Navajo Ghost Beads - Cedar Berries with holes

Cedar berries are gathered by members of the Navajo in Arizona for the creation of ghost bead jewelry and crafts. The people are assisted by Ants, who nibble off one end of the berry and eat the meat. The craftspeople need only punch a hole in the other end to string berries on a cord with colorful beads. The harmony that results from the interconnection of earth, tree, animal and human is believed to ensure tranquility and keep evil spirits away from the wearer.

This batch I bought from a Navajo man in Arizona and his elderly aunt still collects the beads and puts the holes in herself. The photo is representative of what you will receive as it was taken for this batch. Please keep in mind this is a natural product and with that being said, drought, heat, cold, and moisture can play a huge part in the way these beads develop and are grown in the wild.

Due to the nature of this product the beads range from 4mm-8mm+/- or so.