Silk Garden Scrolls
Silk Garden Scrolls
Each banner is handcrafted of silk noil, a protein fiber,
and hand screened. There will be slight variations in size
and shape. It may be hung outdoors in a tree or under a
porch or deck overhang. Bring in during winter storms. TOUCH THE EARTH offers the silk banners in the spirit of FENG SHUI, the ancient Chinese Art of 'good energy' placement; the proper flow of ch'i or life force is created and enhanced through the conscious awareness of your environment and it's harmony with nature, protecting your health, prosperity and good fortune.
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 Bamboo Silk Garden Sroll |
BambooAn ancient Zen folk poem says; "Even strong winds are weakened by obedient bamboo never broken in the wind." Bamboo, a grass, lives under almost any condition and is found on all continents, remaining green even in winter. Bamboo limits it's height when it meets an obstacle, retreating and drawing it's growth inside, thickening it's base. Bamboo is designated as a 'female' plant and representing the 'yin', the flexibility, strength, growth and resiliency of female energy, inherent in both women and men. The Japanese calligraphy says "TOUCH THE EARTH". The first two kanji or characters refer to earth and the planet; the following kanji refer to connecting in your heart with the spirit and life of our earth. The fine art calligraphy called 'SHODO' was created by Kyoko Hunt, my good friend who lives in Kyoto, Japan. |
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 Lotus Silk Garden Scroll |
The LotusThe Lotus, considered a sacred lily, was a part of the art of the Egyptian and Buddhist philosophy. The stylized lotus, in full bloom signifies living in the moment. Traditionally the lotus represents the sacred center of the universe, the core of our souls; by contacting this pure center within ourselves, and discovering our most joyous dreams and acting on them, we create the environment to manifest our dreams. In this design I drew the lotus within a circle of bamboo, representing consciousness of the universe. A lotus in full bloom represents living in the moment, yet I put seeds of the 'past' and 'future' on either side, for all moments are connected to where we have been and where we are going. Bamboo, a grass, lives under almost any condition and is found on all continents, remaining green ever in winter. Bamboo limits it's height when it meets an obstacle, retreating and drawing it's growth inside, thickening it's base. Bamboo is designated as a 'female' plant and represents the 'yin' the flexibility, strength, growth and resiliency of female energy, inherent in both women and men. The fine art calligraphy called 'Shodo' says "FOLLOW YOU DREAM" and was created by Kyoko Hunt, my good friend who lives in Kyoto, Japan. |
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 Crane Silk Garden Scroll |
The CranesThis silk hanging contains an ancient Zen folk poem, "The crane rises leaving only the dream"' and was the inspiration for this design. 'Each moment', carried forever in our hearts, is often the theme in my work. This garden flag is made of silk, a protein fiber. It may be hung outdoors in a tree or under a porch or deck overhang. Bring in during winter storms. |
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 Calligraphy of Geese Silk Garden Scroll |
Calligraphy of GeeseThis silk hanging contains a haiku by the famous 18th century painter and poet Buson, that led me to this design.
against the sky. The moon seals it." Many years ago I had the unforgettable midnight experience of watching migrating geese, in multiple formations, flying through scudding clouds, silhouetted by a full moon. |
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| In my original design I created an Oak tree, which is encompassed behind a Shinto Gate, an entry into a sacred garden. The Divine is manifest in all natural things..... the mountains, the sea, sea shells, stone.......and trees! A friend, Graeme Askew, and I had fun e-mailing our own original little Zen poems to one another, comparing the seasons, as he lived in Melbourne, Australia and I on a ranch in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Graeme once wrote to me: “The cycles of time wind around each other and the leaves tumble down and burst again from the old wood.” |
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Peace Doves
a little Gandhi'ish idea.
I created this design with nesting doves to represent the family. Within one's personal family, or the world family, there is not only love and joy, but conflict and disagreement. Peace....a quiet little word embraces, for me, a great challenge. The Dalai Lama believes it is through our relationship with those with whom we are in conflict that the opportunity is offered to really know who we are and what we really believe in. |
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The DragonCaught between the sun and sea, my original Chinese dragon is dancing and shouting, "Good Fortune!", wishing you good health, good friends and a good life!
