant reply was, "because I'm a fairy." I realized that I shouldn't have said it after I did, but things like that are only natural for me.

My family also says that I'm revolving too much of my life around being gay. I know that it's not homophobia, because my lesbian sister agreed with them. The problem is that that is the only things that come up socially. Some of my comments will be, like, when we are watching tv, I'll say something like, "He is definitely gay."

The problem is that I can't see how to bring in any of my other qualities into conversations. I mean, there is little to no probability that knitting, meditating, or psychology, or any other parts of me would come out in my life. Being gay feels like the only social thing that I have to go off of.

I have a crush on a heteroflexible (about a 2 on the Kinsey Scale) guy. We tried going out for about a day, but I'm just too affectionate to date someone that's in the closet. The problem is that I can't seem to get over this guy! He said that it may be until after college that he actually comes out, and we just finished our freshman year!

Usually, my exes have done something to offend me in some way, so I can easily get over them. But this guy is very sweet and wouldn't harm a fly! He's entering my mind way too much, especially since I'm back in my home town for the summer. What should I do?

I'm trying to knit wolf ears for Halloween, and I can't find any patterns for it. Does anyone know a pattern that I could possibly attatch to a head band?

Alright, so what are all the myths and legends that surround a lunar fairy ring. I'm talking about a rainbow around the moon.

This is a kind of awkward question, but understand that the only reason I'm asking this is out of pure curiosity. This will in no way change what I do.

Alright, so I've heard that pee is something to use to sterilize a jelly fish sting. And I know that privates are just another body part.

So if it's sterile, why would we need to wash our hands after we do #1? I can understand #2, but we don't wash our hands after we touch, say, our arms or our neck. I'm not suggesting that I should stop washing my hands, it's just a random question that popped into my head.

I'm normally very easy to get along with. I can usually accept what someone has to say without ever needing to forgive. However, when I do form a grudge, It's almost impossible for me to stop it. I have absolutely no idea how.

The worst part is that these grudges are things that I see on a daily basis, so there is no way for me to forget about them. The things that I hold grudges on are usually arguments I have lost. I could know that the other side is right, and completely agree with them, but I'm still struggling with the fight in my head.

I can't get the thoughts out! I've tried talking to my mom about it, and all she says is that I'll be moving out in a month to go to college, so all of the grudges will go away and shouldn't be worried about. That still doesn't solve how I'm going to deal with the same problem with my room mate!

I need as much help as possible, because letting go is something that I have never been able to do. I'm still holding a grudge for being grounded for something I didn't do *in 6th grade!* True, the grounding was the longest grounding I had ever had, but the pain is still there, just weakened over time.

What are all the magical meanings of and/or myths/legends/stories involving fireflies. I would guess that they were probably thought to be fairies at one time, but it's just a guess.

I am trying to find some good websites for a 7-year-old to play games on. Are there any that don't cost anything and don't have to be downloaded?