Originating in Japan, the idea has gained traction worldwide, including Michigan, where communities have embraced this unorthodox yet poignant tool for healing. The phones act as both a memorial and a therapeutic outlet, inviting users to step away from the noise of daily life and find solace in nature and memory. The act of speaking aloud to a lost loved one can help those grieving process their feelings, whether it’s to express unresolved emotions, share updates, or simply feel heard.

The unspoken power of connection.

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Though the phones don’t dial a number, their impact is undeniable. Visitors have reported feeling a profound sense of release and comfort after using them. Some speak of the illusion of a reply, whether through the rustling leaves or a sudden gust of wind, adding a mystical layer to the experience.

Grief experts support this practice, emphasizing the importance of rituals in navigating loss. Donelle Dreese, Ph.D. says in Psychology Today, “When we are navigating our way through the complexities of grief, it is essential that we have a safe space to express ourselves, but not everyone has access to a grief counselor or another person with whom they feel comfortable sharing their feelings. Wind phones can potentially provide that safe space.”

Whispers in the wind: tracking Michigan’s wind phone locations.

Two different websites that track wind phones document at least 12 wind phones in Michigan. These phones are in tranquil parks, old phone booths, senior centers and other interesting places and have become quiet havens for reflection and connection, particularly as communities emerge from the isolating years of the pandemic.

Websites like mywindphone.com shows that wind phones are in Manistee, Kent City, Mason, Battle Creek, Lake Orion, Westland, Clinton Township, Flint, Plymouth Charter Twp, Algonac, Marysville, and Canton Twp. In Algonac, a miniature boat houses a wind phone and in Clinton Township in Macomb County, a wind phone is at the Senior Center, outside near the bocce ball courts.

Debbie Travis, assistant director for the senior center in Clinton Township told C&G Newspapers about the area where the wind phone was installed this year, “It should be viewed as a sacred space. It’s owned by everybody. We’re all going to go through these feelings in our lifetime.”

Another website here also tracks the wind phone locations. Hundreds more are all reported to be in many countries all over the planet, offering an unconventional yet profoundly impactful way to honor the memories of those who have passed while providing the living a chance to find peace.