Friday, August 3, 2012

Secular Prayer Flags


What do you do on a day when it's too hot to go outside? 

You drag out your ancient Singer sewing machine and your stash of fabric, and you make PRAYER FLAGS!The idea behind most prayer flags is that with each thread that unravels and flies off in the wind, a prayer is sent to whichever deity the flag honors. Inspired by my neighbor's string of colorful flags, each stamped with a Sanskrit prayer, I decided to make my own set.  Immediately, I encountered a philosophical problem: Since I don't subscribe to any particular religion, wouldn't it be hypocritical to be sending "prayers" to gods I don't believe in?
 Solution: "
Secular Wish Flags!" Just because I'm an atheist doesn't mean I don't want to express goodwill toward my fellow Earthlings. Why can't each tiny thread of my flags represent positive thoughts and wishes streaming into the atmosphere?
This was my first effort (above), and I strung it up in the kitchen to observe the full effect.
Then, I surveyed the still-huge stack of fabric, most of it left at my house when my older daughter (who was a quilter) moved to Florida.
Why stop with one string of wish flags?  I made another and another...
...and soon, my kitchen was festooned with wish flags of all colors and patterns. I hung strings on the porch and in the garden.
Still, the stack of fabric seemed undiminished.
Before I knew it, the strings of flags had spread to the living room.With all this fabric to work with, where will it end?
Help!