The Metaphorical Magpie

Did your wish come true?

Last January, I got a crazy idea to invite people to join me in a wish tree project. My call for fellow wishers led to an amazing influx  of emails and envelopes in the mail containing wishes of all types. Small and large.  On January 20th, I hosted a gathering of friends and family here at the house. It was a super cold day but we bundled up to hang our own wishes and then everyone helped tie ribbons to the dogwood tree for all the people who sent their own ribbons. I bought a bunch of happy colored ribbons and we used those for the wishes that came in by email. 

After we hung the ribbons, we all went inside for a feast of cupcakes, cookies, blood orange cosmos, coffee, tea and lots more to choose from.

Here is the post wrapping up the project with lots of photos. Here's a peek at the refreshments. And the Flicker set from the day.

We let the ribbons fly on the tree until it was about to bloom in spring. Some released themselves before we got out there to remove them. One very tenacious ribbon remains. I don't know whose wish that was but it obviously needed a little extra time to work, so we've let it take it's time.

 

My ribbon was the big purple one up there between the green ones. It was really long and I decided to choose a forked branch to tie it around. I wished to find my one true path in life. Imagine my aggravation when every time I checked on it, it had would itself around more than one branch. Finally, I understood. My path is like a branch working from the outside of the tree in. Small branches lead to medium ones that join into a medium branch that leads into a strong trunk. All of my parts combine to make the whole. If a branch is weak, it will fall away but that doesn't make me any less as a whole.

I felt very conflicted at that time about where I was going with my life. Outwardly everything was dandy but I felt unfulfilled. A year later, I've found the courage to break free from one career to follow the call of another. When we hung the ribbons, I also felt very resentful that it seemed I would have to choose between pursuing a new career and having a child. As the year progressed, I realized I can do both if that is what I choose to do in the future. When my ribbon wrapped itself tightly around two branches that seemed to be a sign to me.

However I choose to interpret it, I feel like my wish came true.

My Sweets made his wish for Obama. It seems fitting now that the anniversary of our wish tree is Inauguration Day.

If you participated last January, I'd love to have you share what happened with your wish.

Saturday Seed No. 1

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?