During a recent visit to the Yokoso Center, I came across a beautiful Tanabata display - bamboo branches adorned with colorful tanzaku (wish papers). Inspired by this quiet celebration of hopes and dreams, I reflect on the meaning of Tanabata and send heartfelt wishes to my Ikebana family.
This past Saturday at the Yokoso Center, a small table caught my eye. It sat quietly between two pots of bamboo, each branch decorated with colorful slips of paper fluttering in the summer air. As I stepped closer, I realized this was a Tanabata display, part of a cherished Japanese tradition that celebrates hope, love, and dreams written into the stars.
Tanabata (七夕), also known as the Star Festival, is celebrated on July 7th and originates from a legend of two lovers - Orihime (the weaver star) and Hikoboshi (the cowherd star) - who are allowed to meet only once a year across the Milky Way. According to tradition, people write their wishes on narrow strips of paper called tanzaku and hang them on bamboo branches. Bamboo is believed to grow strong and tall, carrying our wishes toward the heavens.
Seeing the tanzaku at the Yokoso Center, I couldn’t help but pause. In our busy lives, how often do we take a moment to write down a hope or dream? Whether it’s something deeply personal or a simple wish for someone we love, there’s something powerful about putting it into words.
This Tanabata, I send my own wish into the world:
To each of you—my fellow practitioners, teachers, and students—I wish peace in your heart, joy in your practice, and continued inspiration from the flowers we arrange.
If you have a quiet moment this month, I encourage you to write down a wish of your own. Hang it from a branch in your garden, tuck it into your notebook, or simply whisper it into the wind. As the Tanabata tradition reminds us, wishes have a way of finding their path.
With gratitude and best wishes,
Joe Rotella
Associate Second Term Master
Ohara School of Ikebana
