Wish Lanterns

A few weeks ago I flew home for the annual Grassroots Festival near my hometown of Ithaca, NY to reconnect with old friends.

All festival-long we were eager to release a set of ten wish lanterns up into the country sky. We found the opportune moment as a Grassroots-favorite band, Donna the Buffalo, closed out Saturday night’s performances in the Infield. As the weekend progressed we kept losing and finding and losing each other in the crowds, but somehow at that moment when we decided to release the lanterns we were all in the same place. There was no proclamation of “let's meet at this time in this place!”, but rather a quiet understanding and feeling of togetherness, like forces of the universe had somehow pulled us toward this moment.

We trekked through the festival crowd and found a clear patch of grass in the Infield, excitedly opening the box to reveal the ten lanterns: orange, blue, red, pink. Without hesitation we unwrapped the first lantern and I grabbed the lighter, holding it up to the corners of the fuel cell. This was a new experience for each of us, and proved tricky – there was a certain delicate balance needed to light the lantern, and hold onto it while it filled with hot air, making sure it wouldn’t tilt and catch the paper on fire. It was not a one person job, again highlighting the feeling of togetherness we had as we worked collectively.

Along with ensuring that the lantern was upright as it filled, we had to hold it steady until it was filled enough to float on its own. There were times we let it go and it fluttered closer to the ground, but we all had hands to catch it and keep it stable again as it filled with hot air. Finally, there was a moment in which we could feel a gentle tug, as if the lantern was saying, “I’m ready” and we let go, watching it float up into the night sky. Quickly it gained altitude and each lantern followed a similar air stream, up and away from us on the ground.

And so we released all ten lanterns. Each time we released one there was a different set of hands involved, some were released by couples, some by best friends, and some by all of us. It truly felt dreamlike, the flicker of the lights in the colored paper lantern, the glow on our faces as we held on tight until that magic moment of release. The tilt of all our heads as we watch it float effortlessly into the distant moonlight. The wishes made, both silently and aloud, released to the universe.

The next morning my friend Beth and I were reminiscing about the lanterns and she had a thought: releasing the wish lanterns is a lot like making a change in one’s life. There needs to be an ignition, something to start you off – an idea, a push from another person, a push from yourself. A shift in energy. A transformation.

Then you ‘fill up’ with air – anticipating the change or transition in your life. This period is tricky, just as it was with the lanterns. You may try to let go and float but quickly find that you’re not ready. Luckily, there are people there to catch you and help you become reignited - a steady base from which you draw the strength and courage to try again.

Finally, that effortless ‘tug’, a moment that no one can see but only you can feel, the tug of change where you let go of the past – past thoughts, past relationships, past experiences that don’t serve you anymore, and you float. And once you’re up, you don’t look back. Others around you watch as you gain momentum, making the change and taking charge of your course.

And finally the wish. Changes in our life are dictated by wishes - a wish is always a desire for something better. Each of us had silent wishes during the release of the lanterns, but one wish was loud and clear – that all of us could be together next summer to enjoy each other’s company during this festival weekend.