The Wishing Project
Wishing Traditions Around the World
THE STORY
Since the beginning of civilization, humans have been fascinated by the notion of wishing. 
Some cultures have customs in which people are encouraged to "make a wish", such as blowing out the candles on a birthday cake, tossing a coin into a wishing well or fountain, 
or breaking the wishbone of a cooked turkey.
Even though such wishes are not magically granted, the act of formulating a wish can be beneficial. The wisher has an opportunity to identify what they most desire of all the things in the world. Often, wishing is a time for first becoming aware of a previously unarticulated hope. 
Once identified, these hopes can become personal goals.
Why is wishing important?
Especially in a time of economic uncertainty and world instability, the practice of wishing becomes more powerful. This project presents to the world how various cultures wish. It shares the beauty of these actions with people from all walks of life and all corners of the globe. This project bridges cultural differences through shared thought.
There are many ways in which an individual may make a wish. Not all of these ways seem to be known to all societies or cultures. This project educates, demystifies and shares popular wishing traditions that are testaments to the human spirit.
Why do we wish?
Wishing makes you feel good and produces positive changes in our physiology that lasts for hours.
Wishing strengthens the body's system.
Wishing helps surrender illusions of control.
Wishing helps bad feelings disappear.
Wishing is an excellent anger management tool that leads to forgiveness.
Wishing offers a sixth sense, an "out" when things are overwhelming.
Wishing offers "another way of coping."
Wishing helps you stay connected in your mind and heart with others.
"The act of wishing has the capacity to enhance and save our life."
(Pearsall)
More to come!
Dum spiro spero, "While I breathe, I hope" is a telling phrase translated from Latin and generally attributed to Cicero. These three words are without doubt the essence of the human spirit.