This silk scroll is packaged with a 'story card'. |
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Mermaid and Dolphin design “Awake my love, awake! from Thoughts and Meditations This is an original design by Cathleen Coulson-Keegan to celebrate our mystical connection with the ocean and the life within the ocean. This silk banner is offered in the spirit of FENG SHUI, the ancient Chinese Art of harmonious placement; maximizing the positive flow of ch'i or life force TOUCH THE EARTH™ Graphic Art Studio Handcrafted in Oregon by ‘the old hippies’. |
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Cattail Silk Garden Scroll
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The CattailsRattle of reeds.....wind shaped......yet the return to stillness....silence. I created this little Zen poem with a dedication to the unexpected forces that sometimes arrive to reshape our environment..our lives.... and show us our foundation...structure...our most personal center. The I Ching (Translated: The Book of Change) is an ancient treasure of insight and wisdom,an organic guide to the way things change. There are 64 hexagrams that form the principles of the I Ching. This character or kanji that I painted for this design is the 24th hexagram, called Return which describes a welcome return, that is natural and without force, from times of disorder. |
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The IrisThe iris plant represents young female beauty and early summer. The Japanese calligraphy says "TOUCH THE EARTH". The first two kanji or characters refer to earth and the planet; the following kanji refer to connecting in your heart with the spirit and life of our earth. The fine art calligraphy called 'SHODO' was created by Kyoko Hunt, my good friend who lives in Kyoto, Japan. |
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 Panda Silk Garden Scroll |
Master PandaSitting.....Master Panda contemplates the wisdom of bamboo which provides us with food, shelter, music and art, and yet is affected by seasons and care. The Chinese symbol I used in this design represents 'viewing' or 'contemplating' and is the 20th hexagram in the I Ching (Translated: The Book of Change), an ancient treasure of insight and wisdom, an organic guide to the way things change. There are 64 hexagrams that form the principles of the I Ching. One may understand what the future holds by CONTEMPLATING the effect of your life upon others. If your influence and example are good, then you are without blame. This, you will find, is its own reward. The Giant Panda was chosen by the World Wildlife Foundation as the mascot for all endangered species. This silk scroll is packaged with a 'story card'. |
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 Peace on Earth Silk Garden Scroll |
Peace on EarthI like to think of the message, "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All", as a 'celestial directive'. It is my belief that when we have goodwill in our hearts we can approach all relationships with a sense of 'charity'. Although we live in a troubled, dysfunctional old world, we can personally bring our peace to our world. I wish everyone, including myself, good luck with this directive! The Japanese calligraphy was created by my dear friend, and Oregon Country Fair 'daughter', Yumiko Ozawa-Freeman. The first konji is 'Peace' and the second konji 'Good heart' as 'Goodwill' is not a Japanese word. |
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 Kuan Yin Silk Garden Scroll |
Kuan Yin - Mother of the UniverseThis design is dedicated to the Divine Mother who appears as the Chinese Kuan-yin, the Japanese Kannon; also as Gaia, Isis, Sati, Tara and Our Lady of Guadalupe.
you will find her presence; watching, listening, she forgives you before you ask. We come from this great ocean of love and will return to it, yet live now, in this small moment of 'experience', to use as we will.
until then may I, too, abide to dispel the misery of the world." said the Dalai Lama This original design was created and is hand printed by Cathleen Coulson-Keegan for your quiet, meditative spaces. The fine art Japanese calligraphy called 'Shodo' says "Mother of the Universe" and was created by the artist Kyoko Hunt, my good friend who lives in Kyoto, Japan. |
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One Moment - One Chance - Always"All things upon this earth are developing into new things...for a moment these things are ours....then they are ours......forever..." wrote poet Gwen Frostic
When my first child, my son Curtis, "left the nest' going to a US Coast Guard LORAN station on Hokkaido, Japan, these words brought perspective to this change. Curtis died in the 1989 San Francisco Bay Area earthquake. For his life, for our life, or the life of the planet, the momentary beauty of blossoms, the ancient Chinese poem, "One Time...One Chance" expresses the need to be conscious of every passing moment...to really live it.....for each moment will be in our hearts always.......it's always that way. The fine art calligraphy called 'Shodo' says "One Moment....One Chance.....Always" and was created by Kyoko Hunt, an artist and my good friend who lives in Kyoto, Japan. |
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The BuddhaThis silk scroll hangs off a bamboo cane and can go in home or garden. My original Buddha is sitting in meditation with birds and frogs about him and the ancient mantra 'Om Mani Padme Hum'.....'the jewel in the lotus' or soul. It comes with my little 'prayer', 'Within your heart is a jewel, shining, shimmering, every precious moment'. The silk banner is about 23 inches long by about 6.5 inches wide, hanging from bamboo it has a little brass bell at the top. This silk scroll is packaged with a 'story card'. |
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 Aung San Suu Kyi Silk Garden Scroll |
A Woman of HopeOne of the most lovely and courageous women alive, Founding the National League for Democracy in 1988, the political party that won an overwhelming victory in 1990 to govern Burma, In September, 2007, thousands of peace loving Burmese Buddhist monks, dedicated to living with compassion and kindness, began demonstrations in support of the suppressed people of this nation and were beaten and arrested. “If you’re feeling helpless Cathleen Coulson-Keegan, owner of Touch the Earth, created this original design, hand printing it from her heart, and directing all profits to the uscampaignforburma.org TOUCH THE EARTH™ Graphic Art Studio |
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