The web of peace in South Africa

St. George's Cathedral, Cape Town

I landed in Cape Town South Africa on New Year's Eve. Today is January 20th, 2011. I've been here for nearly three weeks. I am sitting in an Internet cafe in Simons Town, it is about 5:30 in the afternoon and it is about 85 degrees. The wind is gusting up from the south, so we are not leaving to round Cape Point until things settle down a bit.The good thing is that I finally have an opportunity to get some news out about distributing the 130 prayer flags that I brought.

To date I have given away about 80 of your beautiful prayer flags. Each time I give one away, I always get a hug. No kidding! People are amazed, honored, curious and appreciative. I'll share a few stories here.

Simons Town Penguins

This is a photo of Mary who works in the administration of St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town. Behind her is the labyrinth that is built in the enclosed garden of the cathedral. I gave her three flags to hang in the garden and she was thrilled!

Right now I am in Simons Town, South Africa. About a 10 minute walk from the marina is a penguin preserve. These little fellows are pretty darn cute, so I had to hang a prayer flag for them in a shrub not too far from a nesting area. When I get home, there will be many more photos, but working in the "rough", I am a bit limited.

Monwana Game Lodge staff

Earlier in the month our crew went on a safari up near Kruger Park.  Our first night we stayed at Monwana Game Lodge. I decided to give the staff each a prayer flag. Most of them did not speak English and were not sure what this gift was all about, but they were still very appreciative to receive a gift! I am sure there were some questions and stories after I left! 

Sabi Sands Game Reserve

Yes, we saw lions, elephants, rhinos, hippos, zebra and more. Just to tease you, here is a photo of a elephant that we watched munch down a few large trees!

There is much more to share, and many more photos to come. The many flags that I have distributed have brought such joy and amazement to each receiver.

When I first arrived in Simons Town, I went to the Tourist Information center to ask some questions. The young woman there was so helpful, I gave her a prayer flag. She was thrilled, and said, "Wow! No one has ever given me a gift for helping them!"  I so grateful to everyone for all the wishes, support and effort to help make this trip possible for me. Hopefully I'll blog again before we cast off.

Please be sure to check in to Bahati's blog. That's the best way to learn about this boat, her captain, crew and voyage. Peace, Sarah

Have prayer flags...will travel!

Sarah at the loom!

Yes!!....thanks to everyone..... there are 130 prayer flag traveling with me to South Africa and then across the Atlantic all the way to the Caribbean.

Pat and her brilliant smile!

For the past three weeks, almost two dozen community volunteers came to the studio to weave prayer flags.

Pam and Sally get acquainted as they weave.

Most folks who come have never woven. It is my joy to share this creative and meditative way to share good will.

Cleone's hand fly as they weave.

Busy hands, happy heart.

Read more...check out the York Independent story about this community art project. Pages 4-5.

Lesley and Mark came for the last night of weaving.

Mark, the only guy who rose to the challenge!

Friends Lesley and Mark came for dinner and the final weaving date.

Prayer flags all ready to be sewn

The last evening in the studio, we had a spontaneous party! Three weavers, plus me, two dogs and two guitars. Music, singing, glad hearts....all lifting me to travel lightly with an open heart.

Ben and Nancy offer sweet music.

I am so blessed to be traveling on this mission ~
  Art-ambassador of peace and love from Maine.

See you in March ~ Sarah

Closing in !

She who breathes

This week we had seven weavers in the studio. Women who came and breathed their energy into this project. I thought this prayer flag message particularly appropriate!

One world, one people

Each flag is woven with messages that come from all over the world. Many voices for peace, for hope, for love.

Love music

Each message is read many times before it finally gets woven into the prayer flag. Then the message is often fractured and the language becomes mixed with other language.

This prayer flags reads: "I love music for awake people to be awake." Interpret this however you like.

I see compassion and joy.

Forgiveness Forever.Yes to that.

Weave Hope

This week we are closing in on the 100 prayer flag goal. Many many thanks to everyone for the support, words of encouragement and energy.

