Prayers on the Wind

I find myself quite captivated by the sight of Buddhist Prayer Flags. I am not a Buddhist, but I really, really like the idea of prayers carried on the wind. I like the idea of good juju being just blown about.

You remember my obsession with triangular banners? (see my blog post January 2017!) This is kind of like that.

The prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength and wisdom - all the most wonderful things.

I further like that there is an order to these rectangular flags. The colors of the flags are placed in a certain order, arranged from left to right.

These five colors represent the five elements

Blue - sky and space

White - air and wind

Red - fire

Green - water

Yellow - earth

There is a tree in the back of my yard, far back in a corner. I like to sit under it in the afternoons and read, listen to birds, and watch the branches above me as they move in the wind. What better place for prayer flags?

Of course, I will not buy prayer flags, I will make them!

So, to begin!

Five colors from my fabric stash.

First, I cut the five pieces of fabric 20" X 7". I know I want my finished flags to be about 8" tall, and. 6" wide.

With right sides together, each flag is stitched up the sides 8". The top is left open.

Cut the corners, turn right side out, and press.

Now the flags are kind of like bags, with the top two inches, and the top open.

Then, I added the graphics. There are traditional animals added to the flags, as follows:

The Windhorse (Lung Ta) should always be placed in the center of the string of flags. The Windhorse brings good fortune, and is the most powerful. He carries three jewels on his back. The other animals are on either side of the Windhorse, and protect him.

The Windhorse symbolizes speed, and transformation of bad fortune to good fortune.

I drew the Windhorse first. I am many things, but I cannot draw for beans. So, the internet rescued me!

I drew the horse in pencil first, then I went over with a marker.

Next I drew the tiger. Tiger lives in the South. The Tiger promotes unconditional confidence and kindness. It is a relaxed being. Again, I used a step by step instruction from online.

The Snow Lion abides in the East, and represents unconditional cheerfulness, and a mind free of doubt. The Snow Lion also promotes a sense of delight, and youthfulness. I am not even going to show you a photo of my lion. Yeah, it is pretty bad.

The Sky Dragon lives in the clouds and the winds to the west. It promotes gentleness and playfulness and warmth. I just drew my own Sky Dragon. Hard to find a step by step guide online for such a thing.

Garuda abides in the direction of the north, and possesses great strength and power. Garuda is freedom from fear. Garuda is a kind of hawk-human. That being a bit more than I could handle, I just drew a hawk.

Well, kind of a hawk.

(There are other symbols you can use. For example, you can use a Parasol, which will protect from evil, a Lotus for spiritual unfoldment, or a Golden Fish to bring happiness. Maybe I should have tried that fish, instead of the Lion....)

After adding the graphics, I took a nice piece of twine, and sewed that onto the flags.

I turned the top 2 inches down, and pressed the flags. Then I ran the twine through the tops and sewed it all down.

DONE!

I read that it is important WHEN to hang the flags. It should be on a sunny, windy morning. Well, we have PLENTY of those sort of mornings in Northern Arizona! Prayers to be said when hanging can be something like "May all beings everywhere receive benefit and find happiness".

It is important to not put the flags up to benefit yourself only.

So, on a nice windy and sunny Arizona morning, I hung them up. The prayer flags are to benefit all living beings. So... You're Welcome!