The Wish Tree
Inspired by the work of Yoko Ono, each winter between Thanksgiving until the end of January, I place a tree on the patio of Aster Cafe in Minneapolis and invite passersby to place a wish on it. I tend to the wishes weekly by rehanging any that have fallen off, tying them all to the branches securely & refilling the empty wish tags. It’s a moving experience to spend a few moments taking in the desires of the community, reflecting on my own wishes and contemplating how much we all have in common. I invite you to read all of the beautiful wishes from winter 2023-2024 by scrolling down. What do you wish for? What are you thankful for?
Thank you to everyone who has participated in this experience with me. Thank you for stopping for a moment to be present. Thank you for leaning in to the magic that’s all around us and holding onto hope that if we put our wishes out there that they just may come true.











Winter 2023-2024
I wish for a world of more positivity I wish for good grades, good health and blessed people to enter my life New husband, new home, new job, good health I wish empathy would rule this world For my baby girl to come back to me Gratitude for my chosen family A balance of work & play, joy coming easier Sam is cured of cancer I wish the end of genocide and apartied of Palestinians, Free Palestine! I wish to feel satisfied TVB I wish my family the best I wish for my brothers to be nice to me Happiness, abundance, love & freedom I wish for happiness, health & wealth for my family. A great move to KC Selam has a amazing holiday I hope I can help people in my new job M & S 4 eva That Trump has a stroke & cannot be pres I wish to be braver A happy and healthy year Rich man who loves me For friends & family I wish a new relationship I wish to be more adventurous and to say yes to more things I wish for you to realize that you are lucky to be getting older World peace Case dismissed all charges dropped Dear God, I wish to find our dream farm site That we have a long & happy marriage Good health for my niece, Piper! Wish upon a heavenly star “Bob” I wish that Bergen & I have a happy & healthy 2024 Safeness, happiness, healthiness for all in the world Hit the jackpot Peace for Israel Great new job Good health, happiness, self-love & confidence, new relationships, fun job, wealth, richness in life and memories, love! & see new places! *New car pretty pretty please I wish for health for baby in the NICU That we always love each other For my love to be happy!! To write some good tunes! Please make all my dreams come true. Good health and more blessings to come Progress on climate change- hope for our environment I wish to fall in love with the world over & over & over again Bae will love me & peace on earth I wish for peace within me That I get a job and move to Oregon Wish for a sense of peace I wish for our yet-to-be-born dog Yoshi will be the best dog ever To find gentle, healing love Love more, think less I wish for the best year of me & my families lives yet! 2024 I wish to be with David forever!!! Positive societal change A healthier 2024! Joy to overcome pain I wish for big adventures w/friends in 2024 Patience, joy and adventure To be brave enough to choose the things that make me happy Prosperity, successful year & financial freedom & more traveling & cat Hope my family & friends stay happy & healthy We find good jobs Baby #2 God, you know what I’m wishing for. Please? I am grateful for connection God to open big doors for our family Financial freedom Graduate & get a job Peace calm joy love A break from life as usual for my wife, Kim A career I’m excited about & happy in!! Find one source of happiness everyday Super-duper successful music career, life long romance, love, partner for the books & world peace. And lower interest rates. Love! Abundance! I wish for loving friendships and healthy cats Save more money & move in with my bf I wish for sanity & sense in the political sphere I wish Mpaz returns to Minneapolis in summer More beautiful days like today with the people I love I wish for end of racism & hate An amazing life with no regrets Peace in Gaza A job that I love Admission into the Michigan State DO/PHD program Wishing for a job opportunity that I’m genuinely excited about I wish for a puppy named Cao Mental clarity I wish for continued growth in life and to shed my fears and anxieties about the future. I want to take more risks, dispel my fear of failure I wish to be brave enough to hear the depths of my own truth & honor my soul by pursuing it at all costs (I wish this for all humans too) To be healthy, fulfilled and surrender fully to love That I find my soulmate I wish for more people to actively care for each other I wish for