Other uses for henna: Using Henna in Fun, Relaxation, and Healing Exercises

Hennaed Prayer Flags:

Sometimes words can't possibly express profound and intense feelings. Symbols can embody the inexpressible. When words seem futile and feelings must be released ... prayer flags or rangoli may be a good focus.

Henna is an expression of the joy of life, and it may not be appropriate to henna for sorrow.

Hennaed prayer flags, though, may help.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRAYER FLAGS:

• Take some old henna paste out of the fridge (any old paste will do the job!)
• Take a bit of cotton or silk cloth and henna a pattern on it (just focus on your feelings,a prayer for the dead, start drawing, the pattern will come!) Draw your prayer in henna on the cloth. It's just like hennaeing skin ... Except push the henna a bit down into the cloth instead of draping the line as you do on skin.
• Let the henna dry. Flick off the henna and iron the cloth (Iron set on cotton). Pass the iron over the hennaed part several times and it will darken each time. The scent of the ironed henna is beautiful and will start carrying your prayer on the wind. Hang your prayer flag out somewhere .. and every time it flutters, the essence of your prayer will be carried on the wind to the proper place.
• Eventually, the wind and rain will consume your flag and the feelings carried with it, and by then, perhaps, there may be an answer to your prayer, some understanding, compassion, wisdom.

Rangoli

RANGOLI are another way of creating a sacred space with a symbol, to focus your prayers and intentions. .... you create a pattern very similar to a henna pattern, using rice paste, on the ground. The rangoli is the locus for the sacred. You can bring incense, offerings, prayers to this place .".. it's like creating a small ad hoc prayer space. Outside, the elements and small creatures reclaim the rangoli..... as the intent of the prayer is accepted." See instructions for Rangoli Pictures at http://www.sphosting.com/reverndbunny/rangoli.html

This information was provided by Catherine Cartwright-Jones. Henna Page Forum post 9/2001

Ceramics

CERAMICS: Glaze and Stain finishes

• Mix henna power, water, sugar, and salt into paste form. Use old glaze that has dried up in the bottles. Art glazes and crystal glazes are excellent for this exercise. Break up the dried hardened glaze. Mix the broken pieces with the henna paste. Paint on previously fired earthenware or bisque a pattern with the glaze/henna paste being sure to have the glaze pieces thoroughly included.
• Fire the bisque or earthenware at required cone.
• The henna paste will burn away during firing and what will remain will be your pattern in glazes with open spaces where the henna paste has burned away.
• Now paint your object with acrylic stain for ceramics. Spray will stain gloss. Let dry. Then scrape away any acrylic stain or gloss spray that has gotten on to the glaze surface. Any acrylic stain or gloss spray that gets onto the glaze can be scraped away very easily.
• Your finished piece will be a lovely combination of glaze, glaze crystals and acrylic stained pattern.
• This exercise is appropriate for both adults and children as even randomly applied glaze/henna paste will create a beautiful pattern and color array. Art and crystal glazes should be used only on decorative objects and are not suitable for tableware or any containers for foods.

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