In the mall, in the park, or in your neighbour’s front yard…we see wishing wells in a lot of places. And we all know what we are supposed to do…drop a coin in and make a wish! The wishing well has long been a symbol of good luck and good fortune. Children would throw their pennies into the well and make a wish - which would hopefully be granted by some unknown power. I remember in the backyard of my grandparents’ home, covered in creeping vines, stood an old brick well. I always wondered why it lay prominently in the backyard, since there was no bucket to gather water. Upon closer inspection, and to my amazement, the well was decorated with monkeys! As a young child, I thought the monkeys were there to watch over my treasures, which I often buried inside. It was only later that I realized it was a wishing well, and the monkeys were meant to create mischief for all who came near! The idea of appeasing the spirits by tossing tokens into a well was especially common in the Celtic culture. The Celtic goddess, Coventina, who ruled over healing and childbirth, had a small temple built for her around a source of spring water. Archeologists discovered small token gifts left to Coventina, including coins, glass, pottery items, buttons, and beads. Legend has it that if you visit Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy, and throw a coin with your right hand over your shoulder, you will surely return to Rome. My mom and dad travelled to Italy in the late 1960s, and fondly remember the Canadian pennies they tossed into Trevi Fountain. This world-famous fountain collects 3,000 wishes in Euros per day ($1.5 million annually) and the city of Rome uses the money to fund programs for needy people in the community. Imagine what we could do here in Ontario with a fountain like that! Home Hospice Association makes the wishes of our dying come true by making s
ure that all programs including In-Home Hospice respect the need for a peaceful, comfortable, and dignified dying experience regardless of age. Home Hospice Association’s Infant & Pregnancy Loss Doulas wish that families can safely bring their stillborn babies into the world, and do what is necessary for them to create a relationship that will live on in their memories. Home Hospice Association’s compassionate care Death Doulas wish that families can spend time engaging in quality moments, to ensure no one is alone through the dying experience. They also wish to support those who are faced with the task of getting back to everyday living following a death. Home Hospice Association’s Bello Project wishes care and compassion for the pets of terminally ill people. Why is this important? If the pet can see the changes in their owner, they will be more accepting of the death. Keeping these companions together protects the unconditional love they both need. In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, “Be the Wishing Well,” and support HHA’s efforts to sustain these important services for those who need them in our communities. Every coin counts, no matter the amount. Please nourish our wishing well, so that HHA can continue to lend compassion, kindness and comfort to the dying. Respectfully Submitted, Lisa Isaacs HHA Development Director Moonlit Memory Walk Program Manager