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One Little Prayer
Prairie Dog

The Prairie Dog design

Through the amazing human web of life, two of my childhood neighbors and schoolmates, who now reside in a Carmelite Monastery, which is supported by the design and production of greeting cards (www.carmelofreno.com), Sisters Ann and Susan, introduced me to the lovely message Sister Marie Celeste had created:

"When I see it raining in your heart
although I don't have an umbrella,
let me walk in the rain with you"

I knew this was my namaste prayer!

Namaste, is not only a salutation but is also a mudra or gesture, a bow with hands pressed together, which traditionally means 'I honor the Spirit, the Devine, in you which is also in me.'

The little prairie dogs, gregarious members of the squirrel world, live in our American grasslands, and do, in my humble opinion, this lovely, amazing thing.... they stand quietly facing East as the sun rises and West as the sun sets, paws pressed together, perhaps meditating on the connection between all of life, and blessing this connection with a 'namaste' mudra. Isn't it wonderful that they are out there witnessing this daily show?!

3 group - prayer flags - Yoga design mix ...........

The Doves design - 'Be the Peace You Wish To See In This World'
The OM/Lotus design
The Namaste design

............. compose the 'three prayer flag group' that speak to ownership of the possibility of peace in our personal life that will move like a wave into the whole world. In The Pale Blue Dot. by Carl Sagan is a 'meditation' on the importance of realizing our personal part in creating peace.

Petite Scroll (Prairie Dog)

Through the amazing human web of life, two of my childhood neighbors and schoolmates, who now reside in a Carmelite Monastery, which is supported by the design and production of greeting cards (www.carmelofreno.com), Sisters Ann and Susan, introduced me to the lovely message Sister Marie Celeste had created:

"When I see it raining in your heart
although I don't have an umbrella,
let me walk in the rain with you"

I knew this was my namaste prayer!

Namaste, is not only a salutation but is also a mudra or gesture, a bow with hands pressed together, which traditionally means 'I honor the Spirit, the Devine, in you which is also in me.'

The little prairie dogs, gregarious members of the squirrel world, live in our American grasslands, and do, in my humble opinion, this lovely, amazing thing.... they stand quietly facing East as the sun rises and West as the sun sets, paws pressed together, perhaps meditating on the connection between all of life, and blessing this connection with a 'namaste' mudra. Isn't it wonderful that they are out there witnessing this twice daily show?!

Terry Tempest Williams, in her book Finding Beauty in a Broken World discusses the part prairie dogs, who are on the Threatened list, play in the organic 'mosaic' of our world, where they trim, airiate and enrich the grass and soil, providing much needed paths for rainwater to descend into our water tables, and notes that many other species depend on them for their existance, espically the Endangered black-footed ferret; in a way maybe us, too! It takes my breath away when I consider how amazing it is that each of us are, together, experiencing life on our fragile lovely living planet, each of us a part of the 'mosaic', each and every one of us effecting the planet, much as a rock tossed in a lake sends out ripples far and wide. Now that's something to stand and watch a sunrise, or sunset, and contemplate!

Large Tree
Shoji Lantern

Large Tree design:

7 1/2 inch high

Through the magic of the Internet I found myself in conversation with a friend that I 'met' at the Taoist Forum, Graeme Askew.

Over the years we enjoyed exchanging original little Zen poems comparing the seasons, as he lived in Melbourne, Australia and I on a ranch in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Graeme's world was awakening to spring while simultaneously my world was moving into autumn. He died very suddenly in Nov. 2000, leaving us with this lovely verse ..... I have used in this design:

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.”

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.
The silk scroll is about 23 inches long by about 6.5 inches wide, hanging from bamboo it has a little brass bell at the top and it is packaged with a 'story card'.