Lara Tupper: Swift Ink Stories

Flag Season

I associate summertime with flags. (And ice cream. But that's a diversion for another time.) In July we see them waving from porches and poles or emblazoned on t-shirts. Or strung on a line and waving gently, like these mammoth prayer flags above. 

I recently wrote about Tibetan prayer flags (and my affinity for laundry-folding) for Kripalu Resources. Prayer flags serve as a reminder: Though our aspirations may seem disparate, perhaps there's a way to feel more connected, to offer intentional good will, even to strangers. With this in mind, how soothing it is to see them flying in the wind. (Scroll down to see a 30 second video I filmed. It calms me down instantly.) 

July drawing exercise: Gather a blank piece of paper and some markers or crayons. Draw a flag that represents who you are and what you believe in. It doesn't have to look like any kind of flag you've seen before. It just has to feel like it speaks for you. What will its shape be? What symbols, creatures and color…