child-like joy to all those suffering & in pain To live happily ever after by my best friends & family I wish my weight loss journey success and live happily with my mom My grandma to move closer to my mom (her daughter) I wish for the war in Ukraine to end I wish to spend more time loving the little, simple things Find a proverbs 31 woman Build a house I wish my Tommy can find a wonderful, caring life partner who loves God I wish we lived in a world with more harmony, love & understanding. I am grateful for my health, my family, my job, my friends, my home, my love & my fur baby (Benito) I want happiness for all Inner peace I wish to have a successful year in my career Health for my 3 generation family I hope that J realizes that G is toxic and heals For my little brother to be happy I wish for peace, fortune & happiness I wish for health & happiness & to find a job I love, to move back to MN No school I wish for a healthy baby For a happy life (and retirement) For easy/clear paths to show up when I’m ready Aby sme vsetci boli zdravi a stastny I wish Irem peace & happiness w/ matching I already got my wish. Happy anniversary Beeb 12/31/23 I wish for long full of love life Liv’s job expansion I wish for a dog A good transition to new school for my son I’m grateful for learning from others More moments where my heart feels like this Stability May those gig workers starting their own businesses have the wind at their back I wish for world peace & a good job in Rochester for my son! I wish for happiness for all I love Lower interest rates & world peace That my girlfriend can walk again Peace & Kindness We wish Sophie and Juliann a lifetime of happiness and love! Love Mom & Dad A good life, love, happiness & fulfillment I wish for love & happiness Clarity & moments of joy Safe travels for all I wish to never have a migraine again. Thank you! For my mom to rediscover happiness I wish you have the best day ever! Good grades in the next semester I wish for peace on earth I wish to go on a bombass vacation with my bestie, Sammy Bug in 2024 #MiamiPart2 Finish school, get a job and move back to CO I wish we all have a peaceful, happy and healthy Christmas I wish for a happy, healthy, safe 2024 & lots of snuggles & laughter To marry the love of my life, Sawyer I wish for an ethical, healthy love Crazy hot hoes For good things to happy to those I love A peaceful & easy end to my marriage Thank you for bringing Fabian to my life I wish to get married to Fabian in 2024! Thank you For health & happiness to my family For everyone to experience love and kindness this holiday season I wish for a 4 carrot solitaire engagement ring A baby For people to not leave a dogs in cars Good health and strength to all mothers I wish for a loving family and happy holidays forever! In gratitude for my community near and far, for the support we offer & receive & acting out of love Be content with who I am and what I can offer My wish is for self-healing of the mind & of the heart Wish that ME has a safe and epic trip We wish that tonight will be epic I wish for peace H1B transfer to Nanolab gets approved Help us find Bill Underhill That all the children in the world will be treated with love & kindness. No more pain for children For human evolution out of the rage and chaos Free Palestine I wish for more moments w/my best girlfriends I wish for true love I wish for Santa to feed the poor True love An answer to my prayer…whatever that is Grateful for my health, family, friends! I wish to live a life as an artist and see the world doing it. Health, happiness. Grateful for this city I wish for abundance I wish love will win wish for a happy relationship w/my partner I wish for our team to win get first I wish for love and a sense of belonging in the new year I am grateful for growth & wish for love love love Peace for Gaza I wish for a new job Good health & lots of laughter Take a deep breath…and feel I wish for Geoff & Rachel to have & behold one another whole I wish to be with my Beeb forever and ever To get out of my own way & step into my power The best wedding ever to the love of our lives 2-4-24 To have 3 kids & watch my beautiful husband become and amazing father That 2024 is happy, healing and prosperous I wish peace for those who grieve for whatever reason I wish to travel more & make that top 10% money That our son can find health and stay sober I wish my dad is able to retire next year I wish for health, happiness & love I wish/know my future will be filled with love, wonder and prosperity I wish for self-love for myself and all those closest to me to see the best in themselves I wish for less homework For those I love to find happiness, peace and prosperity I wish to grow in my relationships with