Tibetan Prayer flags

We at Metaphysics ‘ A spirited Space’ have a nice selections of Tibetan prayer flags at our location.  Many people are unfamiliar with the history and the purpose of the prayer flags, so let us give a brief overview of them.

Traditional prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The are not used to carry prayers to god, but the belief is the mantas and prayers on the flag will be carried on the wind to spread goodwill and compassion into the area. The flags benefit is for all living beings in the area. As the wind passes over the surface of the flag, it is purified and sanctified by the mantras printed on the flag. They are usually left up all year, only being changed on the Tibetan new year.  As the images on the flags fade from exposure they become a permanent part of the universe. Many times old flags will be left up, with the new ones mounted next to the old.  This is seen as part of the natural cycle of life. The new replacing the old in a continuous cycle.


Because the symbols and mantras on prayer flags are sacred, they should be treated with respect. They should not be placed on the ground or used on clothing. Old prayer flags should be left to naturally disintegrate or be burned so the smoke can carry their blessings..

There are two major types of prayer flags, the horizontal ones, called Lung ta (meaning "Wind Horse") and the vertical ones, called Darchor (meaning "Flagstaff").  We carry the Lung ta in our shop. Although we have several different types, most follow the same general pattern. Prayer Flags traditionally come in sets of five. The five flags represent the 5 elements and the five pure lights. The colors are usually arranged in a specific order from left to right.  The colors are: blue(sky and space), white (air and wind), red(fire), green(water), and yellow(earth).  It is the balance of these five elements that maintain health and harmony in traditional Tibetan medicine.

The flags should be hung only during auspicious days, on sunny days in the morning in a strong wind.  They should be hung diagonally from high to low. The higher they are hung the better, as the wind will disperse their benefits more widely.

This is a quick overview of an ancient and powerful tradition.  We will have much more details in the Codex of lore on our Website. Please feel free to stop by and check out the knowledge we seek to freely share with the world.