Green Flag Project
There is something special about prayer. It exists beyond religion, beyond academia, beyond reason, floating around us all the time in its own plane. Prayer is more than a wish or a hope, more than a request or a plea, it’s a supernatural act that takes us away, for a moment, from ourselves and into a realm of possibility.
In my creative work I’ve been ruminating for some time on the meaning of prayers. For many months I’ve heard the call to write prayers from my own intuition, and it didn’t make sense at all, until now. One of the ideas I’ve been exploring is how prayer can take up space visually and physically.
Inspired by the Tibetan tradition of prayer flags, I will be handwriting prayers on scraps of green material and hanging them outside. My intention is not to appropriate this practice, but rather to honor its legacy. In Hawaiian culture it is often said that your intention is what matters, perfection in execution is not required.
So it is with the intention of calling on the power of prayer that I share with you the Green Flag Project, a community art installation. Send me your prayers, and I will handwrite each of them on a green flag and hang them outside my windows. The idea is that the wind will carry your messages to whoever needs them most. If anything, maybe the flags will bring some joy and wonder to an uncertain landscape. I’ve chosen green as a universal color of healing, the sentiment I most wanted to convey in these uncertain times. You are welcome to make your own flags to hang from your own houses, or to send me green fabric to add to my collection. Your messages are welcome in a comment, email, or snail mail. You can send an existing prayer, write your own, or include a drawing or photo. Whatever speaks to your heart. I will reply with a photo of your flag.
It is tempting to scurry to put every meeting on video chat, to rush around and try to reschedule and tie up loose ends via email. But the fact is, we don’t yet know what the future brings. We don’t yet know when kids will go back to school or if the Rolling Stones have finally played their last concert. I am taking a cue here from a higher power to slow down a little. My anxiety wants me to do more, be more, do something. And there’s nothing I can do. So I will pray. Below is the prayer on the first flag.
Prayer for Healing
May the grace of a higher power maintain your health and bring peace and comfort to those that are struggling in Asia, Europe, Australia, North America, South America, and Africa.
Blessings and grace to all of you.
Send a prayer to be included in the Green Flag Project to:
gwenvanvelsor@gmail.com
Gwen Van Velsor, PO Box 12119, Baltimore, MD 21281