friends, family & Jesus I’m thankful for long walks with my family I wish for a stable mental health for all those around me I wish to find peace with myself and not be afraid of change I wish for great health, wealth and happiness or everyone May God help me with the patience to endure the tough times, enjoy the best and know they are all great I wish to continue to not need wishes I wish my foot injury would be healed ASAP I wish to trust in the moment For my family to be okay & thriving, to go to Panama and other Central American countries, to get out of my comfort zone I wish for peace and a fulfilled 2024 I wish that everyone is able to experience the joy of being loved by another person I wish for love & for a beautiful wedding in 2024 I wish for God’s and I’s dreams to turn into reality I wish success and happiness for all my loved ones in 2024 A long happy marriage engages 12/20/23 More of what’s real I wish Savack will strike it rich in 2024 A partner in love or the rest of my life I wish for endless love and family health I wish for less craziness and unpredictability in my life and to reconnect w/the only one I love Peace for all Wishing for peace, clarity & balance I wish to always be happy For my friends and family to be happy P.S. also a hot Scottish man I wish Grammie’s good health returns I wish everything to work out in 2024 Be genuinely happy & financially stable Peace, provision, protection, prosperity Wishing all of you have your wishes realized Health, wealth, happiness, success, travel, creativity, design, good vibes, rooftop deck I wish for the person reading this to bring this ticket to the bar for a free drink! I wanna be happy, find a man/husband, I wanna see my family, I want straight As, I wanna be rich To finish college and the Vikes to win the Superbowl Good vibes & good friends & good food Money Healthy happy 2024 Glad Aster is here! Thank you! Fantastic adventures with family & friends I wish for peace in the middle east My mom to live a long and happy/healthy life To be with my love for life Baby I wish all bullys can stop bullying Good grades, better job, to be funnier, for the Chrysler not to break down again Peace & Prosperity Kindness A situation in which both can be mine Grateful for life letting go Peace & tranquility for all A baby I wish for a happy and healthy 2024 for all Be satisfied with what I do, happiness, successful career Pawer Patroll A happy, healthy and loving 2024 Forgive my student loans Peace & stability I wish for a weiner dog I hope my brother finds his purpose Conrad PS5 A man who truly loves me Love and happiness for my friends & family I wish for my children to be happy Good loving moments with gf, big changes in real life Peace and freedom for Ukraine & Russia Love and happiness for all! I wish someone can give me #2 Cub gift cards so I can go grocery shopping. If so, call # I wish for continued unconditional love and support when life’s bumps occur Let us all find true love & happiness I wish to graduate with a 3.89 GPA, I wish to get reunited with my family soon!! I wish for chickens! World peace To start a childcare business by getting the loan That Holly achieves her dreams For calm peace & happiness, also gay rights! Billy is doing amazingly well!! XO Mom A home for me and a mended heart for a friend I wish for financial success & happiness. I also wish that my sister is set on the right path & begins her new happy life I wish I could be a great filmmaker and writer Eternal peace & self-confidence I wish to get into med school this round Health & wellness I wish for my grandma to get healthy and get released from the hospital b4 Xmas! Have a decent job after I graduate Baby I wish for husband & new work I wish to help & heal others along the way Please bring me back here for residency and to start a family I wish my baby boy Carlos all the good fortune in the world. Go Carlos. Love Pa I wish to make $200,000 this year Wish for Da move to new place in March 24 Peace Wishing for our angel babe to land earthside Charlotte’s happiness To enjoy the holidays I wish to experience joy after a devastating break up in 2023 Georgie loves her new job For Zach to find peace & success Thomas wins the concerto competition I wish happiness & health for my family in the new year! A million dollars I wish we could reverse climate change I hope I get married this year! (Real) freedom for all #ceasefire Courage & clarity That we’ll be national champs I want to become a pilot I wish for true self love & compassion I wish my wife stays happy with me forever & health to all my family An amazing job and future for my husband & daughter Peace in our world Espana 2024 hotel to get my top clinical placement I will find love I wish for