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Cleaning Up:  The Zen of Laundry, ie as Prayer Flags  |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
 Posted - May 30 2004 : 11:09:11 AM
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Hello! In the clothesline topic Kathy A. made a good reference to hanging up different colored T-shirts as being similar to Tibetian Prayer Flags. I could relate to that, and because I was interested in Tibetian Prayer Flags, I decided to create my own last year. Meaning absouletly no disrespect to their tradition, I lightheartedly call mine Red-Neck Prayer Flags. The bandanas were found at different times at various dollar stores around town. I attached them to some heavy lace that I picked up at a yard sale, etc... I then spent a little time and associated feelings about what I am thankful and grateful for with each color and wrote this in permanent marker on each flag. I put some ties on each end and bring it out whenever the weather is cooperative and hang it either from my house to the abroviate or from the top of my table umbrella, since I don't have a long clothes line to easily hang them from.
It is the intention of the prayer flag that matters most. You can get your kids involved and they can each have a bandana to write what they are thankful for,or you can leave them blank. What I wrote on each flag was what I was feeling at the time, and were I to redo them today, I might choose different things to write, but we all evolve and change. You can be discreet about it and hang them from the chicken coop or the barn, etc. The point is that we are all very thoughtful, intentional farmgirls who value the way of life we are cultivating, or desiring to cultivate. What better non-denominational, but very spiritual way, to hold this intention at the forefront than by creating a tradition. I will go about my yard work and dig in the dirt and work out my frustrations, and then walk past the flags blowing in the breeze, untangle them and be reminded that I am indeed very thankful and grateful for my life.
I don't really care about "what the neighbors will think". I hope you won't either and will consider this as something that would add to your experience of life as a farmgirl.
Check out the photos. Be creative and I certainly hope you will share your ideas too! ~ Clare
see below - 23 June 2005 post
Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural |
Edited by - Clare on Sep 07 2005 10:34:23 AM |
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Kathy A.
True Blue Farmgirl
116 Posts
Kathy
Utah
USA
116 Posts |
Posted - May 30 2004 : 2:24:33 PM
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| Clare, I just love the bandana prayer flags!! Even more now that I have seen the pictures! Thank you for elaborating on the concept and meaning it holds for you. There are so many little personal prayers and wishes you could put on them. I'm going to hang mine in the garden and write gratitudes for the beauty that is there and a prayer for an end to the drought. When people ask me What's up with that? I'm going to say it's a *Red-Neck prayer flag ala Clare* and it's a celebration of the farmgirl attitude. Thank you for posting the pictures. Besides keeping your neck from burning in the hot sun this is absolutely the best thing to so with a bandana. Kathy |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - May 30 2004 : 3:42:22 PM
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Oh, Kathy-- acceptance is such a soul soothing thing. Thank you! I'm glad the idea appeals to you and your sense of farmgirl self. I'll be awaiting your pictures of your prayer flag creation!  ~ Clare
Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural |
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ElizArtist
True Blue Farmgirl
113 Posts
Elizabeth
Newbury Park
California
USA
113 Posts |
Posted - May 30 2004 : 10:17:05 PM
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Dear Clare,
Your prayer flags are lovely, what a great ritual and reminder to have in your garden. I was just having a difficult moment with my family and seeing your flags fluttering reminded me to be grateful, to be mindful (present).
Brightest blessings
oh one more thing I did want to tell you that we had a May Day celebration this year and in my yard is a beautiful ribboned pole fluttering and wrapped with many of our friend's intentions for the next year.
joyously dancing through life |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2004 : 3:54:10 PM
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Elizabeth, a May Day celebration is such a good idea!! Besides wrapping the pole with ribbons, what else did you do to celebrate? I'd love to hear all about it! ~Clare
Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural |
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ElizArtist
True Blue Farmgirl
113 Posts
Elizabeth
Newbury Park
California
USA
113 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2004 : 5:54:15 PM
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What we did for May Day...we made flowered wreaths for our heads and wore them (mostly the women), we had a lot of food and the usual party stuff, people played music pretty much everyone was a musican, dancer or artist. I invited Moon from the MJFarmgirl connection because she lives nearby and said she didn't know many like minded people, I think she knows a few more now : ) . We did some belly dancing, and had a show by a tribal group I dance with. We have some great friends that moved to Washington about 5 years ago and they had a May Day party every year. We missed it so much that when we realized May Day would fall on Saturday we couldn't resist putting one on ourselves. Most of the attendees had never celebrated May Day before, and I think it was a great party. In years past we've had a more ritual feeling to the celebration because many people from my woman's circle came, and we knew a lot of songs together, called in the directions and all that. Our woman's circle has disbanded for now, people moved, got very busy finishing degrees, etc. I hope to rebuild another group sometime soon. Do you take part in a Circle?
