Prayer flags

This is the time of year when I think about flags more than I usually do.  Often when we think of flags, we think about our country flag.  We may also think about flags that are used on ships, whether it is a flag used to communicate messages over large distances or simply flags used to identify the ship and it's purpose.

One of the distinctive qualities of a flag is that it is used to represent an idea.  Often they indicate that one thing belongs to or identifies with a group or person.  We use flags to represent clubs, in parades or other large group gatherings or that we personally support the person or thing depicted on our flag.  Flags can represent concepts, even as symbolic as letters or warnings (like the Jolly Roger or flags that were raised over a household to indicate there was sickness inside).

Flags make a beautiful addition to our practice, in that we can create flags for many different purposes.  Not only are they beautiful, but the represent things that are important to us.  We can fly flags for the deities we work with, for the elements when we cast circle, or as part of our spell work.

I have a small set of Tibetan prayer flags that I received in the mail, simple paper flags on a string with block printed designs on them.  The paper that came with them said that when the wind blew through them, your prayers would be carried away on the wind.  Of course, I hung them inside so the wind that moved them was mostly the wind of my own creation...I would blow on them when I had a prayer to send out.

One of my favorite novel series (The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind) has a character that wears a prayer dress, which has small scraps of cloth all over it, each one was added to her dress by one of her people, so that when she went out into the world she literally carried their prayers with her.  I always thought this was such a beautiful idea.  I have this vision of making a prayer belt or prayer cloak to add to my ritual gear, where I can add on prayers or have other people add prayers, that I then carry with me.

I think what really makes something a flag in my mind is that it hangs up somewhere, wind can move it, and that it represents something.  Many banners are a variation of flag.  We use banners for celebrations and the like, why not for ritual as well!  You could create a flag that represents the celebration (for things like Sabbats) or purpose (for spells), and then have it flying while you cast circle.  Even after the ritual is over, the flag could be hung outside (from a tree) or inside (on your wall or from your altar), and when you want to refresh your working, you could make sure it is out where the wind can catch it.

I also really like the idea of worship flags.  Making flags for the different deities you work with can be another version of a deity statue, in some ways more portable (definitely less breakable than many statues).  A worship flag could be painted, embroidered, quilted or printed.  You can pick a single image to represent your deity, or have several symbols.  You could even just write their name out on cloth, if that works for you.

If you have a permanent altar, but work with different deities at different times, you can use your flags to represent this.  You could also make flags for the different seasons or Sabbats or moon phases, to tailor your altar to what you are working on.

The simplest flag is simply a piece of cloth with several holes or loops along one side (to be used to hang the flag with).  But you can absolutely make your flags fancier by adding on trim or using loops to hang them from wooden dowels (which could also be embellished).

Making a flag for a particular working might incorporate symbols or words to represent different aspects of what you are doing.  If your working involves a particular deity, you might include their name or a symbol that is dear to them.  You can work in colors that represent the elements you are drawing upon.

I also don't think things like prayer flags need to be fancy works of art, so if you don't feel like you are artistic, don't worry!  Think about a lot of country flags that use very simple symbols and bold colors to represent the country.  Likewise, your flag could be a couple of symbols painted on in carefully chosen colors.

One simple way to mark shapes on cloth is to make stamps.  You can find a simple shape or symbol you like, and trace or print it onto paper.  Then get a potato that is big enough to hold the shape, and cut it in half.  Place your paper on the potato and carefully cut out your symbol, cutting away any potato outside of the outline.  You have now made a basic stamp that you can paint and press onto your cloth to stamp the picture onto it.

You can also make very personal flags by laying out your hand prints or foot prints.  For a spell working, you could make your paint a part of the working, not only picking the color, but adding herbs or other components to the paint, and then using it to make your flag.

If you want more complex images, consider checking out thrift stores and looking for tee shirts or other printed cloth with images that work for you.  You can cut out the ones you want and either sew or glue them onto your flag. And of course, you can add things like glitter or trim!

We fly flags to show the world what we believe in.  We fly flags to declare our allegiance.  We fly flags to get our message across.  What flags will you fly?