Keegan to find fulfilling work 1,000,000 more dates with Maria I hope we work out & I get my cat back Clarity money relationship I wish, I wish with all my heart to live everyday to the fullest For my son to stay on a healthy path and not drink I wish for a happy Christmas with my family I wish Donald Trump would go to jail & never be president I wish I weren’t so afraid of living life boldly I hope I feel good in my new place Happiness forever!! To see Morgan Wallen Healthy baby niece/nephew True happiness for all I wish that my family lives in peace, love & happiness in 2024. Also a good vacation I wish to experience the deepest tenderness platonically, romantically and financially For a Vikings win 12/3/23 I wish you gave me a $100 meal credit I wish to be happy & healthy Peace & serenity in my marriage For centered-ness and the will to keep building a beautiful life Mommy’s business to create financial freedom so daddy can retire I wish for world peace I want to see my mom and my siblings. I want to finish my school with a good grade and get a good job Inner peace & world peace True happiness Hoes on my dick (pretty pls I want a gf) I wish that my new school gets to be successful when my school starts Peace, time, love Amy’s move to MN is forever with me Justice & peace for Palestine Cure Holly’s cancer Eat more cheese I wish for passionate, competent & committed help with my business Inner peace & a kickass invert I wish that 2024 is the year I feel purposeful & successful To enjoy the small moments Love every day Free Gaza I wish love and happiness for all my friends & family Finding a great first home together Peace, health, direction, home, love, joy, laughter I wish for peaceful transitions this year Wolves win a ring this year Peace & happiness for those I love I wish for my friends good health I wish for abundance in my relationships, friendships & in my financial wellness. I wish for a caring love and success on all the people I touch in this life. I wish continued success with myself I wish to marry Catherine Woods I wish for love for everyone Truth I wish things work out between me and Nate I wish to have a good 2024 and be happy, healthy (AKA a bf) A healthy grandbaby! Peace & love this holiday season To be more childlike & in awe of the baby miracles constantly unfolding in my life. Gratitude and patience, courage, acceptance Peace I wish to be with Sammie S forever I want to make honors every class next semester wish wish Financial freedom & career success I wish for a new home & for energy & happiness Ring I wish for happiness & health for all I wish that I live to be 100 Joy and peace in beginnings & endings Millionaire by 6/17/23 compliments of Dad Infuse fun in 2024 I wish for all my family to be happy & healthy I wish that Charlie gets all love & good things For my elders to be taken care of I wish to have good surrounding people and experiences I wish for health & happiness to all, and peace Peace, joy, job I am thankful for a loving community Happiness, energy, peace I wish for my dog (Norman) to stay happy and healthy I wish for no debt I wish for a winter filled with creativity Salud para mi familia For a happy world I wish people will get along Peace, health, joy, onward! To more years filled with adventure w/friends filled with joy And yet the sun still rises. Joy and love I wish for new musical opportunities/gigs to expand my creativity into I wish for voters to connect the dots that link mayhem to Trump and vote for Biden That I finally get my shit together to be able to buy the home that my kids and I deserve for them to grow up in and always know where to go To be happy, healthy, safe, success. Have a great life w/my family & friends. No debt, travel & have a happy life with my pets A free Palestine I wish for financial freedom Prosperous friendships. I love my friends Wishing health & happiness for all my friends & family Mazatlan Mexico & bushels of cash World unity, more kindness, love I wish for love, happiness and success. Love from Jersey! I wish to be successful in college 4.0 baby! I wish for health & happiness for all my loved ones & friends (for myself also) Chaps comes out of the closet A big cheese plate I wish for people to stay healthy I wish for good health and happiness That I get to write my novel with my girl name Lydia More cats Peace & prosperity for all mankind I wish for my loved ones and I to know we are enough. Self love & contentment I wish my nephew arrives happy & healthy Wishing for my book to be published and to touch lives A healthy baby & a quick recovery I wish for the best Xmas & 2024 for my family My wish is for everyone to be with their loved ones for Xmas For a wonderful life in MN Have a blessed 2024 & chase