Losar (Tibetan New Years) is on February 10th this year. The Tibetan calendar is on a 60 year cycle; each year associated with one of 12 animals (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig) and one of 5 elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water). The combination of the animal sign and the elemental sign provides unique characteristics and influences for that particular year. This will be is the Wood Dragon Year.
The Dragon is traditionally associated with power, strength, prosperity, and good fortune in Tibetan culture. It is highly revered as a symbol of majesty and power. People born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to inherit some of these characteristics, such as being ambitious, charismatic, and courageous. Wood, as an elemental sign, is associated with growth, flexibility, and vitality. It represents the spring season and is linked to qualities like creativity, innovation, and adaptability. When the dragon sign is paired with the wood element, it is believed to enhance the dragon's characteristics with the attributes of wood. Therefore, a Wood Dragon Year may be seen as a period characterized by growth, innovation, and renewal, as well as the potential for prosperity and success.
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Dragon Prints from Radiant Heart Studios | |
"In Heaven the Turquoise Dragon Thunders"; the sound of compassion awaken us from delusion. This Turquoise Dragon print is one of the earliest designs that I created... probably back in 1975. We screen printed it for 45 years before retiring the screen. The "split fountain" technique we used produced a gradient background. Printing used a lot of ink and was prone to inconsistencies and mistakes. I thought we'd sold all the prints years ago, but I recently found 13 pretty good prints on a back shelf of the warehouse. They are on sale this month for $14 each. When the 13 are sold, there will be no more. The design is printed on very good quality 100% pure cotton. The size is
30 in. x13 in. (not hemmed).
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The Sky Dragon represents generosity, spontaneous achievement, elegance, and equanimity. The Dragon, abiding in the Western direction, enjoys resting in the sky among the clouds and wind. The vision of the dragon is to create an environment of fearlessness, warmth and genuineness. It is energetic, powerful and unwavering yet gentle and playful. This print is one of the "The Four Auspicious Animals" that we print. It is 18 in. x18 in.(not hemmed) and printed on 100% fine quality cotton fabric. It is on sale this month for $14. | |
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The Dragon is one of the "4 Auspicious Animals;" symbols that appear frequently in Tibetan Buddhist iconography. Known as "The Four Dignities," they represent sacred qualities and attitudes that Bodhisattvas develop on the path to enlightenment; qualities such as confidence (Tiger), clear awareness (Snow Lion), fearlessness (Garuda), and gentle power (Dragon).
Four Dignities Banner
Size: 24 in. x 24 in. (not hemmed)
Price: $24
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These are the other 3 Auspicious Animal Banners, sold separately: The Tiger, The Snow Lion, and The Garuda. They are all the same size, 18 in. x 18 in. and sell for their regular price, $18. | |
This beautiful wall hanging, depicting The 4 Auspicious Animals is no longer printed.
I only have 2 so and I decided to give them away. They are 20 in. x 30 in., printed on a very heavy weave cotton, fully hemmed, with a hand carved wooden rod at the top for easy hanging.
If you'd like to enter the drawing, send your name and address to: prayerflags2@gmail.com.
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Congratulations to the winners for January's drawing for the rice paper prints:
Mariel Gomez of Santiago, Chile
Donald S. Szarkowicz, Ph.D. of Bloomington, Indiana
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Losar is a time of joy, renewal, and spiritual rejuvenation for Tibetans, marked by traditions that reflect their rich cultural heritage and deep-rooted spiritual beliefs. It's a time to come together with loved ones, express gratitude, and welcome the opportunities of the new year with hope and optimism.
The date of Tibetan New Year, Losar, fluctuates annually due to its connection to the lunar calendar. It usually falls between late January and early March. Although Celebrations last for the first 15 days of the first lunar month, from the new moon to the full moon, for most Tibetan households, the main Losar celebrations take place on the first, second and third days of the Tibetan New Year (February 10, 11, 12 this year).
Prior to Losar, Tibetans thoroughly clean their homes to remove any negative energies and make preparations for the new year. This is a time for settling debts and for donating old clothes and unused items to those in need. Traditionally, new clothes are made or purchased to wear during the Losar celebration.
