In the office of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Ecuador, you will find a display case with clergy shirts, traditional worship music of the area, and some Anglican rosaries. These rosaries are hand-made by Reverend Juan Salvatierra in the mission parish of San Felipe, Imbabura, Ecuador.I purchased one of these rosaries from the office because of all of the symbolic significance of the prayer tool.
The Anglican rosary, mine is made entirely of string and wooden beads, was developed in the 1980s by a group of Episcopalians who were contemplating forms of prayer. It has 33 beads: four groups of seven with single beads in-between each group. The "33" represents the number of years Jesus Christ was physically present on Earth. The groupings of seven, called "weeks," represent wholeness (See: Creation). This is a nod to Marva Dawn and other observers of the great seventh day of ceasing, resting, embracing, and feasting. (Link to a prayer I wrote based on her book)
The four single beads, or "cruciform beads" form the points of the cross when the rosary is opened into a loop-shape. When it is opened like this, the circle represents the love of God and the potential for us to live as one.
The single bead closest to the cross is called the "invitatory bead" because this is where prayer is designed to begin on the rosary. It invites us in our pains, fears, sins, and yearnings, to trust in God for courage and strength. It also invites us to share our thanksgivings
The cross, mine is a woven Latin-style, represents the level at which God is willing to sacrifice for our redemption.
While you may obviously pray however you desire (even without the assistance of a rosary, clearly), one method is praying with the beads. In this method, you start with the invitatory bead, setting the theme of the whole prayer. The weeks (sets of seven) serve as places to make requests, to seek, and to let your heart long for God. The cruciform beads serve as places to rest in between the weeks. It is customary to pray around the circle three times, though you may do more or less. When you want to conclude, you return to the invitatory bead, uttering the same prayer you began with or an expression of praise. After this, you move on to the cross to express gratitude.
It is beneficial, perhaps even crucial to not rush through the prayer; those times of rest are their specifically for silence so that you may receive. By allowing room for the Grace of the Holy Spirit, the prayer will be deepened inside of you.
As a side note, if you would like one of these hand-made rosaries from the Reverend Juan Salvatierra, please email me (curtis.farr@gmail.com) and I can bring one back when I return in July.