Ribbons of Resilience

Join Team Rowan with our own take on the ribbon tradition. Take action in the spirit of something bigger than us, a momentous and elegant little vessel of hope and positivity for our LGBTQ+ community of humans. Because we all need each other to carry forward.

Instructions

1. Choose a Tree

Pick a tree near you, a meaningful location, and/or one where you believe your ribbon’s presence will have a positive impact for someone who needs to see it... which of course might be you.

2. Tie Your Ribbon

Select one end ofyour ribbon to tie/hang around a branch. Keep the loop loose enough for the branch to grow within, so your ribbon can hang down and swing in the wind. Tie a double knot to secure it.

NOTE: If you’re not out and/or your community isn’t safe for public LGBTQ+ pride displays, you may want to hang your ribbon privately indoors. Please, stay safe.♥

Coming soon

Coming soon

The custom of tying a ribbon to a tree is an ancient tradition.

This symbolic ritual spans cultures and continents through time that, although seemingly disconnected, share a common set of meanings, including: making wishes, expressing hope, and seeking healing.

While ribbons are commonly used for decorative uses like wrapping gifts, bundling flowers, or gathering hair—they’ve also come to take on heavier symbolic weight, signifying intense loss and inspiring resilience in the face of pain. To decorate oneself with a ribbon is to display solidarity with a shared struggle, inspire hope and the will for survival.

In the days after we lost our son, Rowan, we awoke one morning to find every tree on our block adorned with a rainbow ribbon tied around it. Our wonderful neighbors had tied rainbow pride and trans flag ribbons in honor of Rowan—a tradition we’ve continued each year on the anniversary of his passing.

That same year, we planted a rowan tree in our backyard. But the young tree’s large clusters of red berries were so heavy, we needed to tie a ribbon from branch to trunk to help it bear the weight.

Just as we had received from friends, family, and neighbors after we lost Rowan—queer and trans kids and their families especially need our support: signs of help and hope as they move through a world filled with harm and hazards.

On a breezy day, we watch the ribbons swing and sway from the tree branches, knowing these ribbons will speak softly, powered by the wind to deliver messages someone may need in that moment. A small reminder they’re not a lone and that a community of caring allies is just a whisper away.

“ We’re all carrying a lot of emotional weight through life and that we could all use some support.”

Eventually, we realized:

“ I listen to the wind
To the wind of my soul
Where I’ll end up,
well, I think only God
really knows.”

— “The Wind” Cat Stevens

  • The ancient peoples of Celtic Europe started the practice of dipping ribbons or strips of colored cloth in the water of a sacred well and tying them to a branch of fairy trees (hawthorn, oak, alder, rowan, willow, etc) along with blessings from local nature spirits, goddesses, or saints. Still practiced in modern times today—predominantly in Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man—fairy trees can be found covered with ribbon and cloth called “clotties” and are often used to request healing. The legend describes that as the fabric fades and wears on the tree, so might the illness and pain in the world.

  • In Nepal, trees located near sacred sites are embellished with ribbons and string. In Thailand, sacred trees can be found wrapped with colorful strips of cloth to mark homes for the spirits. Buddhist monks have even saved trees from being cut down by wrapping them in cloth, creating sacred entities. And in spring, a “tree of life” is adorned with white ribbon, similar to the European traditions of the maypole where spring is celebrated with a pole-styled tree adorned with brightly colored ribbons that symbolize new life coming to the world.

  • In India, worshipers pour water at the roots of the sacred pipal trees, then tie rags around its branches as offerings traditionally associated with both weddings and healing. Rags are also hung on trees as shrines to local deities. In particular, the giant banyan tree is adorned with garlands of nuts and dresses of brides. In China, the custom is to tie rags to poles in front of village shrines and ask deities for healing. Additionally, further north in Siberia, the indigenous peoples tie cloth strips to trees asking for healing, luck, and hopeful wishes.

  • In many Muslim countries, like Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria, pilgrims tie cloth to trees outside the tombs of saints. In the tradition, they may also take and wear another rag from that same tree, as it has absorbed the holiness of the place. And in both Israel and Palestine, similar customs are practiced by Muslims, Jews, and Druze. The graves of sheiks and saints often have a sacred tree with rags tied to it.

We are Team Rowan

We’re on mission to support queer and trans youth and their families. We believe everyone needs a team. We act with love in our hearts, serving the community by giving back, learning to transform together, while supporting one another as a team of compassionate allies. We’re just getting started as a self-funded, small, grassroots community group on the North Shore of Chicago.

We are stronger together! Please reach out to Team Rowan if you’re interested in joining the Team or learning how to support: hello@teamrowan.org.