Many people may not be familiar with a wind phone. It is a disconnected rotary or push-button telephone people use to talk to deceased loved ones. You may find a wind phone almost anywhere. There are currently 232 scattered within the United States and 103 international phones around the world.
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The concept of the wind phone comes from Japan. In 2010, garden designer Itaru Sasaki built a simple booth in his yard. Months later, when the earthquake and tsunami hit Fukushima, and over 20,000 died, people sought closure. Mr. Sasaki permitted neighbors to use the humble booth, and the word didn’t take long to spread.
Grief affects every person differently. There is no “correct” way to grieve the loss of a loved one. What works for one person may not be effective for another. Therapists have long talked about writing a letter to a deceased person to gain closure. Others recommend having a “conversation” with lost family members by speaking to an empty chair. While often effective, these Gestalt methods don’t alleviate everyone’s grief.
Mr. Sasaki has been following the increasing popularity of the wind phone. He requests that new booths incorporate four basic principles. The first is to provide a quiet place promoting contemplation. Second, a closed booth to provide privacy. The third is to provide a guardian or caretaker. The guardian’s purpose is to interact with grieving people who need personal connection in addition to the wind phone. Lastly, Mr. Sasaki says that using a wind phone and talking with a guardian should always remain free of any charge.
If you have lost someone you love and wish to find a wind phone, there is an interactive map with locations.
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