Whenever I invite friends to share prayers with me, they comment on my book. I’ve recently been encouraged to share photos of it in the form of a blog post (and some of you have been waiting for a while), so…
Welcome to my prayer book.
I’m a Baha’i. Every Baha’i prays at least once a day, but all are welcome to do so as much as they feel inclined, sometimes by oneself and sometimes with others. Baha’is think of prayer as conversation with God, and God as the unknowable essence.
Bahá’u’lláh, Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith, wrote prayers to help His followers articulate the needs and longings of their souls, though we are also free to use our own words. Baha’is also meditate in whatever way they choose.
I myself pray to align and realign myself with the circumstances of my life and the general thrust of the universe. I also pray because Bahá’u’llah, Prophet-Founder of my faith, instructed His followers to do so each day.
One year, at camp, my friend Samuel and I came up with the idea of adding some illustration to our prayer books; we figured that, since prayer is a beautiful thing, we might benefit from using beautified prayer books. It has been an ongoing project, at least for me, ever since. Every now and then, I do another page or two.
In this post, I’ll show you the end papers and the opening few spreads. In the next, I’ll share pages from particular sections throughout the book. Click on any of the images to see larger versions.
My mom is the real calligrapher in the family—she has the patience and the skill—but I dabble.
The brown leather cover with green stitching was made a number of years ago by a then-little girl. I used to babysit her a few nights a week, and she made this with her mom as a gift for my 15th birthday. 15 can be a big-deal birthday for Baha’is, because this is considered the age of maturity: one becomes responsible for one’s own spiritual life and investigation of truth. I grew up in a Baha’i family, but practicing the Baha’i Faith was every bit a personal decision.
As you can see (below), I’ve added notes for myself here and there. I add them whenever I feel I’ve hit on an insight that I’d like to be reminded of again—although, when I read them later, I don’t always find myself so insightful! Still, I think it an important practice to engage with the prayers and their words in addition to letting feelings wash over you when you read them.
This prayer book in particular is published by the Baha’i Publishing Trust and distributed by Baha’i Distribution Service (both based in the U.S.), though a number of compilations of Baha’i prayers have been published all around the world.
In this book, prayers by Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá have been thematically categorized, but the categories are guidelines only; most prayers can be read at any time and on any occasion (though there are exceptions).
The page below is graced with an illustration by my very own BFF. In the opening pages of his prayer book, there is a little poem I wrote. So it’s reciprocal.
You’ll also notice a few stamps. Some Baha’i holy places have stamps and ink pads in the entrances so that you can record, in your prayer book or wherever else, that you have visited. Below are stamps from the Baha’i Shrine in Montreal and from the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh in Bahji (near Akká, Israel). In an earlier photo you saw a stamp from my visit to the Baha’i house of worship in Wilmette, IL (and there’s another at the back).
There is plenty of marginalia. It’s meant to remind me of guidance from the Baha’i Writings that is relevant to certain prayers or prayer in general.
Below is a botanically inspired pen-and-ink page, introducting the “General Prayers” section (as opposed to “Prayers for Special Occasions”). The quotation I’ve added is one of my favorites for getting focused before reading other prayers (here’s the full quotation if you’re bothered by the “[…]”).
The closing pages (below) hold a few more quotations. Some come from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, and others come from inspiring talks I’ve heard over the years (including talks from the 2001 youth conference, Transform’action—my name tag from which has evidently been glued in the back cover forever…). Note the little satchel of dried rose petals; they come from the Shrine of the Báb (a gift from my pilgrimage), and they stay tucked in that back flap.
If you’re thinking of doing this project yourself, take note: I used the 1991 edition of this book. The more recent edition has more prayers in it (recent translations)—which is great—but its pages are thinner. They’re easier to rip and some types of ink bleed through to the reverse sides as well as to following pages. What I’m saying is, it’s not the ideal paper for illustrations.
See more in Part 2, the end of the journey through my prayer book. In it, I share illustrations from particular sections throughout the book.
This is awesome. It takes such courage to illustrate an object that is held sacred. I would need to feel complete assurance that the final product was going to enhance the beauty of the words, which you have managed to do with every page. Remarkable. Meaning, it is worthy of my remarks.
