prayer for Ukraine

Yesterday we celebrated Liberation Day, the end on World War II. I cannot help worrying about the current Ukrainian crisis that threatens with an outbreak of a new war. The closest I ever got to Ukraine was 4 years ago, nevertheless, it is a close country. We spent the holiday on my partner's piece of land (yes, I have been an unfaithfully gardenless gardener and I will write about that another time), and I made a little prayer flag embroidered with the word світ (Ukrainian for peace) and a little wooden Ukrainian orthodox cross.

The idea came from this wonderful Prayer Flag Project that I recently came across, started by Vivika Hansen DeNegre:

 "She invited people from around the world to to join her in making Prayer Flags. Each flag is created in the artists own style, then hung outside for a while, its words and sentiment dissolving into the wind and being spread to all whom the wind touches. They are a living, breathing, kinetic journal of our hopes, dreams and concerns."

The project itself is inspired by the ancient tradition of Buddhist prayer flags which we also have hanging on a young walnut tree.

 I have invited some friends to join me in creating little prayer flags that we willl hang on this dead old bush on the lot, for our prayers for peace to be carried by the wind into the world.

In the meantime, we supported the peaceful message by singing some mantras by the fire...