Carpe Diem #1199 prayer flags, messengers for the gods

Dear Haijin, visitors and travelers,

Welcome at the first episode of our new month here at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai. this month we are going to discover the beauty of Tibet, a wonderful spiritual country high up in the Himalayans. This new month I have titled "Tibet ... a magical experience" and I hope to let that happen through CDHK. Tibet that wonderful country without its own president, king or queen, but with the Dalai Lama living in exile, because of the annexation of Tibet by China back in the fifties.

In one of my not yet finished novels part of the story takes place in Shambala, the magical city that's believed to lay somewhere in the Himalayans and than especially in Tibet or Nepal. Later this month we will Shambala have for a prompt, but today ... a reprise prompt "prayer flags".

Prayer Flags

In the Himalayans you can find a lot of sacred places were passersby have left a silk, linen or cotton prayer flag. All those prayer flags have a range of colors, and those colors have their own sacred meaning. They are used to send the prayers on the shoulder of the wind into the world. After a while the prayer flags will perish and than its time for new prayer flags. The colors of the flags have the following meaning:

blue for heaven/sky
white for the wind
red for fire
green for water
yellow for earth

The flags are printed with mantras, prayers for peace, good will and wisdom. The idea behind these flags is that with every move they make (through the wind) a little bit of the strength, the power of the prayer, is becoming free. If the wind moves them, than the air is cleansed and the intention of the prayer is spread into the world. Isn't that an awesome idea?

I like this tradition ... what a joy this must give to share your prayers by exposing flags in all colors of the rainbow. Those Tibetans are just great and so spiritual ...

Sharing your prayers with the world by using flags is really great. It's very similar with our 'tradition' to remember all and everything in our prayers ... let us keep on going with that and maybe we can share our prayers too by prayer flags.

mysterious shadows
against the rough mountains -
Om Mani Padme Hum

© Chèvrefeuille

Isn't it awesome? Just feel the wind on your skin, listen to what the wind is telling, whispering into your ear, be aware of those secret messengers the gods can and will tell you through the wind.

in the old church

the scent of incense

I hear the prayers

© Chèvrefeuille

To conclude this first episode of our virtual trip to Tibet I have another wonderful image for you.

Prayer Flags somewhere in the Himalayans

against the blue sky
high above the Himalayans
a whispered prayer
a cry on the shoulder of the wind
"give us back our country!"

© Chèvrefeuille

(My excuses for the political tone in this Tanka. I give just words to my feelings and pray for a free Tibet.)

This episode is NOW OPEN for your submissions and will remain open until June 5th at noon (CET). I will try to publish our "weekend-meditation" later on. For now ... have fun!