Thanks, I’m glad you like it! I think you’ll like the next post even better, actually. For the pages here, I hardly had any plan when I began them. The pages in the next post were more premeditated, if you will. 😉 I was at first anxious, as you mentioned, about drawing in my prayer book, but I take comfort in the fact that it is the words and their purpose that are sacred and not the book itself.
Thus, “held sacred.” As opposed to “inherently sacred.” 😉
Oh my gosh, THIS IS STUPENDOUS! May I copy parts your post for my blog?
I’ll, of course, do a link back to you.
I LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT.
Judy
Wow, thank you so much, Judy! Just you wait for Part 2, which has illustrations more relevant to the sections inside. Feel free to share and link back. In fact, you might want to wait for Part 2 just so that you can choose favorite pages. Thanks again!
This is beautiful. You’ve transformed your prayer book into an illuminated manuscript.
Lovely! My whole Baha’i life I’ve seen the Friends make their prayer books their own with art, photos, stamps, rose petals, etc. In fact, there’s a little story I’ve been wanting to write about the subject, now it looks like I will have to.
I’m glad I’ve tickled your creative bone, Candace. Thanks for stopping by.
Wunderbar! Delightful! (How is it I’ve never seen the book in question?)
It’s always such a delight when the younger generation surpasses the older (both artistically and spiritually!) 😀
Maman, I wouldn’t go that far! But I’m very glad you like it.
um, yes… I want to repost this too if you don’t mind! it’s beautiful! (and I’ll be even more excited to repost the 2nd part when it comes!)
Post a link if you like, Borna. Glad you are enjoying it!
and hopefully soon I’ll be able to send you something to post here… sorry!
[…] Comments « Baha’i Prayer Book Illustration Project (Part 1) […]
Your work is beautiful, Chloe, and so you.
This is fantastic, I always love coming to visit and see what you’ve been working on here in your little corner of the interwebs. 🙂
What kind of pencil crayons do you use to decorate your prayer book? Have you found any in particular that are nicer to work with on these types of pages?
Shireen, glad you like it!
I’ve been using plain old pencil crayons (or, in American, “colored pencils”)—but I will say that I much prefer the Laurentien brand to Crayola. Crayola is great for everything but this. The Laurentien leads are softer; they’re better for gradients and shading, and they don’t scratch the pages. Team Canada!
Very cool blog and love how creative you are!
[…] reallifeartist.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/bahai-prayer-book-illustration-project-1/ […]
Actually, illumination of a text is cited by the Bab as part of his ethics. He says everyone has a responsibility to elevate all created things, to the extent of one’s ability. We have a responsibility to elevate ourselves, others, our community, even the world. Here is His quote:
Thought you’d like to know.
Edward Price
So beautiful!! I do the same thing with my copy of Prayers and Meditations of Baha’u’llah 🙂 May I use some of your pictures for my blog please and ref them back to this? littlemissconceptions.tumblr.com ?
So glad you like them. Share a few on your lovely blog if you like, but do link back and give credit. Thanks very much. And I’d love to see your work sometime as well!
This prayerbook is fabulous 🙂
You have inspired me to make my own prayer book. Never having felt the ned to journal, I feel this is what I would love to create. It is also a wonderful example people can use at childrens classes, to encourage the children to create their own prayer books.
Thank you for sharing your love of the Prayers with us.
Jen from West Australia
Jenifer, your project sounds lovely! Godspeed!
[…] my regular perusals of the Baha’i internet, i stumbled upon this post from Chlöe on her blog, Real Life […]
This is spectacular! I decided I’d make my own prayer book today and found your blog when I did a search about it. Seeing your beautiful work has given me the courage to decorate my prayer book to my heart’s content!
So glad to have inspired you! Maybe you’ll show pictures of yours one day! Would be happy to see it. 🙂
[…] my regular perusals of the Baha’i internet, I stumbled upon this post from Chlöe on her blog, Real Life […]
Thank you kindly for sharing…a sincere fan of your work.
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