Happy New Year! BBC 20

This weeks Blackheath Blip Challenge is set by Gemax and is a Blackheath Gate. This one is just across the road from my home.

There are many people in Blackheath that follow the Buddhist faith. Indeed, my children studied, along with other religions, the Buddhist faith in primary school - learning meditation and the stories of the religion.

Prayer flags are common. I rather like the way they go from brightly new to a more subtle bleached out version. And then, not much later, a dry, bone-coloured flag, frayed and flapping. I'm not quite sure why I like this, but perhaps it has something to do with an acceptance of the passing of time, our place in it and the beauty of the cycle of life.

Prayer flags are traditionally in five different colours - each representing the different elements - blue symbolizes sky/space, white symbolizes air/wind, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water, and yellow symbolizes earth. According to Tibetan medicine, health and harmony are produced through the balance of the five elements.

Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space.

And I'm across the road from these, so may the winds bring benefit to all!

Today is Losar, the Tibetan New Year, a day when the old flags are replaced by bright and shiny new ones. There are prettier gates in Blackheath, but wanted to choose one where, in deference to the day, the flags were flying. These have been completely drained of colour - bring on the new!

Here's Gemax
Trisharooni
Hobbs