Anne Graham McTaggart
Earth, Air, Water, Fire
Stitched pamphlet; Japanese papers with computer printed text and hand lino prints; contained in a painted wooden case with removable cover; embellished with a lino print, photos, decorative threads, text, and symbols; wrapped with silk ties.
7.5 x 22.5 x 1.5 cm
Text in Book:
Earth, Air, Water, Fire
Earth’s Song of Divine Diversity…..
…sings Canada in mountains, valleys, plains, tundra,
meadows, fields, hillsides, stone, sand, shield, prairie,
cliffs, gorges, Porcupine quill, minerals & more…..
…and for this sacred Earth I give thanks…
Air’s Breath of Divine Diversity …..
…breathes Canada in zephyr, breeze, gale, stillness, hurricane,
the breath of Pine, the scent of Rose, the snort of Deer, the soar of Eagle,
North wind, South wind, East wind, West wind, human breath & more…..
…and for the abundant blessings of Air I give thanks…
Water’s Flow of Divine Diversity …..
…quenches Canada in oceans, streams, lakes, rivers, marshes, rains, snows,
hail, dew, rivulets, ponds, bogs, frosty patterns, icicles, ice, Maple sap, tears,
mist, Bear’s honeyed saliva, Whale’s spout & more…..
…and for the miracle of Water I give thanks…
Fire’s Heat of Divine Diversity …..
…transforms Canada in scarlet Maple Leaf, golden Tamarack, blaze of Sunflower,
gleam of Rainbow Trout, ruby throat of Hummingbird, Winter Sun, Spring Sun,
Summer Sun, Fall Sun, Rising Sun, Setting Sun, Full Moon, North Star & more …..
…and for the creative blessings of Fire , I offer praise-filled thanks…
Text by Anne Graham McTaggart
Artist's Statement: The model was inspired by my eleven-day Kalachakra initiation last year with the Dalai Lama, when he visited Toronto. The monks used rectangular prayer sheets for their chanting and I loved the look of the sheets. In the Tibetan tradition, the long horizontal loose pages were often sandwiched between wooden covers or wrapped in cloth for protection. In the case of the pages I saw, they were wrapped in silk.
I think of my books as a canticle of praise to the divine diversity of the elements that move through our country.
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