'One Little Prayer' - for the Earth

Each little silk flag is double sided with 'Touch the Earth' in Japanese on one side and in English on the other side. The first two kanji or characters of the Japanese calligraphy refer to the soil and the planet earth; the following kanji refer to connecting in your heart with all sentient beings of our earth. I always see the simple elegance of bamboo as a metaphor for the strength of our inner spirit. The fine art calligraphy called 'SHODO' was created by Kyoko Hunt, my good friend who lives in Kyoto, Japan.

The lotus, considered a sacred lily, was a part of the art of the Egyptian and Buddhist philosophy. 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. The Lotus is also called a 'mudflower'; with roots in the pond soil, yet in beauty the plant floats and blossoms on the surface.

The Om/Lotus design

This design, using the ancient symbol OM, celebrates all life, which is dependent on the gift from the cosmos of air or breath. Air chooses no one, but vibrates through all fauna and flora and folks.
We are all one as we breathe!
OM, the primordial sound of the universe, is a Sanskrit expression of solemn affirmation, an auspicious salutation, "hail!", also representing everything. Each particle of existence is impregnated with energy and consciousness.
The breath!
“We have to live in harmony and peace…this is not a dream,
this is a necessity.”   The Dalai Lama

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 often comparing the seasons, as he lived in Melbourne, Australia and I on a ranch in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. He died very suddenly in Nov., 2000 leaving us with this lovely verse.

"The cycles of time
wind around each other
and the leaves tumble down
and burst again
from the old wood."

When Graeme sent me this poem his world was awakening to spring while simultaneously my world was moving into autumn.

One Little Prayer
Prairie Dog

The Prairie Dog design

Recently I reconnected, through this amazing human web of life, with Sisters Ann and Susan who now reside in a Carmelite Monaster; they were childhood neighbors and schoolmates. Their monastery is supported by the nuns who design and produce greeting cards: www.carmelofreno.com, Through their work I was introduced to this lovely message by Sister Marie Celeste that became my 'namaste prayer':

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

namaste

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 Light in you, which is also in me.'

The little prairie dogs, gregarious members of the squirrel world, live in our American grasslands. Tery Tempest Williams (Finding Beauty in a Broken World) studied these charming little beings and calls them 'prayer dogs' as they often witness, standing quietly facing East, the sun rise, and West, the sun set, paws pressed together. Perhaps they are 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?!

Here is my favoite meditation of the 'miracle of experiencing life on theis earth, by Carl Saga called The Pale Blue Dot.

The Calligraphy of Geese design

"Calligraphy of geese"

against the sky.

The moon seals it!"

This haiku was written by the famous
18th century painter and poet, Buson,
and led me to this design.

"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

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 Japanese calligraphy called 'Shodo' says

"One Moment......One Chance ....Always"

and was created by the artist Kyoko Hunt, my wonderful friend who lives in Kyoto, Japan. I offer this silk hanging in the spirit of FENG SHUI, the ancient Chinese Art of harmonious placement; maximizing the positive flow of ch'i or life force.

Each 'one little prayer' flag comes with a 'story card'.

Midnight.
Cloud shadows conceal the moon.

'Whooooo?'
calls the messenger.

One of the essential members of the avian world, the elegant and elusive nocturnal owl
is classified as a raptor. While we sleep the balance of nature continues to unfold.

Each 'one little prayer' flag comes with a 'story card'.

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.

Each 'one little prayer' flag comes with a 'story card'.

leaving only the dream

This ancient Zen folk poem was the inspiration for this design. Awareness that 'Each moment' is carried forever in our hearts, is often the theme in my work.

Each prayer flag comes with a 'story card'.

The Buddha design

In this design I have represented the meditating figure of the Buddha
(inspired by the Dalai Lama, who considers himself just a humble monk, and who gets up daily at 4 AM to meditate with compassion on the goodness of all living beings) surrounded by birds, representing curiosity and joy, and frogs, who, like spring showers, represent awakening and spiritual healing.

Above and below this Buddha (the ‘Master or Teacher’), is the ancient mantra

Om Mani Padme Hum

Within your heart is a jewel
shining….shimmering
every precious moment.

It is helpful and healing to chant and meditate upon this lovely mantra,

Om Mani Padme Hum

All suffering and confusion will endwhen we can truly understand and accept
we are one – one family – one soul.

Buddhism continues to this day to express aspirations for the well being of all!

Each prayer flag comes with a 'story card'.

I created this poem:

Within the sigh of the wind,
the songs of nature,
you will find her presence;
watching, listening,
she forgives you before you ask.

and dedicated this original design 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. 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.

"For as long as space endures, and for as long as living beings remain, until then may I, too, abide to dispel the misery of the world." said the Dalai Lama.

Each prayer flag comes with a 'story card'.

Aung Sung Suu Kyi
A Woman of Hope

One of the most lovely and courageous women alive, Aung San Suu Kyi, (pronounced Aung Sawn Sue Chee) winner of the 1991 Noble Peace Prize and the US Medal of Freedom, has challenged one of the world’s most repressive military regimes. Founding the National League for Democracy in 1988, the political party that won an overwhelming victory in 1990 to govern Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest and has remained so for most of the passing years.
Usually maintaining a neutral position the International Committee of the Red Cross strongly condemns this regime.

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.

Aung San Suu Kyi has called on people around the world to join the struggle for freedom in Burma,
saying "Please use your liberty to promote ours."
In her original song  ‘Women of Hope’ jazz musician and singer Morley, quotes Aung San Suu Kyi:

“If you’re feeling helpless
help someone”

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

Each prayer flag comes with a 'story card'.

This silk hanging depicts a circular wheat motif in growth, fruition and harvest.
The Japanese calligraphy, called 'Shodo', was created for this design by my good friend Kyoko Hunt, who lives in Kyoto, Japan.

It translates,

"The seeds you toss on the ground will grow,
and this will be your personal harvest."
Or,
'You Reap What You Sow'.

Each prayer flag comes with a 'story card'.

"Awake my love, awake!
For my spirit hails you
from beyond the sea
and offers you her wings
above the raging waves."

from THOUGHTS AND MEDITATIONS by Kahlil Gibran

In one of The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau TV programs he opened with the statement,
"I am the sea...and the sea is me"
With conscious awareness Cousteau emphasized that what we do to the earth affects us personally.

Each prayer flag comes with a 'story card'.

The Millennium Dragon

Dancing and shouting.
“Good Fortune!”

This Chinese dragon, which represents the ‘life force’, Reaching down from the sky and stepping into the sea, (a Tai Chi step called ‘Brush Knee Twist’) leads us into the new millennium
( A hoped-for a period of joy, serenity, prosperity, and justice.).

Sitting.....Master Panda contemplates the wisdom of bamboo; providing us with food, shelter, music and art, yet affected by seasons and care.

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.

One may understand what the future holds by CONTEMPLATING (the 20th hexagram in the I Ching) the effect of your life upon others. If your influence and example are kind, helpful and useful, then you are without blame. This, you will find, is its own reward.

Each prayer flag comes with a 'story card'.

Love is All design

I laughed and said to myself.....so true! Then I thought it might just give someone else a chuckle - I will spread the word.

We are born in the light of love and die in the light of love and, if we are lucky, connect throughout our lives to this energy of love that keeps this sweet little planet breathing.

Mama Polar Bear pours out her love to her little cubs, just as the Dalai Lama pours his love out to us: "For as long as space endures, and for as long as living beings remain, until then may I, too, abide to dispel the misery of the world."

The Wave design

Peace on Earth - Goodwill to all design