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Losar foods like khapse (deep fried cookies), chang (Tibetan beer made from rice, millet or barley), and Guthuk (a special noodle soup).
There are many varieties of khapse. A few days prior to Losar our family sets up a large pot of boiling oil on our patio to deep fry the ubiquitous Losar cookies. We make hundreds of smaller ones and dozens of the Khugo Khapse, popularly referred to as "Donkey Ears" because of their large size and shape. Friends and family spend the day together rolling out dough, shaping and cooking.
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The celebrations may vary a little from region to region, but they generally follow the same routine we follow in our household:
Two evenings prior to Losar, on the Dharma Protectors Day, we gather in front of the home shrine to eat Guthuk. This is a noodle soup with dumplings, some of which contain small rolled up pieces of paper at their centers on which are written certain words that stand as metaphors for certain human characteristic, both positive and negative. Each dough-ball “divination” is said to represent the innate disposition of the person, for instance: Wool (gentle person), Charcoal (cold hearted person),Porcelain (person who avoids work), Paper (foolish person), Hot chilly (quick temper, sharp tongue), Pea (untrustworthy person), Salt (lazy person). This tradition always results in much laughter and cajoling.
A dough-man effigy, representing obstacles and negative energies, is placed on a tray with food offerings, wine, and money. The family members wrap a thread from the hem of their skirt or pants cuff in a piece of dough squeezed in their hand and place it with some of their Guthuk on the tray with the dough- man. The tray is taken out of the house with much fanfare, and often fireworks, and place in a crossroads. This ritual purifies and clears the house of obstacles in preparation for the New Year.
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The Shrine Offerings are set up on the evening prior to Losar. Khapses are stacked, Flowers, incense, wheat grass, cookies, fruit, nuts, candy, rice, butter, rock salt, tea and alcohol are arranged on a shrine table. Another traditional decoration that symbolizes a good harvest is the phyemar ("five-grain bucket"), a bucket with a wooden board that creates two vertical halves within. This bucket is filled with roasted barley flour (tsampa) and whole barley seeds, then decorated with barley ears and colored butter. When friends and family visit homes during Losar, they take some of the grain offering and make a blessing and aspiration as they toss the grain in the air and then take a small bite. | |
On Losar morning, everyone wakes up very, very early and drinks several bowls of hot chang-khol, Tibetan beer (like saki) in rice soup mixed with nuts and dried fruit. It’s delicious but quite inebriating at that time of morning. Most go back to sleep for a few hours a then get up to dress in their best clothes and jewelry.
The First day of Losar is spent visiting all the local monasteries and Dharma Centers to put khatas (ceremonial scarves) on the shrine and statues and pay our respects to the Lamas.
The Second day of Losar is spent socializing and eating with family and close friends.
The Third day of Losar is traditionally the day to join with the community to raise new prayer flags, sing and dance. Traditional “Cham” Lama dancing is often performed at Tibetan monasteries on this day. Monks in colorful costumes wear masks and dance to ritual music played on traditional instruments.
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The First Lunar month is the month that the Nagas listen to Dharma teachings. If we make offerings to the Nagas on the teb day during this month, there will be three benefits: increased longevity, success in spiritual practice, and increased prosperity.
If you make offerings on dok days during this month, the Nagas will perceive your offering as wild animals attacking them. This will cause them to react by attacking you back. Always avoid making offerings on a dok day during the first lunar month.
Almost every day is a bad day (dok) to make offerings during this month. The ONLY day you can make offerings during the first lunar month is on the March 5 (Tibetan 25 - the Dakini day), and it is an excellent day, so make an extra effort to do the Naga offering pujas on this day.
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Thank you for sending us your photos of prayer flags.
This one of 6-print vertical Vajrasattva prayer flags (6WC) for Purification was taken at a ski lodge in Aspen, Colorado, high up in the Rocky Mountains. Around the eaves of the building are sets of mix prayer flags (HC-25). Mountain peaks and passes are especially good locations for raising prayer flags
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If you have any questions or comments, I will try to answer your emails. I appreciate getting photos and videos of prayer flags on display, especially the flags you got from us.
Email me at: prayerflags2@gmail.com
Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter.
Timothy Clark
Owner of Radiant Heart Studios
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