Smoke and Wishes

What do you wish for everyday? What did you wish for in 2010? There is a moment in each day where we need the impossible and hope for the best.

There is a temple in Há»?i An, an ancient town settled in the first century in Viet Nam, just outside of Danang. It is called Phuc Kien Assembly Hall (1692). The temple is dedicated to Buddha and in the temple are altars to other Gods (vision, hearing, safe sea voyages, money and celebrated generals).

Hanging in the main assembly area are spiral cones of incense, in the center of the spirals are wishes written on yellow cards. As the incense burns, the wishes are brought to the Gods by the scent and smoke. You could say it is as wireless as email, wifi to the Gods.

On the cards that I could read, there were wishes for good grades, a safe journey, long life for the Thai King, and the rest were in languages I couldn't read, but I got the gist of it. We wish for things that will better our lives or others, we wish for things that we think will make our lives better. But if you asked me now if I wanted what I wanted last year, I would say no. My life has changed and the ebb and flow changes the needs that I have. Wishes are static, we are not. And what we want is not necessarily what we should get.

May your wishes come true in 2010 and may they benefit you and the whole of the community, because our smokey wishes combined become a cloud that could block out the sun.

Image: Ophelia Chong / Hoi An, Viet Nam