Our world is moving like the sun; moving ever so slowly and steadily toward a new horizon.

Happy Solstice ~ Sarah

54 and counting !!

weaving messages of peace

This week nine lovely weavers came to the studio to weave prayer flags. These people came in response to my invitation/challenge to the community to help me weave 100 prayer flags to take on my trip to South Africa and the Atlantic crossing to the Caribbean.

Weaving in the spirit

Some people came in the company of a friend, some came as individuals. Some people had never woven before, some had woven as younger people.

What color is hope?

All came with an open heart and open mind.

There are now 54 beautifully woven prayer flags ready to travel.

Open hearted weaving

Thank you to everyone who has given time, effort and your words of support.

With more weavers coming this week, we will surely meet the goal of 100 flags to travel!

Sewing the prayer flags after they are cut off the loom.

Namaste ~ Sarah

100 prayer flags for the world ~ Come weave!

"Bahati"

In about three weeks, I will be heading off for a very special trip. I will be flying to Cape Town, South Africa via Dubai. I will spend about 2 weeks there before casting off and sailing across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. I will be joining my friend Nat who has been circumnavigating the globe since late 2005 aboard Bahati, a 43' Montevideo Cutter.

While in South Africa, I will have about 2 weeks prior to embarking. During that time I hope to travel, see sites and connect with communities, schools and art/craft organizations. 

100 Prayer flags

 My goal is to weave 100 prayer flags before I leave. My vision is to have a stack of prayer flags to give freely while in South Africa, as well as on the isolated islands that we will stop at en-route.

We plan to stop at St. Helena and Ascension Island.  
How amazing to be able to leave a string of prayer flags at these remote communities!

St Helena ~ North West of South Africa

 So I send out this blog as an invitation to come to my studio to weave. Let me know what time/day works for you and we'll make a date. I ask for only a two hour window of your time.

For those of you who live at a distance, your words of support feed this project as well as the actions of those who are able to physically lend a hand. Every action is noticed and received with love.





With continued heartfelt gratitude for all your words and actions of support ~ Sarah

We all need a friend

Minutes before noon, November 11th, in Market Square, Portsmouth, the brisk wind grabbed at the prayer flags as I tied them to the trees. Across the street, there was plenty of sunshine, warming the folks sitting outside on the cafe plaza. It is a federal holiday, so there are plenty of people passing this way and that. But I am here, in the shade in front of the North Church, standing apart.

As the church bells strike the noon, I reach into the bag of messages to begin reading. I am feeling awkward, wondering if I will do this whole hour by myself. Minutes go by.

I read many messages to the wind, to the tourists strolling by, to those locals with a sweet day off, to students free from the confines of school. Trying to make eye contact, struggling to be present to the beauty of each message, I find myself feeling self conscious and awkwardly alone.

Then I see a friend across the square. And then another friend and slowly more friends appear. Then a guy with an instrument case walks up and says "Do you mind if I play my sax?"

"Wow...sure, music would be a sweet addition to our voices as we read our messages of peace!" I respond. So to the sweet tunes of saxophone, our voices sing out the words of hope, dreams, well being and prayer to all beings on this planet.





Friends came and went and all 250 messages were read out loud, were honored and heard. The church bell struck one o'clock, I rolled up the prayer flags that had hung in trees, packed up the read messages and dropped some cash in the saxophone's cup. All was well.

A week later as I reflect back on my emotions on that day, I realize my initial feelings of awkwardness stemmed from my need to feel a sense of validation for the act of standing apart, for doing something in public that might be viewed as "strange". The lesson I take away from this Nov. 11th reading is to hold  firmly on to the vision that this project is about weaving TOGETHER voices that sing for peace and compassion for all. In that spirit I am not alone.

The folks who were able to show up are symbols for the many many others who are with me in spirit. I know and feel your affirmation for this work. Deep gratitude for all your messages, your words of encouragement and your volunteering to weave the prayer flags. We are all in this journey together.

