Someone, somewhere came up with the idea of writing things on balloons and letting them go. Might be wishes or messages for the dead, or anything else somebody wants help with. I suppose that is a more modern take on incense. The ancients believed that as it wafted into the air, it carried their prayers up to the Gods. Balloons might seem like a more fun update to this ritual. Except for that pesky gravity thing. What floats up and away from you, floats down somewhere else. Perhaps in a lake or ocean where it can injure or kill wildlife. Maybe in someone else’s yard, where they have to pick up your trash and dispose of it. Just such a balloon turned up in my yard last week.
On one side of the balloon, written in Sharpie marker: “My Dreams
– I dream to fly
– Be a pharmacist
– Open up a pharmacy
– Support my family
– Not to be rich, but to get money I need
– To get two twin girls.”
On the other side was: “Please take these things away from me!
– Hate!
– Unusual sleep!
– Proud!
– Bad words!
– Not letting people learn
– Hurting others
– Steal
– Hide stuff from people
– Not kind!
– Lying”
Now, how about that for a character-creating workshop? Here are the hopes, dreams, and bad habits of an actual person, as they perceive them. Although, I would suggest that if you have honesty issues, a pharmacy is probably a dangerous choice for you. Especially if you have problems with unusual sleep.
Now, I am all for self-improvement. None of us is so perfect that we can’t make ourselves better in some way or another. But I have a suggestion. Instead of degrading the environment to upgrade yourself, try writing the things you want to have/want to banish on a piece of paper. Either burn the paper and bury the ashes or just bury the paper and let it compost in the soil. That’s a much more environmentally friendly alternative to the balloon ritual. That and your innermost wishes don’t end up on somebody’s blog.