Prayer Flags: Dealing with Loss

Beyond the beliefs of any religion, there is the truth of the human spirit. Beyond the power of nations, there is the power of the human heart.  - Tarthang Tulko (Tibetan teacher in the Nyingma tradition who lives in America, where he works to preserve the art and culture of Tibet)

Feeling sad continues. However, tears are becoming less frequent. Last night I decided that I had to do something other than feeling sad. When the  Prayer Flag Project began in 2011, I was one of the first people to sign on. The idea intrigued me and I made one a day for a month. Each flag represented a wish I had for the world.  I kept twelve which hang across the wall and near the ceiling on a wall in my studio and the rest were stung up in my garden until they became a part of it. I also participated in an international exchange in 2012.  Real Tibetan flags, which were a gift from my friend Carol Esch (she sent them when she learned I was making prayer flags,) hang across the windows in my studio. I have had Tibetan prayer flags in my garden many times since purchasing them support the Tibetan artists. There is something about  watching the flags disintegrate that always causes me mixed emotions--joy and sadness.

One of my favorite Postmark'd Art postcards is from Beki Ries-Montgomery of Eugene, Oregon, (made in 2006) about the prayer flags she saw hanging from the Dochu La Pass in the Kingdom of Bhutan. I don't even mind the black smug added by the USPS. According to Beki, it was a "trip of a lifetime, a wondrous landscape and a gentle, friendly people."                                                              


From the Tibetan Aid Project, "According to the Tibetan tradition, prayer flags imprinted with sacred images and mantras transmit healing energy into the world through the power of the wind. Prayer flags empowered by mantras affect natural, elemental forces on a subtle level, beyond ordinary human perception. As they fly in the wind, the flags exert a protective, balancing influence on the environment and generate benefit for all sentient beings."

heARTist Trading Cards is going to be making prayer flags as a side trade in August so making them seemed like a perfect creative activity to do for so many reasons. Each flag is approximately 5" w by 8" h. I "cheated" slightly with "be peace" because I loved the idea of something hanging off the bottom. Now I wish I could have figured out how to do it with the rest of them. I also made extras so share with friends. If you have not made prayer flags, I highly recommend doing so.  The healing has begun.

Living Without

We had a bad storm which caused a monetary power blip. It didn't even reset my clocks but it did kill my PC which forced me to use the Mac my husband bought me for my birthday. My son Nathaniel was able to fix my computer so that I could get the files and email addresses that hadn't been moved to the Mac. Learning the Mac has been interesting. It's certainly not perfect but I don't want to ever get to the point where I don't want to learn new things.  In the past, I've been very tied to my computer and I'm trying to spend more time in my studio and less time on the computer. The week I lived without my PC was very productive and caused me to spend four days cleaning my studio. I've revisited all my fabric and donated two 30 gallon trash bags to charity and another bag for my group at the National Museum of Mexican Art (I have not given up in the hope we will meet again.). Having a messy studio didn't use to bother me. It does now. Not exactly sure why. Maybe I'm finally honoring myself and my space.


The Prayer Flag was made on the day of the storm. It honors my 15 year old black cat, E.G. (named after one of my favorite authors, Ellen Gilchrist). Whenever I am upset, E.G. senses it and sits on me and purrs. It's also a reminder for me to lighten up when these kinds of things happen and keep it in perspective. It worked too.

Prayer Flag-Time

I have always loved poetry and Naomi Shihab Nye is one of my favorite poets. I can thank my husband Tom for this as he was the one who gave me a couple of her books as a gift. What I love about Naomi is her poems deal with everyday things. I thought this poem worked well with my fourteenth (still can't believe it has been two weeks) Prayer Flag which deals with time. This time I used paper because the lady on the moon rubberstamp did not work well on paper. It also uses a piece of fabric that I have held on to for a number of years. It's one of those pieces that you always wish you had more. It feels so good to be using up these little bits of treasures and putting good vibes out into the world.

I am also celebrating today that the second round of edits to my book are done! Rejoice!

Walk like a leaf!


The Art of Disappearing. 
by Naomi Shihab Nye 


When they say Don't I know you? say no.
When they invite you to the party
remember what parties are like
before answering.
Someone telling you in a loud voice
they once wrote a poem.
Greasy sausage balls on a paper plate.
Then reply.
If they say we should get together.
say why? It's not that you don't love them any more.
You're trying to remember something
too important to forget.
Trees.
The monastery bell at twilight.
Tell them you have a new project.
It will never be finished. When someone recognizes you in a grocery store
nod briefly and become a cabbage.
When someone you haven't seen in ten years
appears at the door,
don't start singing him all your new songs.
You will never catch up.
Walk around feeling like a leaf. Know you could tumble any second. Then decide what to do with your time.

