Messages From Carrie

Holding You In The Light

January 24th, 2010

Traditional Tibetan prayer flags are used as a way to send peace, compassion, wisdom and loving kindness into the world. They most often consist of a string of five flags covered with the words of prayers and mantras. They are hung outside and as the wind blows the good will of these prayers is carried into the world, adding hope and intention into the very air we breath. When the flags become worn by time and weather, new flags are hung along side, to renew and continue the process of filling the universe with these sentiments.

When I see several strings of prayer flags hung side-by-side I think of them as an outward and visible reminder of an inward grace. I can imagine the air around us being so full of prayer and light that we are very nearly swimming in the stuff. If I pay close enough attention, I can sense the mysterious presence of them, I feel them press softly against my chest when I walk and brush briefly across my face like an unseen wing.

About a year ago, I received a set of personalized prayer flags made by my friend Debbie. They hang in my office window where I can see them and read the words written upon them. I love this string of flags and what they represent. So I decided in December to make sets of prayer flags for good friends and family.    I printed quotes from authors, musicians, playwrights, theologians, science fiction writers, saints and dreamers onto squares of beige cloth. Then I sewed the quotes onto larger rectangles of beautiful jewel colored fabric.

I loved finding just the right quote or prayer for each person. Every flag was like a little embrace or reminder, a wink or nod. I strung them on jute cord so they could be hung outdoors to move in the air.    Sitting at my sewing machine I considered what I really thought about the nature of prayer. What is it about the speaking, thinking or writing down of an idea that comforts us when anxious, encourages us when discouraged, or guides us when confused? What is it about prayer, something that is essentially composed of weightless air, thought and intention that can sustain a spirit or hope? What is a prayer? Is it positive thinking? Is it a form of meditation? Is it a conversation with the divine? Is it an opening of our hearts, an unveiling of our truest self to our deepest self? Is it a nod in the general direction of mystery? The substance of prayer is as elusive as thought itself – but whatever it is, whatever its nature, it seems to help.

I’m a little bit careful about telling someone that I am saying prayers on their behalf. Honestly, for some people the word “prayer” can be loaded. It conjures images and memories of a form of religion that has disappointed or deeply wounded them.   But I decided to put my usual caution aside and create for each person a set of flags with specific text to let them know how much they were cherished. I wanted to create flags there were as unique as the individual and let them know I was holding them in sacred regard.   All the flags were created with fine words, good thoughts and humble prayers that hopefully would spill into the air and infuse the world around them, affirming that wherever they walked it was holy space. We know in theory that others are thinking and hoping for our well-being   but sometimes it's good to be reminded of that physically. You can touch a flag, you can smell the fabric, and it can brush across your face like an unseen wing. It is both the spiritual and physical presence of prayers. Just knowing that someone is gathering hope and light for your benefit can be healing. It helps.

There is a Quaker phrase I like " I will hold you in the Light.” Often it’s said in place of “I’m praying for you.” What is intended by this phrase is to let the person know that in your daily mediation you will hold them in your heart. When I sit in silent prayer or meditation I usually don’t have a lot to “say.” For me silent prayer or meditation is an opening. I open my heart and all the dark places and let in The Light. I try to tune my heart and ears to something other than the noise and distraction of the world. Often this feeling of opening stays with me and I feel it in the simplest moments of my day. So when I say, “I will hold you in the Light” it means I will daily open my heart and send my love and concern into the Light, into the living space around you, like a prayer flag moving in the air.

So for the weeks of December my office was covered with scraps of cloth and the whirring sound of a sewing machine. Many times I would be out in public and have to brush off bits of thread hanging to my clothing. I ended up going back to the fabric store for more cloth because as soon as I finished one set of flags, I’d think of another person that I wished to give a set. The air of my office became thick with prayers, alive with hope and full of love for each individual. Frankly, my office looked like a disaster of the best kind. The household disaster that is really not such a disaster, but rather a messy room after a child has been happily playing, a potter’s floor covered with clay and water, the rumpled sheets after a good night sleep.   Now it is January and I’ve cleaned up most of the mess, but occasionally I still sense lingering prayers, the presence of the people I love. Or, like yesterday 1000 miles from home, find a bit of colored thread on my shirt.

Holding you in The Light.