Prayer ties, a Native American tradition, are offered to The Great Spirit, The Universe, God whatever your belief is, in exchange for blessings. However, you do not have to be Native American to adopt this earth-centered ritual of making and using prayer ties as an intention tool for prayer or healing. Mother Earth (Great spirit, God, Angels) does not see race, nationality or otherwise, only the spiritual being you are and feels and knows your intentions.
Prayer ties, also called prayer flags, should not to be purchased, but made by the individual offering it. Making the ties themselves is a meditative action and is part of the prayer and blessing ritual. Your prayer or intention begins as you prepare the ties.
It is easy enough to gather up the materials you need around your home on your own without having to find a store. Get creative…it’s a process.
A Prayer Tie Contents:
Small bundle of string or ribbon.
A small amount of loose tobacco.
One to four squares of cloth material.
You may find the squares of fabric you need from discarded clothing such as scarfs, old bedding, or towels. Natural materials, like cotton, are preferred. String or ribbon left over from the holidays will work too. Tobacco is considered a sacred herb: everything from traditional tobacco, sage, cedar and such can be used.
To make a single prayer tie use a square piece of cotton material, no larger than 5 inches. Place a pinch or so of the tobacco of your choice in the center of the square. Gather and pinch the four corners of the material together into a small bundle and secure with the string or ribbon you have chosen. Be sure to leave about 4 inches of string or ribbon after tying. This extra length will be used to hang your prayer tie.
If you wish you can create a “prayer tie string”, several prayer ties in a row on one string. Add additional prayer ties to the same string spacing the ties apart approximately 3 inches. There should be NO cuts made to the string except for the ends, you don’t want any breaks to impede the natural flow of your intentions. The continuous string represents the flow of energy from the beginning of your prayer to the end. Traditionally, the four colors of fabric are used when making a prayer ties to represent the four directions or four winds - east (yellow), south (red), west (black), and north (white). If you do not have these four colors do not fret, you can use any color or even patterned material as it is your intentions that are front and center.
When your string of prayer ties is finished make a your final prayer or intention statement to: The Great Spirit, God, the angels, your higher self, mother earth, or whatever deity or energy you are spiritually aligned with.
Intention Statement Examples:
I call out to the four great winds (Great Spirit, God…). I feel your breezes against my face. I thank you for taking away those things which no longer serve me with your clearing sweeps of change. I am grateful for your precious gifts that find their way to me as I need. I offer you this prayer tie (or this string of four prayer ties) with gratitude for all your kindness and wisdom. I bring to you, with love, respect and humility my intentions (speak your prayer request...) Finish with gratitude and honor.
Bring the prayer ties to an outdoor place you consider sacred. Secure the ties to a shrub or tree branches, or tacked onto an outdoor structure.
You can also incorporate your prayer ties into to any healing ceremony.
Munay & Sage
Phoenix
Prayer ties, also called prayer flags, should not to be purchased, but made by the individual offering it. Making the ties themselves is a meditative action and is part of the prayer and blessing ritual. Your prayer or intention begins as you prepare the ties.
It is easy enough to gather up the materials you need around your home on your own without having to find a store. Get creative…it’s a process.
A Prayer Tie Contents:
Small bundle of string or ribbon.
A small amount of loose tobacco.
One to four squares of cloth material.
You may find the squares of fabric you need from discarded clothing such as scarfs, old bedding, or towels. Natural materials, like cotton, are preferred. String or ribbon left over from the holidays will work too. Tobacco is considered a sacred herb: everything from traditional tobacco, sage, cedar and such can be used.
To make a single prayer tie use a square piece of cotton material, no larger than 5 inches. Place a pinch or so of the tobacco of your choice in the center of the square. Gather and pinch the four corners of the material together into a small bundle and secure with the string or ribbon you have chosen. Be sure to leave about 4 inches of string or ribbon after tying. This extra length will be used to hang your prayer tie.
If you wish you can create a “prayer tie string”, several prayer ties in a row on one string. Add additional prayer ties to the same string spacing the ties apart approximately 3 inches. There should be NO cuts made to the string except for the ends, you don’t want any breaks to impede the natural flow of your intentions. The continuous string represents the flow of energy from the beginning of your prayer to the end. Traditionally, the four colors of fabric are used when making a prayer ties to represent the four directions or four winds - east (yellow), south (red), west (black), and north (white). If you do not have these four colors do not fret, you can use any color or even patterned material as it is your intentions that are front and center.
When your string of prayer ties is finished make a your final prayer or intention statement to: The Great Spirit, God, the angels, your higher self, mother earth, or whatever deity or energy you are spiritually aligned with.
Intention Statement Examples:
I call out to the four great winds (Great Spirit, God…). I feel your breezes against my face. I thank you for taking away those things which no longer serve me with your clearing sweeps of change. I am grateful for your precious gifts that find their way to me as I need. I offer you this prayer tie (or this string of four prayer ties) with gratitude for all your kindness and wisdom. I bring to you, with love, respect and humility my intentions (speak your prayer request...) Finish with gratitude and honor.
Bring the prayer ties to an outdoor place you consider sacred. Secure the ties to a shrub or tree branches, or tacked onto an outdoor structure.
You can also incorporate your prayer ties into to any healing ceremony.
Munay & Sage
Phoenix
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