While visiting a friend one evening last week, I admired the prayer flags that graced her already beautiful outdoor space.

“Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, which is a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe that the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all”.

My friend’s husband had recently had surgery and the prayer flags were hanging to promote healing and peace during recovery.

Prayer flags come in sets of five colors.  These colors, arranged from left to right in a specific order, represent the five elements.  Blue symbolizes the sky and space, white symbolizes the air and wind, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water, and yellow symbolizes earth.

By hanging flags in high places, the blessings depicted on the flags are carried to all beings.  As the wind passes over the surface of the flags, the air is purified and sanctified by the mantras depicted on the flags.

While I was familiar with these flags, I did not realize the meaning of them.  The information in this post was gleaned from Wikipedia.  I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences with these flags