Question: The picture below depicts one way to go around the rosary beads when praying the [Holy Rosary](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/1155/what-is-the-purpose-of-a-rosary).

[![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/oJQ3x.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/oJQ3x.jpg)

If a child were to ask, as they typical do, as to why Catholics when praying the Holy Rosary customarily go around the rosary beads one way rather than the other - if that's what they do, how would one answer? Is there a customary way to go around rosary beads? If yes, what is the reason for that order?

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A question in the "same series" as: [Is there a particular order in lighting candles on an advent wreath?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/35537/is-there-a-particular-order-in-lighting-candles-on-an-advent-wreath)

Answer: 
Either direction is acceptable
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This might be semi-authoritative since it comes straight from the only approved Marian apparition site in the United States. Up near Green Bay, Wisconsin there is an outdoor rosary walk with the mysteries visible for people who traverse in a right-hand or left-hand direction.

For instance, when you walk around clockwise, you see 1st glorious mystery, 1st luminous. Etc... On a big banner, but if you look at the backside of the banner, its got 5th glorious, 5th luminous, etc... So no matter whether you walk around clockwise or counter-clockwise, you will see the mysteries in their proper order. Which I remarked to my wife, "that's mighty clever, those Catholics are always thinking..."
The spacing on the beads are the same in both directions. You do not even need beads, I use an app on my phone, I'm techno savy. You can use your fingers and keep track of the mysteries that way. I have prayed the Rosary many times before Mass, hardly anyone has the beads as they pray together. There are many ways to pray the Rosary. Many things to contemplate when doing it. It is a method of Prayer not a system of Prayer.