On Christmas morning, I opened a gift that had a beautiful purple fabric ribbon tied around it. When I unwrapped the box, I set the ribbon aside thinking to myself I should find a way to reuse it in the future. It was the only one I saved. A few days later, it migrated to a hook in the bedroom where I keep my necklaces and other pretty things I access often. When my eyes rested on it next, I got an idea of what to do with it.
Start a wish tree. Doesn't a tree made of wishes sound marvelous?
I love to make wishes. I make them on fallen eyelashes and shooting stars. You can't just sit around waiting all year to make a wish on your birthday cake candles. So often we wish things for other people. "I wish she would stop smoking" or "I wish she'd find someone to love" or "I wish Jack Black would be able to play a role without still acting like Jack Black" or "I wish they'd get the band back together." You know what I mean. Those wishes for other people are wasted, I think. Wishes are something you have to want. For yourself. I believe when you make a wish you open yourself to the potential for it to come true.
This month, each of my Saturday Seeds will focus on you. It's so easy to put your needs and desires on the back burner while you're taking care of everyone else in your life. This month is yours, baby.
For this week's seed, I invite you to make a wish. Choose something that is all yours. Wish for something you've wanted for so long you've begun to think it doesn't matter anymore, that it can't happen, that's it's silly to want. Wish for what your heart whispers to you when you least expect it.
Once you know what you'd like to wish, you can do one of two things.
1) Find yourself a pretty ribbon. Hold the ribbon in your hands and state your wish aloud. Charge that ribbon with your desire. Enclose your ribbon in an envelope and mail it me. Email me at metaphoricalmagpie at yahoo.com for the mailing address.
2) Leave your wish in the comments or email it me. I'll select a ribbon for you here.
Anonymous wishes are welcome. Wishes from other people you'd like to share this experience with are welcome, too. The more wishes, the more wonderful the wish tree will look.
On Sunday January 20th, I'll hold a wish ceremony here at my home. All the ribbons that I receive in the mail and online wishes will be collected together. I will tie each of your ribbons onto the dogwood tree in my front yard. While tying on your ribbon I will state your name out loud. Friends that are local will be invited to join me in hanging their own wishes on the wish tree. My purple ribbon will join all of yours fluttering in the breeze.
Ribbons will stay on the tree until the dogwood starts to bloom in the spring. Then it's natural beauty will be the show.
I believe the launch of this year long endeavor is a cause for celebration. I'll have some goody packages for the first person who emails me for the mailing address, the person who's ribbon I receive first and someone chosen randomly from all the participants.
Will you wish with me?
brilliant :) I love it!
Posted by: Melissa | Saturday, January 05, 2008 at 06:17 PM
oh, great idea!
Posted by: m. heart | Sunday, January 06, 2008 at 01:22 AM
Oh Rachel...
This is such an incredible undertaking!
Wishes, and wish trees...
and the significance of the Dogwood.
I can already 'see' all those beautiful ribbons blowing in the breeze.
I am going to pick out my ribbon today, I already know my biggest wish :)
I am so excited to be a part of this.
I am going to post on my blog about this wonderful endeavor and encourage our 'sisters' to join in...
who doesn't love the magic attached to wishing?
Thank you so, so much...
lovely, Sunday wishes to you my beautiful friend.
xoxoxo
Posted by: joan | Sunday, January 06, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Thank you for sharing in my excitement!!!
Posted by: Rachel | Sunday, January 06, 2008 at 01:12 PM
What a fantastic idea!!!! I can't wait to see photos of the tree. It is going to be beautiful!! :)
Posted by: Deb | Sunday, January 06, 2008 at 07:00 PM
I'm up for it! I might not be able to participate in every Saturday Seed as I go to college every other week, but I would love to take part when I can - love the idea of a communal garden! Thank you Rachel :) xoxo
Posted by: caroline | Monday, January 07, 2008 at 07:31 AM
wow ~ this is an incredible project :) am off to email you right now so i can send you a wish ribbon :) love love love love saturday seeds : )
xox
Posted by: daisies | Monday, January 07, 2008 at 05:03 PM
you will not believe it...I've started a 'wish line' in my garden a few months ago...and all my guests who come to visit...must write their wish on a ribbon and then we put it on the clothes line...it is the most beautiful thing when the wind is blowing through it...and all the ribbons are waving in the wind...but I like the wishtree idea more..cause I love trees so much! Will email you in a bit!
