At Serendipity, we believe miniatures are never “just objects.”
They are carriers of story, meaning, and lived experience.
Today, we are honored to release our Awareness Ribbon Bundle, now LIVE in the shop, created to help therapists hold space for advocacy, identity, grief, healing, and hope—one ribbon at a time.
Awareness ribbons are deeply symbolic. They represent causes, diagnoses, experiences, losses, identities, and communities. In sandtray therapy, they offer clients a powerful way to externalize what may feel too heavy, too complex, or too personal to name out loud.
Now, those stories have a place in the sand.
A Personal Note From Bianca
Many of the ribbons in this bundle connect directly to my own life story.
The black ribbon, representing mourning and remembrance, holds countless names for me—both of my dads, all my grandparents, my nephew, aunts, uncles, friends, and Carmen. Grief has shaped not only who I am, but how I show up for others.
The teal ribbon reflects PTSD, a reality that lived in my home growing up. My dad Ralph carried PTSD from Vietnam, and that trauma echoed through our family system. Understanding generational trauma became part of my own healing journey.
The blue ribbon holds multiple meanings close to my heart. It represents child abuse prevention, a cause that matters deeply to me given the trauma present in my early environment. It also represents prostate cancer, which both my Grampy and Ralph faced.
The orange ribbon reflects ADHD—my own neurodivergent experience and something I now embrace as part of how my brain works, creates, and connects.
The green ribbon represents mental health, the field I work in and advocate for every single day.
The yellow ribbon honors the many military family members whose service and sacrifice shaped my family’s story.
While these are my connections, each ribbon invites clients to bring their own meaning—because symbolism belongs to the person placing it in the tray.
What’s Included in the Awareness Ribbon Bundle
This 3D printed bundle includes 10 individual awareness ribbons, each intentionally included for its broad and meaningful representation:
- Red Ribbon – HIV/AIDS, heart disease, substance abuse, hemophilia
- Orange Ribbon – ADHD, leukemia, gun violence prevention, self-harm
- Yellow Ribbon – Suicide prevention, military support, POW/MIA
- Green Ribbon – Mental health awareness, organ donation, cerebral palsy
- Teal Ribbon – PTSD, sexual assault prevention, ovarian & cervical cancer, anti-bullying
- Pink Ribbon – Breast cancer awareness and related cancers
- Purple Ribbon – Domestic violence, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, fibromyalgia
- Blue Ribbon – Child abuse prevention, autism, prostate cancer, human trafficking
- Black Ribbon – Mourning, remembrance, melanoma
- White Ribbon – Lung cancer, postpartum awareness, blindness, bone cancer
Each ribbon may hold multiple meanings, and clients often assign significance that is personal, relational, and unique to their lived experience.
Why Awareness Ribbons Matter in the Sandtray
In sandtray therapy, symbols allow clients to communicate without having to explain or justify their experience.
An awareness ribbon can represent:
- A diagnosis or medical journey
- A loved one’s story
- Advocacy and identity
- Trauma or survival
- Loss, remembrance, and grief
- Hope, resilience, and solidarity
They allow stories to be honored gently—and at the client’s pace.
Holding Both the Light and the Heavy
As with all Serendipity offerings, this bundle honors both sides of symbolism.
Positive themes may include:
✨ Advocacy
✨ Strength
✨ Hope
✨ Connection
✨ Visibility
✨ Healing
✨ Community
Challenging themes may include:
⚫ Grief
⚫ Trauma
⚫ Illness
⚫ Stigma
⚫ Fear
⚫ Invisibility
⚫ Emotional weight
The sandtray becomes a container where both can exist safely.
Now Live in the Shop
The Awareness Ribbon Bundle is officially LIVE TODAY and ready to support your work with clients, families, groups, and supervisees.
These ribbons were created to honor stories—spoken and unspoken—and to remind clients that their experiences matter.
✨ Thank you for allowing Serendipity to be part of the sacred work you do. -Bianca