Meaningful Use of Halloween Decor

Making homemade ghost decorations is a fun and easy activity that spooks up your yard for Halloween. What you may not have known is that these cloth “ghosts” look similar to a Native American ritual and meditation. When made with intention, they are called Prayer Ties and are traditionally used as an offering for blessings. You don’t have to be Native American to make these ties as a tool for healing, prayer, or meditation.

The process of making the prayer ties is meditative in itself. This time and action can be used to meditate and pray for your goals, health, family or friends, or simply to calm your mind.

All you need are the following 3 items:

1. At least 4 squares of cloth material

2. Loose tobacco or dried sage

3. Small bundle of string

Traditionally, Native Americans used 4 different colors of cloth to represent the 4 directions but they can also represent qualities and affirmations:

Yellow – East – Air: New Beginnings, Rebirth, Prosperity, Longevity
Red – South – Fire: Motivation, Creativity, Growth
Black – West – Water: Healing, Transformation, Introspection
White – North – Earth: Wisdom, Spirit, Strength, Clear Vision
Blue – Above – Father Sky, Masculine Energy, Spiritual Healing
Green – Below – Mother Earth, Feminine Energy, Physical Healing
Purple – Center – Balance, Harmony, Self, Mental Healing
Orange – Parallel Universe – Soul Mate, Twin Flame

When you have your cloth squares cut into 2”x2” sizes, take a pinch of tobacco (which was sacred to Native Americans before it became an unhealthy addiction) or dried sage. As you place it in the middle of the cloth, focus on your intention and you can even say a prayer. Your statement can be as simple as being thankful for this day or as specific as praying for your grandmother’s health. Whatever it is, just be completely present in that moment and enjoy it.

Once your statement is completed, bring the 4 corners of the square cloth together (just as you would for the cloth ghost) and tie the string around the head of it.

Continue this same process for the rest of the squares and keep them all on the same continuous piece of string.

By the end of it, you should have one piece of string with at least 4 cloth prayer ties hanging from it. The continuous string represents the flowing energy and intention from the 1st prayer to the last.

Traditionally, Native Americans said a final prayer for the completed piece and then smudged the prayer ties. In this way, your prayers are released into the universe through fire. Alternatively, you may choose to give your ties to a river (water), let them hang from a tree in the woods (air), or bury them (earth). As your prayer tie is released, they carry your desires to whomever you are spiritually aligned with (Great Spirit, God, the Universe, Angels, you Higher Self, Mother Earth, etc.)

This is an act of deep connection with yourself and your higher power. When I create prayer ties, I am able to be reconnected with my purpose and also with nature. In our busy lives, it is important to be peaceful with nature and simply be present.