Great great great idea!!! You must feel really excited!?!!!
I'm sooo happy!!! xx
Posted by: Linni | Monday, January 07, 2008 at 05:19 PM
What a beautiful idea! So happy Joan sent me here. Look forward to participating. Will email you for addy...
Posted by: Marilyn | Tuesday, January 08, 2008 at 10:47 AM
I am in!
Daisies sent us over here to check this wonderful project!
Thank YOU!!!
Posted by: Carmen | Tuesday, January 08, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Don't know how I missed this!!! I will email you shortly so that I may add my ribbon to your beautiful project.
What an angel you are...
:-)
(((HUGS))),
Love,
Me
Posted by: PixieDust | Tuesday, January 08, 2008 at 12:28 PM
I haven't visited in a long while...this is lovely. I'm going to email you for your address.
Posted by: kristen | Tuesday, January 08, 2008 at 04:49 PM
I heard about this from both Daisies (on the phone last night) and Joan...and it is exactly what I needed to read today, and something that I would love to participate in...so off to email you. :-)
Posted by: ceanandjen | Tuesday, January 08, 2008 at 05:55 PM
I am so humbled by all your kind words and enthusiasm. Thank you all so much. And I'm still trying to gt my head around people talking about this on the phone. Wow. I can't wait until the the ribbons start filling up my mailbox.
Posted by: Rachel | Tuesday, January 08, 2008 at 07:32 PM
i am emailing you for an address...
this sounds too cool not to be a part of!
:)
Posted by: gkgirl | Tuesday, January 08, 2008 at 08:39 PM
That is an amazing idea- I'm in! I found you through daisies, and I'm so glad I did. I'm going to email you my wish soon as I live overseas and I doubt my ribbon will travel fast enough to make it to your house before the 20th. :)
Posted by: luzie | Wednesday, January 09, 2008 at 04:17 AM
oh what fun! i love the idea of a wish tree... i have a little wish box, but a whole tree with other's wishes too! amazing! :)
i will email you!
Posted by: nicole | Wednesday, January 09, 2008 at 09:46 AM
this idea is glorious! i am so glad daisies sent me here...will be emailing soon!!
i look forward to seeing how the other seeds unfold throughout the year...
blessings,
liz
Posted by: liz elayne | Wednesday, January 09, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Just found you through Darlene's blog - Daisies. Beautiful idea. I would like to participate by sending a ribbon your way. Love this!
Posted by: Kimberley | Wednesday, January 09, 2008 at 05:02 PM
Amazing!! :)
Posted by: JPo | Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 01:17 AM
Oh dear I love this idea. It is simply wonderful. A tree filled with wishes...how divine...how inspirational...how fabulous.
I do not have any ribbon, so I would be honored for you to choose one for me. Thank you so much for doing that.
My wish would be:
I wish that I am able to find a job that satisfies my creative side, pays me well, and is close to home. I wish to find a job.
Thank you dear, thank you for doing this.
Posted by: Jennifer | Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 12:19 AM
i love this idea! i'll be emailing you shortly so that i can send you a ribbon!
*thinking*
how long will it take to send something from utah to your house? oh dear! i may not have time!
Posted by: jenica | Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 12:30 AM
oh my god, this is such a wonderful idea! i'm just catching up on a heap of blog reading and i would so dearly love to participate. i don't have time to send you a ribbon though, would you charge a special one up for me? i will email you shortly with my wish.
hugs and love
-leonie
Posted by: chocolate covered musings | Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 01:33 PM
I would be honored for you to choose one for me. Thank you so much for doing that.
Posted by: KKdai | Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 06:54 AM
Some time before, I needed to buy a good house for my business but I didn't have enough money and could not purchase something. Thank God my dude proposed to try to take the personal loans from trustworthy bank. Thence, I acted that and used to be satisfied with my auto loan.
Posted by: TiffanyMcdowell22 | Sunday, June 27, 2010 at 09:30 PM