Jodi Sharp @ Figment NYC
The
Prayer Flag Project
is a moving installation that is taking place in North America over the course of 2015. This weekend its latest rendition went up at
. The purpose of this project is to inspire people to actively participate in creating their own spiritual space and to promote community wellness. It will consist of a movable tent and strings of prayer flags that will be set up at festivals and in parks during the year.
In this project, people to write their own prayers for peace and happiness on blank prayer flags that the artist has created. A station is set up in a tent that explains what the flags mean, with supplies available for people to make their own. The prayer flags are then hung on the strings attached to the tent. Over the course of the summer the number of flags will grow and the prayers will travel all over parts of Canada and the US.
This project will began January 1 of this year, and so far has shown at-
, British Columbia Canada. January.
, Quebec, Canada. April.
, Ontario, Canada. May.
, New York, U.S. June.
This project will continue to travel until January 1 of 2016.
On traditional prayer flags, the ancient Buddhist prayers, mantras and powerful symbols displayed on them produce a spiritual vibration that is activated and carried by the wind across the countryside. All beings that are touched by the wind are uplifted and a little happier. The silent prayers are blessings spoken on the breath of nature. Just as a drop of water can permeate the ocean, prayers dissolved in the wind extend to fill all of space.
The Buddhist prayer flag tradition has a long continuous history dating back to ancient Tibet, China, Persia and India. The Tibetan word for prayer flag is Dar Cho. “Dar” means to increase life, fortune, health and wealth. “Cho” means all sentient beings. Prayer flags are simple devices that, coupled with the natural energy of the wind, quietly harmonize the environment, impartially increasing happiness and good fortune among all living beings.
Placing prayer flags in and around one’s home or business imparts a feeling of harmony, increases the spiritual atmosphere and brings to mind the teachings of enlightenment. By placing prayer flags outdoors their sacred mantras are imprinted on the wind, generating peace and good wishes.
When making your own, in raising the prayer flags proper motivation is important. If they are put up with the attitude “I will benefit from doing this” – that is an ego-centered motivation and the benefits will be small and narrow. If the attitude is “May all beings everywhere receive benefit and find happiness,” the virtue generated by such motivation greatly increases the power of the prayers.
In this project the participants choose the color that they feel best represents their prayer. Then, they write their own prayer on the flag. The flag is then taken and hung up, letting the wind spread good wishes and extend to fill all space!
If you would like to participate in this project, but will not be in a city where it is showing this summer, please feel free to send one to me by mail, and it will get added for you! For more details email me at jodithesharp@gmail.com.
It was so wonderful to see all of the beautiful additions from Figment festival!
This one almost made me cry. I had left a couple business cards out one morning, and when I came back, someone had taken one of my cards and had made a little cradle for it and hung it on the line. Thanks for the good wishes, whoever you are. <3
Even as I was taking them down on the last day, just an hour before the event closed, people were still coming by and asking if they could still make one. The enthusiasm and participation at this event was amazing.
Each and every one is just so beautiful.
Thank you to all who participated in this amazing event! Next stop with this project,
in Ontario, Canada.