Elizabeth
joyously dancing through life |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2004 : 8:06:35 PM
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Elizabeth, I'm not aware of a regular Women's Circle in our community. I have attended a weekend festival function here for women. I have enjoyed it, but didn't feel a real affinity to the attendees. It would be nice to belong to a group of like-minded women who are open to new ideas and who are on a path. Maybe you could start an online group? Not the same, I know, but maybe it has possibilities.
Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural |
Edited by - Clare on Jun 02 2004 02:13:02 AM |
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ElizArtist
True Blue Farmgirl
113 Posts
Elizabeth
Newbury Park
California
USA
113 Posts |
Posted - Jun 02 2004 : 5:54:52 PM
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Actually I think we are a circle right here!
Elizabeth
joyously dancing through life |
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rabbithorns
True Blue Farmgirl
544 Posts
Allison
Fort Scott
KS
USA
544 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2004 : 2:01:15 PM
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I am a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner and I am completely amazed by your flags. I have flags hanging from my porch awning and along the fence in back of my home. Our teacher has begun a new Buddhist university which will have a kids' and teen program while we are in classes. Not all of the teens involved have chosen a Buddhist path, although they love to be with each other and hang out when the adults go to teachings. (Most of them live far from things in the high desert so we try to get them all together at least once a month for a weekend.) May I please share your idea with the teen program director? I would love to see the kids make their own flags. And being in the Southwest, using bandannas for them is perfect! And it's less "Buddhist" for the kids who want to do cool things but not be forced into anything. (But we may call them something other than red-neck so as not to upset the other local folks.)
Thanks,
Padma
(pronounced Pema) |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2004 : 2:24:41 PM
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Padma, I'd be honored to share my idea with anyone that's open to it! I'm especially glad you're interested in it for teenagers, as they need all the positive influences that are available to them to remain on a true path. Please share their creations with us by creating a Yahoo photo album (instructions are in the tech support category). I would also love to hear what name they come up with for calling them... there are so many possibilities! ~Clare
Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural |
Edited by - Clare on Jul 01 2004 2:25:32 PM |
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Carol
Moderator/MaryJane's Design Diva
452 Posts
Carol
Moscow
Idaho
USA
452 Posts |
Posted - Aug 14 2004 : 1:59:23 PM
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Hi Girls. I love your idea about bandanna prayer flags! I have a Buddhist friend who makes prayer flags and sells them at our local farmers' market, so I have some hanging over my door. I love the thought of their intention - to rain blessings down on all who pass under them. And I absolutely love the thought of adapting this wonderful tradition to yet another culture. But "redneck" - with all its negative connotations - just doesn't seem right. How about "farmgirl flags"?
Carol 
she laughed and laughed ... |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Aug 14 2004 : 2:42:35 PM
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Farmgirl Intention Flags, or Farmgirl Gratitude Flags sounds fine to me!
Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural |
Edited by - Clare on Aug 14 2004 2:44:29 PM |
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Eileen
True Blue Farmgirl
1199 Posts
Eileen
USA
1199 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2004 : 1:11:09 PM
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Ok you guys,
I am fairly new to the forum and finally getting around to reading some of the older topics. I love the prayer bandana idea too but since it has been such a long time the yahoo webb site would not let me look at the pictures. Same with the clothespinbags. I have my mother in laws clothes pin bag hanging on my clothesline . She fashioned it from a pattern in workbasket magazine sometime in the 40s. It hangs on an old wooden coat hanger. She decorated it all around the outside edges with her retail clerk union membership pins for 20 years until the day she died. It is one of my treasures.
Eileen
songbird |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2004 : 1:54:04 PM
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Eileen, I didn't realize that the links would expire... maybe I just have to look at them myself occasionally!! I think they are updated now. If you find any more, just email me and let me know!
Thanks.