Prayer Flag-Simplify

My journey to simplify my life began many years ago and continues to this day. It really is a journey (process) and not a destination. I am happy to report that it has gotten easier to let things go and be more organized. However, it's been a while since I focused on getting rid of unneeded things so I've decided to spend July letting one thing go a day. This Prayer Flag is in honor of this decision.

Prayer Flag-Be Kind

There is so much impatience these days. We seem to have forgotten each other. I've tried to place myself in the other person's shoes instead of being impatient or judgmental. This is not easy. Today I needed to run into the grocery store to pick up one needed item. No one was at the 10 items or less cash register so I was stuck in a long line for impatient people. The male in the couple in front of me seem particularly aggravated and he was taking it out on his wife. His verbal assault got to the point where I felt I could not hold my tongue. My first inclination was to admonish him then I remembered my promise to myself to "be kind" whenever possible. So instead I choose to say, "I suspect you are having a bad day. It really is frustrating to have to wait." This seemed to distract him from calling his wife names. He seemed to soften. We chatted a while and the line moved forward. I wished them both a great day when they finished and turned to the business of paying when the woman came quickly running back. I almost knocked into her. She quickly thanked me asking, "No one has ever spoken up for me." "How sad," is all I could think at the time. Kindness doesn't take anything to do. Be Kind.

Prayer Flag-Mosquito

I figured out why I like making Prayer Flags--first, they are fun! Next,it makes me think about positive things which is good. Lastly, I am not alone. It feels good to know that others are also making Prayer Flags and putting much needed positive energy into the world. Today's Prayer Flag uses my favorite quote from Bette Reese, "If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito." Here's to being effective!

Prayer Flag-Transparency

This Prayer Flag was made to remind me of one of my resolutions for this year "Say what I mean and mean what I say." It is a hope that we can honestly communicate with each other. The fabric is pieced together for a scarp I purchased many years ago from the Fabric Warehouse (2121 W. 21st Street) in Chicago when they had boxes of scraps you could purchase by the pound. I never knew why I kept it until today.

Prayer Flag- Honoring Las puntadas del alma/Stitches of the Soul

I woke early yesterday and knew exactly what I wanted to do for my Prayer Flag. I didn't quite get it done before I left to teach at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago; a journey I have made about every two weeks for the last three years. We have been known for a while as Las puntadas del alma/Stitches of the Soul. It has been an amazing experience being able to teach basically the same group of women for three years. I thought we would continue, but now our future is uncertain. I made it until six o'clock last night before crying. It makes this Prayer Flag have even deeper meaning for me. If we don't ever get to meet again, I only hope I have given them enough to continue and I know with time the pain of their loss will lessen.

Prayer Flag-Be Peace

I decided that my flags will carry active messages just as many years ago I started using "Make it a great day," instead of "Have a great day." So for this prayer flag my message is to "be peace" instead of just "peace." Not only does this message go out into the world to end wars but also for each of us to find peace within ourselves. I know this is a struggle for me--to be at peace with myself.

This flag used a batik, the last piece of a commercial fabric that I loved (it's at least 15 years old and raw edged appliqued) and some organza ribbon (fused with Misty Fuse), photo transfer (image from a friend), and lettering done with a fabric marker.

Be Peace.

Prayer Flag One- Honoring the Light

I cannot believe how long it has been since I shared something. Please forgive. Some big changes have occurred. I let go of a long time friendship that just wasn't good for me. It was not easy. It did open up a flood gate of new work. Unfortunately, so many of the shows or exhibiting opportunities do not want work to be shared. While I understand, it is sad which is why I am so happy about the Prayer Flag Project led by Vivika Hansen DeNegre. Each flag is to be 5 inches by 8 inches. I made this one yesterday in honor of  Nathaniel's (my son) birthday. To me he is a great light. I pray that we all honor the light within each of us and especially those whom we may not like or understand. My hope is to make one flag a day for at least 30 days and share them with you. This one is made from two batik fabrics (the lower one was a table cloth) and three commercial fabrics. I hand appliqued the moon and the words are a rubberstamp I own. Let me know if you join me in this wonderful project.