What are Prayer Flags for Healing?
	Traditional Tibetan Buddhist Prayer Flags are inscribed with symbols, prayers and mantras. Tibetan Buddhists for centuries have planted these flags outside their homes and places of spiritual practice for the wind to carry their beneficent vibrations across the countryside. Prayer flags are said to bring joy and prosperity to the flag planter and those in the vicinity. They invoke wisdom, compassion and strength while protecting against danger and negative influences. Inspired by the traditional flags, Prayer Flags for Healing provide a unique opportunity to participate in supporting patients and their families who are in crisis. The flags offer patients, family members and friends a way to express their heartfelt thoughts and prayers whatever spiritual or faith tradition they come from. Making a prayer flag for a patient allows the friend or family member a way to share feelings of love and support that may be hard to say any other way. Hanging the flags in the environment of the patient offers a feeling of hope, love, support and a closeness to their community of caring. The beauty of the flags uplifts the heart of those who are emotionally struggling and gives those who see the display an opportunity to reflect upon their own feelings while gaining an understanding of how others are coping. Using creativity when dealing with disease can help to unlock hidden emotions and provide a safe way to share one’s concerns. It gives a sense of doing something in situations where many times one feels helpless. You do not need to be a great artist to create a prayer flag. It only requires opening your heart and the willingness to share your love and care. The result is a personal statement of caring that can easily be received. Healing flags are good medicine for everyone concerned.