Prayer Flags for the Earth

Silk Prayer Flags

Many years ago a man walked into my booth at a show and said that he was traveling around the world and hanging 'Peace Flags' on trees located in isolated remote places. I was delighted when he chose one of my banners to add to a secret sacred spot.
This incident inspired me make these little silk flags to add more prayers for healing our planet, with messages designed to blow in the wind and, as the Tibetans say, carry our compassion to the four directions.
The silk flags are double sided, about 5 inches square, and strung on black nylon cord between little brass brass bells. They come in groups of 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 flags.
3 flag strings are 31 inches long.
5 flag strings are 42 inches long.
7 flag strings are 56 inches long.
9 flag strings are 62 inches long.
11 flag strings are 72 inches long.
If hung outdoors unprotected in your garden in time they will become 'earthtiqued'. If you decide to replace them you should cut out the bells and plant the silk flags returning them to the earth and, as they are organic, they will help fertilize your soil.

'One Little Prayer' (so you're never caught without one)

'One Little Prayer', a 5 inch square silk flag, hanging from about a 6 inch piece of bamboo with a little brass bell.

At the Oregon Country Fair, a few years ago, we had sold all but one of the 'one little prayer' flags when our neighbor, Brandon, noted we could not sell it, for then we would be left without a prayer! I laughed and said, "Now that's why everyone needs at least 'One little prayer"."
Our eBay customer, Harry, left a lovely feed back that said, " (I'm) covering my earth with prayers, one at a time. Thank you Cathy!"

Silk is a most wonderful fabric and doesn't mildew. Kimonos that are 5,000 years old and look as beautiful as they did when new are living testimony to the resilience of silk. Bring in during winter storms. If you wash your banner you may iron it on the back side on a 'cotton' setting.
The first Japanese gardens were simple clearings in the woods, spread with white sand and marked with only a rice fiber rope. The Silk Banners were inspired by this deep appreciation of nature and the geomantic laws of FENG SHUI.

The banners are about 23 to 24 inches long and about 6 inches wide and are hung from a black nylon cord with a small brass bell, which will add an additional 5 to 7 inches to the wall hanging. The silk banner may be hung in your garden creating a quiet healing force. If exposed to the elements in time the silk may become 'earthtiqued' and can later be buried in the soil .

Each banner is hand made of silk noil, a protein fiber, hand sewn and hand screened. It may be hung outdoors in a tree or under a porch or deck overhang. Silk is a most wonderful fabric and doesn't mildew. Kimonos that are 5,000 years old and look as beautiful as they did when new are living testimony to the resilience of silk. Bring in during winter storms. If you wash your banner you may iron it on the back side on a 'cotton' setting.
The first Japanese gardens were simple clearings in the woods, spread with white sand and marked with only a rice fiber rope. The Silk Banners were inspired by this deep appreciation of nature and the geomantic laws of FENG SHUI.
The banner is about 14 inches long and about 4.5 inches wide and is hung from a black nylon cord with a small brass bell, adding an additional 5 to 6 inches to this hanging. The petite silk banner may be hung in your garden creating a quiet healing force. If exposed to the elements in time the silk may become 'earthtiqued' and can later be buried in the soil .

Greeting

Greetings

Words and messages used over thousands of years to welcome and bid farewell to others have long attracted me...the open hand, the handshake, used to convey that you are a safe and unthreatening person have always gone a long way toward the path to peace.

Zen Bells

The Zen Bell hangs from a cord that is hand beaded with sea shells, bamboo, painted bamboo, glass, bone and mala (prayer) beads and combines a Chinese coin replica with a hand crafted porcelain 'shard' with the OM symbol. Each bell's beading will be different.
The small Zen Bell hangs about 32 inches from the top of the cord to the bottom of the prayer flag. Any of the 'One Little Prayer' flags can be used with this small bell.
The large Zen Bell hangs about 57 inches from the top of the cord to the bottom of the prayer flag. Any of the Silk Scrolls or Banners may be used with this large bell.
The Chinese character for 'compassion' is on the Zen Bell and any silk scroll or banner can be added to the large Zen Bell or any 'One Little Prayer' may be used with the small Zen Bell.

Silk Origami Crane Mobile

In Japan cranes have long been considered a metaphorical representation of the 'family' and 'peace'. Just as all families confront problems and personalities that are often quite challenging, through compassion and a sense of belonging most all issues are worked out. Looking at our earth, meaning both the nations of the world and nature, as our essential family too, quite naturally we will make moves to embrace all life with concern and caring. As John Muir, founder of The Sierra Club, once said,"We are all hitched together!'.

It is to this personal philosophy that I have designed these mobiles, hanging the silk origami cranes on black nylon cord with black onyx, freshwater pearls and bamboo beads between the silk prayer flags which are hung on bamboo, about 6 inches wide. The little silk flags are about 5 inches square. They hang about 30 inches down from the top of the cord to the bottom silk origami crane on a Chinese coin.

Candle Lanterns