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Eileen
True Blue Farmgirl
1199 Posts
Eileen
USA
1199 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2004 : 2:11:19 PM
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Thanks, They are very much like the one mom made. Hers is longer. made from heavy muslin and trimmed around the edges with red bias tape.It is wearing out but I can't part with it.
Eileen
songbird |
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2004 : 4:25:48 PM
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What neat idea! I agree, we have quite a circle here. In my area there are not very many womens groups, which is a disappointment to me. It's difficult to find like minded women, who enjoy a more "unconventional" way of life. I enjoy being able to come here and talk and read with you all, as I feel kindred spirits.
Elizabeth, I enjoyed reading about your May Day Celebration! It sounded both fun and beautiful.
Padma, I have to comment on your name. It's very beautiful and lyrical sounding.
farmgirl@heart
Longaberger Lover and all things antique |
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Sep 22 2004 : 4:26:52 PM
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The prayer flag pictures are awesome!
farmgirl@heart
Longaberger Lover and all things antique |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2005 : 7:24:27 PM
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Thought I'd revive this topic, since it is summer and all. My prayer flags have been blowing alot lately. Actually had to take them down and untwist them, that's how hard the wind has been blowing.. but I just figure all my prayers and good intentions are really getting released nicely!
I came across some different prayer flags in a catalog today, so for those that are interested but don't have time to make some, these would be a nice alternative:
http://www.isabellacatalog.com/showbook.cfm?invnum=5473&userid=50189320
Here's an update on my photo link, if you'd like to make some really simple and intentional ones - might even be a farmgirl chapter crafty type idea:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/farmersdaughter1230/album?.dir=/d329&.src=ph&.tok=phjKhMDBo5hn1kvG
****Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural****
"Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb |
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Jenuin16
Farmgirl at Heart
1 Posts
Jennifer
Arden
NC
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2005 : 4:05:54 PM
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What a great idea! I think I will turn it into something I can do with my 4th grade students this year for a nice change. I am thinking of gathering bandanas in a variety of colors and letting them write what they are thankful for on them. I think I will call them "Thank"erchiefs!
Our school is undergoing lots of construction and there is fencing all around. Maybe we can brighten up things by attaching a line of them to fencing. Do you think they will survive the weather? I'm from FL and just moved to NC.
Thanks! |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2005 : 4:12:44 PM
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Hey, Jennifer, welcome and what a wonderful idea of getting kids involved in thankfulness. My prayer flags are starting to show alot of wear after 3 years. I have them up intermitenly during the spring, summer and fall, depending on the weather. Not at all in the winter here. The second season I redid the lettering as the marker had faded. This year I've noticed that the flags themselves are really sun faded. The fabric hasn't deteriated yet, but the colors aren't vivid any longer. I think next year it will be time for a new batch. You could hang them outside for awhile so the kids can be proud amongst the other classes, and then bring them in to hang during the winter season. So glad you like the idea!
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
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Edited by - Clare on Sep 05 2005 5:15:12 PM |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2005 : 4:13:28 PM
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Hi Jennifer and welcome to this forum! I think your idea of thankerchiefs is wonderful! Especially in light of these times we live in! How special that will be for your students to ponder their blessings. Thanks for reviving this topic.
Being is what it is. Jean Paul Sartre |
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verbina
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
randi
n.j
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2005 : 5:06:13 PM
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| i to fly my prayer flags proudly. randi from jersey |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2005 : 5:30:36 PM
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I may hang some half aprons on my clothes line with prayers attached to them on post it notes and pins. Aprons as prayer flags!
Being is what it is. Jean Paul Sartre |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2005 : 5:55:55 PM
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Loovvveee that idea Meadowlark! Creativity and prayer meet and marry. Wonderful! Take a picture please!
**** Love is the great work - though every heart is first an apprentice. - Hafiz
Set a high value on spontaneous kindness. - Samuel Johnson****
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2005 : 07:08:09 AM
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I don't know anything about prayer flags -- please fill me in.
"If you are lucky enough to have a garden, you are lucky enough!" |
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MeadowLark
True Blue Farmgirl
2206 Posts
USA
2206 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2005 : 09:45:41 AM
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Kay, if you go back to the first page of this topic Clare and others explain the concept of prayer flags. I believe they are Tibetan in origin.
Being is what it is. Jean Paul Sartre |
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Cleaning Up: The Zen of Laundry, ie as Prayer Flags |
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The Zen of Laundry, ie as Prayer Flags
