Inner Academic: When am I going to get time to write? When am I going to get time to write? When am I going to get time to write?

Inner Facilitator: How about now? Here's a whole, clear week I've put aside for you in the diary.

Inner Academic: Ah, but I'm really tired right now.

Inner Facilitator: OK, I see that, why don't you have a little rest and come back to i... Read more >

The final Mindful Play Session of the season saw 42 playful people gather to explore their relationship with connection. We started with a TED-style talk, exploring firstly why connection is important:

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This week, in preparation for next Tuesday's final Mindful Play Session, I've been reconnecting with my Work In Progress research from last year. My third and final show explored the theme of 'connection' which is also the theme for next week's Mindful Play.

The theme that keeps coming up is... Read more >

Session 3 of the Mindful Play Sessions. This one was about Spontaneity. We started by defining the meaning of 'spontaneity' and pondering it's purpose, with the help of various experts. 

First up was this quote from Blatner and Blatner, authors of The Art of Play:

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Session 2 of The Mindful Play Sessions. Even though the snow was falling, a freezing cold room full of intrepid explorers came together to explore the theme of flow through meditation and play.

I started with an explanation of flow, as defined by psychologist Mihali Csikszentmihalyi: 

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In thinking about the week leading up to the flow themed Mindful Play Session, I had visions of sitting at my laptop, at a lovely, clear desk, listening to classical music, wearing long dresses, with my hair down, tapping away in joyful flow, my book flying from my fingertips with ease and grace.

“Ha,” said the Big Cosmic Jester In The Sky, “I have other plans!”

Big Cosm... Read more >

We kicked off The Mindful Play Sessions last night with an enormous group of playful beings. I think it's safe to say fun, sweat, learning and laughter was had by all!

I started the session by outlining some definitions of play- What is play? 

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Hahhhhhhhhh! Fresh back from a Wholehearted Living retreat, led by the sumptuous Leela Sarti, a Swedish wonder-being who clearly lives her message, relishing each moment right to it’s edges and beyond. 

I am soothed and revitalised by 4 days sitting in silence in the exquisite Devonshire countryside with upwards of 50 other brave soul adventurers, sending our attention down, down, down into the ground ...

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Hey look, we made a video all about The Mindful Play Sessions!

Me and my fella, Joe had a lot of fun making it. The first bit features me battling with my overenthusiastic hand gestures and the last bit is filmed from Joe's new drone.  

Joe waited 2 and a half months for his drone to arrive from China and this was it's maiden voyage. The first mission was... Read more >

Session One: Play is good for us! We know this! So how can we play more?

In preparation for The Mindful Play Sessions, I'm reading the official TED guide to public speaking. So far, it’s been really useful in helping me clarify my through-line for each session. 

In the chapter on through-lines, Chris Anderson poses several questions to help you get clear. Here are... Read more >