In this spirit of community and collective vision, here are a string of prayer flags I sent to a colleague in Deming,Washington. To quote Jillian... "they hang at Presence Studio in Bellingham and await transport to the new Center for Local Self-Reliance Community Garden in Fairhaven Park in Bellingham....moveable feast of prayers."

Last weekend I traveled to Downington, Pennsylvania to a chanting and meditation retreat with Russill Paul at Hari Om Mandir. This was a three day retreat that culminated in a beautiful puja and kirtan to the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi.

I brought a few prayer flags with me, and tied one in the trees out behind the temple.

In closing, I affirm that my voice, my effort, my prayer is but one amongst many who are singing, chanting, speaking, moving towards a more compassionate planet. Our voices weave together in beauty.

Thank you for joining me. Namaste ~ Sarah

The Rhythym of Life

messages of peace and hope

Autumn has settled into coastal Maine. Like the squirrels and chipmunks outside my studio window, I am industrious and busy. The four seasons of New England are so distinct and unique, that even a life-long resident of this area notices the rhythm and return of each season.

Akin to the pattern of seasons, the Woven Voices project has a distinct rhythm and sequence. First come all your amazing and heartfelt messages. Each one is written or drawn with love, compassion and care. Since December 20007, over 1700 messages have been received.
Over the summer, several bundles of messages arrived from a variety of organizations and individuals. I have about 250 messages that have been gathered since this past May.

reading messages in Market Square

The next step in the project is to read these messages out loud in a public location. On November 11th at noon in Market Square in Portsmouth, NH I will be reading these messages. Please join me on the 11th to read, listen and witness the affirmation of positive intention.  

volunteers weave the flags

After the messages have been read, I bring them home to my studio. They are cut into strips that are appropriate for weaving. Then they are woven by volunteers into small prayer flags. So far the project has had over 60 volunteers in almost three years.

sewing the edges of the prayer flags

The flags are woven in a long continuous strip on the loom. After several are woven, we cut them off the loom and sew the top and bottom edges. Then they are ready to be given away. Over 400 prayer flags have been woven and given away.
 

Sante Fe New Mexico

Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa

I send them to the folks who have sent me messages. I give them to friends who are traveling. 

Mothers' Day Gathering for Peace, Sohomish, Washington, sent by colleague Gabriele Bartholomew.

 I give them to the volunteers who come weave. I give them to people who visit my studio. I take them with me when I travel. For example, this fall in Oakland CA I took a graduate course that was about 2 miles from the hotel where I stayed. Every morning on my way to class, I would walk along the edge of Lake Merritt.

Oakland CA September 2010

Each morning I would see a homeless man sleeping under this tree.

Lake Merritt, Oakland CA

On my afternoon walk back, I would see this man and several other gathered along the edge of the park in the shade. On the last day of class, I had one flag left to disperse (others had been given as gifts to faculty, friends, classmates).  Suddenly remembering this homeless man, I walked across the lake and found him sitting with friends. I inquired if it would be all right to hang the flag in his tree, to decorate his home. He said "Yes, please. God Bless you." 

This is the last step in the cycle of the Woven Voices project. This gift of offering hope, love, honor, recognition and homage from one human to another. In the simple gift of a small woven flag, we can create connections, foster hope and thread by thread build a better world. So, once again, thanks to each of you have have supported, contributed and honored this project.


In celebration of that effort, I want to shine a light on a recently published novel by a friend ~ "A Slender Thread" by Katherine Davis.  This novel explores the relationships and life of a weaver, Lacey, who has recently discovered that she has lost her ability to speak. As her family and more specifically her sister struggle to help her, Lacey uses her weaving to find a new voice and to uncover the threads that bind us in love.  Katherine consulted with me while researching weaving techniques and came to weave prayer flags last summer. The book, A Slender Thread" gives a gracious nod to the Woven Voices Project. Thanks Kitty!!

Malibu, CA

Please remember, this is a community global art project. Your messages, your voice reading the messages, your weaving of the prayer flags, your hanging the flags in public and giving the away...all of this builds community, fostering hope and peace.  

Thank you many times over for all this ~ Sarah