your dreams For Fiona always in my heart, praying for healing I wish for love & peace I want everything to turn out ok Health & happiness I wish for healthy babies for all of us I wish for a good 2024 Get into the right dental school A phat ass I wish all the wishes on this tree come true!! I wish peace for George I wish for a successful end to my college career and luck for the future I wish for creative inspiration Wishing a long and healthy life for my family; endless love, care and beauty for my marriage. May blessings keep coming and love continue flowing I wish good food was free A happy & fulfilled life full of adventure & love I wish we can all lean into love I wish for a loving, safe, peaceful future with my family Health, wealth, love, success, happiness I wish for a happy healthy loving marriage I wish my kids would watch the Sopranos w/me before my head explodes Health, wealth and lots of sex Dear Paul I wish for patience I wish nothing but the best for all! GNS 21 MMTLP settlement I will marry Mackenzie Sheppard That my food, hand and shoulder stop hurting I wish for big cats with my hot fiance I wish for making peace (with myself) I wish Michael passes his test I wish all the other wishes come true I wish for people to reach out to each other and start to understand and accept each other I wish for a happy, peaceful, fun rest of H.S. I wanna win the lottery I wish for a Kim Kardashian level of money & a hot bod!!I wish for a lot of money and a big happy home w/all of my friends and family close by I wish for growth & fulfillment for myself and all my loved ones in 2024 I wish I will win the jackpot Inner peace for all, have juicy thick cheeks 4 eva I wish people in need be/do fine this winter, have a wonderful life with my husband, joy during the holidays I wish for Mora Maria Bridal to sew a royal wedding dress Grounding I’m thankful for good health Truth I wish for A&B & family to be healthy I wish we were still together and happy I wish for the confidence to say yes to new opportunities Peace in Ukraine I wish to marry Zach I wish for a better world I wish to feel more comfortable with the unknown I wish for another year of amazing live music I wish for a job I am happy to do & travel abroad (not Canada) Love for all & to make our world better May our imaginations return as shambala warriors arise Love For a healthy and happy year for everyone I love I want star light and moon beams to shine on Mother Earth. She needs our help not our stupidity Live close to my beloved Find community & comfort I wish for a happy & healthy 2024 We wish for happiness and a healthy year I wish for creative fulfillment and a long happy relationship I wish it all works out & it will I wish all the happiness & health to everyone For us to move back and make Minnesota home Peace for Ukraine I wish my eyesight would get better I wish for me & my friends find all the happiness & love! I wish for a parrot and an owl The continuation of a strong, healthy, successful relationship I wish it didn’t smell stinky I wish for a life of health & happiness Ava and Mom always For everyone’s most lovely wishes to come true I wish good partners would come into my daughters lives I wish for financial abundance and a healthy romantic relationship I wish for more patience & understanding Peace in middle east I wish to know when to let go Always having amazing people Health please I wish for new knees Peace May my best friend always feel loved Josh Dobbs 4 MVP Vikings SB champs I wish Katie P will like me again Continued success with my significant other I wish for my grandchildren to always be happy I wish to have a good 2024 with my man (not my man yet) Snow family peace happiness I wish my whole family will be together for Xmas We wish for passing grades Peace & balance I wish for a bright future & love I wish for a safe trip after Christmas Thankful that daddy works hard so mommy can be home w/me! To be free Peace & prosperity Money I wish my husband and momma have the happiest year of their lives I’m grateful for my family, good health, joy, my home, louie, my job, good books & good food I wish The Aster was open right now A good man with a dog I wish to heal enough to find love again LSAT class goes well & doesn’t burn me out My biggest wish is clarity & confidence Thankful for good health, great friends & family. Wish for peace in the world I wish for my sister to have a healthy baby I wish for this relationship to turn into a happy marriage Health Wish for everyone to have a happy 2024 Good year for Jacob I wish for a lifelong of success To live a long healthy life w/the love of my life Love Everyone World peace I wish to let go I wish we get married Blessed Thank you Grateful for family & a safe home I wish peace and happiness for everyone Love To move to Minneapolis I pray for Alicia and Lyla to have a healthy birth Free Palestine Life company My wish is for all to have a life of love & laughter I wish for my sister to beat cancer I wish Brian gets a new kidney For good health I wish for my love to be reflected in all that I see & do I wish for world peace, love, joy & compassion. That everyone loves their neighbor & expresses their gratitude. Thank you for life I want to heal my cancer and myself I wish Brady passes his test I wish my husband could see how beautiful he is I wish for happiness I wish for Travis & Taylor to make it True love I wish my brother and my dad would talk again and my dad could meet my brothers kids and we’d be one family I wish my dog would live forever You are enough Sun, food, friends, love forever A lake house & a lifetime of love w/my boys Wishing peace for Corey, we love Cooper I wish for more nights like this I wish to be free from my ex. I wish to forgive Edward Towers. I want to let go. And I am I wish to appreciate the thing I already have and take life as it comes A violent, yet painless death Love family, love each other!! Mom to feel better Love & good health I wish for safe travels for my friends I wish we could all be our true soulful selves! I wish to be free from my ex in my mind I wish for a loving, full & rewarding retirement with my husband MCAT 515+ Dear God- true love Wish for happiness & good health I wish for our democracy to stay intact My loved ones happiness and health (and good grades!) I wish for cancer to be gone I wish for inner healing, peace, love, joy & fun in all my relationships I wish for a fantastic wedding, month at hub and health to my 2 moms & 1 dad My daughter will be happy the way she is I wish for gratitude and acceptance True happiness I wish Alicorns were real! My love of a lifetime to grow old with me I wish for healing and health for my friends and loved ones! Merry Christmas! I wish for a happy year socially, financially & everywhere else Love to stay For sparkles I wish for world peace Freedom for Palestine My grandson to have a beautiful life That you’ll see me the same way I see you I wish for more patience & to be present I wish everyone practices meditation & be happy & peaceful I wish for continued health journey for 2024 because I deserve it To sit on a beach drinking margs w/my bestie (and happiness, peace and all that) Happy I wish for peace & happiness I wish Dave’s cancer be cured That me and my girlfriend can make it through long distance in college Una familia juntas Am Yisrael chai now & forever I wish for others to find the happiness that I have found Peace in the world Love for everyone I love!! To be with my love forever (and ever) Peace for Gaza Prosperity for loved ones Let go of people and energy I don’t need Peace among us! I wish to have a happy 2024 I wish 4 good energy! I wish for the direction to go when it comes to love I wish I had my pig back Everyone has an amazing holiday A wondrous magnificent new year Happy, healthy kiddos! (and a windfall of $$$ so I don’t have to work) I wish for safe travels for everyone this holiday season Success to the marigold practice Good health for my family & a kiss from Dylan O’Brien I wish to eas of my parents & relationship I wish oll peypul wur oll gud For health & abundance for ___’s family & wishes to come true & for Sarah & Erin new friends & that things go well for them Grateful for my deen! I wish my family heals and forgive the shortcomings & generational pain by end of year 2024 Good health for my family House I wish yue wil be haapy love Anelise I wish for guidance & support as I go through this very tough time That I learn about myself in depth; love my friends more deeply Peace in middle east & Ukraine In 2024, I hope to have my own place, visit friends & family a lot and be happy & healthy Happiness & health & wealth for all my friends and I I wish for self-love Years of life Successful transition of businesses To become a dolphin Truth I wish to be happy That both of us be happy forever with kids & an amazing house I wish to trust in the moment I wish a MF would Rational leaders Pass my test Connection & protection Family and nature Wishing for a wonderful new job and new chapter I wish for acceptance and passionate love again, for home to never stop loving me I wish to be happy I wish to be great, the greatest ever. I wish that my kids will look at me & say that I am their role model I wish for friendships to last forever & that we grow together World peace I wish for love & comfort & thoughts to go away Love & happiness for my friends & family Inner peace Embodied presence To have Cai ask me to marry him