The Play Foundation

Play with Pleasure

2007-09-01T17:27:00.000+02:00

Play takes many forms, but the heart of play is pleasure — an important component in learning.Some people think of play as the opposite of work. They think of it with goofing off, being lazy, lack of achievement, or, at best, recreation. "Stop playing and get to work!" Yet, as many of you probably know, it is through play that we do much of our learning. We learn best when we are having fun. Play, more than any other activity, fuels healthy development of children — and the continued healthy development of adults.Play takes many forms, but the heart of all play is pleasure. If it isn't fun, it isn't play. We play from birth on — we play using our bodies (building with blocks) and our minds (fantasy play). We use words to play (jokes, wit, humor) and we use props (blocks, toys, games). While the exact nature of play evolves, becoming more complex as we grow. Play at all ages brings pleasure.

David and Adam and pleasure

Well when there is nothing to do ......what else but a "Jam" down stairs in the celler.

This is the "Famous PLAY ROOM" where James holds his Meta Sessions

2007-08-29T09:51:00.000+02:00

Hej alle legeglade..

Her er lige et par legende strøtanker som jeg har gjort mig omkring et enkelt udtryk om leg.

Jeg oplever ofte en del skepsis når jeg overfor forskellige mennesker beskriver min fascination af legen i det daglige liv, og mit syn på legen som generel løsningsmodel for konflikt og problematik.
For mit indre øre hører jeg ofte det uudtalte "tsk tsk", men først for kort tid siden hørte jeg et direkte udsagn; "Det er jo også lige noget for dig Irene, du er jo så legesyg!", ledsaget af en overbærende hovedrysten.. Og dette satte en hel del tanker igang.

"Legesyg"......!! Jeg er da ikke syg... ! Hvad er det syge ved legen??"

Udtrykket rummede en generel opfattelse af legen...
Hvis du som voksen ikke kan give slip på din legesyge, og overlade den til menneske- og dyrebørn, er den ikke sjov mere, nærmere sygelig!

Man skal være voksen, og ansvarlig og hårdt arbejdende, og ikke lege, før legen er indrammet i fritidsarrangementer, bygget op omkring fastlagte ritualer, eller hobbyer...., om det så er spil, syslen med mekanik i garagen, hyggekunst, pc-spil m.m.

Men mit syn på ordet "Legesyg" er nu siden den dag blevet noget anderledes.

Vedkommende der sagde det til mig var en tidligere kollega der var en af de mange ansatte som satte en "tom" effektivitetsmaske på når de ankom på jobbet, og som var uforstående overfor min, og få andre legeglade kollegaers mere spontane tilgang til arbejdsprocessen. Der var for dem ikke plads til frie armbevægelser og en umiddelbar "lad os se hvad dagen bringer" holdning til arbejdsdagen. Stemningen var derfor generelt "stram" og endda til tider skræmmende, især når der var travlhed i biksen. Men "maskerne" effektiviserede ingenting. Tværtimod opstod der tit problemer de dage hvor "maskegruppen" var stærkest repræsenteret. Ingen af dem var mere effektive i det lange løb end de kollegaer der som jeg, forsøgte at tage dagen som en positiv udfordring, og ikke blot som et ubehag der skulle overstås.
Men sådan så "maskerne" det ikke. Tværtimod blev de på jobbet og holdt på formerne, og vi andre legeglade, måtte finde en anden arbejdsplads, i vores, desperate, ønske om at føle os levende, også i arbejdslivet.

Da jeg den dag overbærende blev kaldt legesyg, begyndte det at gå op for mig hvori forskellen lå, mellem dem, "maskerne" og mig. Jeg følte mig desværre dengang både utilstrækkelig, og ubehageligt til mode, da jeg ikke evnede at sætte den nødvendige maske på og tilpasse mig stedets atmosfære, og lidt som en fiasko, da jeg endelig, temmelig fremmedgjort fra mig selv, måtte give op, og søge nye veje.

Men i dag kan jeg se de konkrete årsager for min manglende tilpasningsevne, som positive og absolut ikke negative. Der var på arbejdspladsen kun i meget lille grad plads til fx spontanitet, omsorgsfuldhed, følsomhed, kreativitet og ærlighed, indlevelse og ægthed. Disse ellers gode kvaliteter var tværtimod en uønsket forhindring for "maskernes" arbejdsrelaterede facades opretholdelse. Der skulle ikke tænkes og føles, men laves penge. Noget jeg gik på tværs af som regel. Pengene var en, uundværlig, bonus, men værdien var for mig at leve fuldt her og nu, nysgerrigt og udforskende. Generelt var og er disse mennesker gode og rare, især efter fyraften, men jeg blev åbenbart af dem, og bliver stadig, opfattet som en "legesyg" umuligus. Og eftersom det ikke er rart som voksen, effektiv og iøvrigt anerkendt, at blive opfattet som umulig af sine kollegaer, hvad jeg så end syntes om dem, gjorde det mig temmelig trist.

Jeg blev også næsten syg af den nødvendige fortrængning af min lyst til at lege, i mit forsøg på at være "voksen" og effektiv på andres præmisser. Det var desværre ikke kun tilfældet på denne arbejdsplads, men også på flere andre før den, og iøvrigt under uddannelse og skolegang.

Nu er det så jeg er begyndt at tænke på begrebet "legesyg" på en ny måde.

Ordet "legesyg", er jo egentligt positivt ladet, men fik som følge af den tidligere kollegas nævnelse, pludseligt et nyt indhold. Jeg oplevede det som et negativt ladet mærkat på mig selv, der satte min tidligere tilværelse i et helt nyt perspektiv. Jeg har sat mange mærkater på mig selv, som; deprimeret, frustreret og splittet, men "legesyg" passer nu temmelig godt og grundigt, som en overordnet betegnelse, ja, nærmest som diagnose:

Den naturligt legeglade må nødvendigvis blive "legesyg", når lysten ikke kan udleves, for undertrykkelsen udløser decideret sygelige tendenser. Splittelse på grund af fornægtelsen af en stor del af selvet, humørsvingninger; mellem optimistisk fremadskuen, stiltiende accept og pessimistisk opgivelse, depression i skuffelsen over den manglende harmoni og succes og endelig frustration over ikke at vide hvad der er at gøre ved denne umuligt fastlåste situation. I de konstante oprør mod den fortvivlende tilstand bliver legen manisk, forvrænget og sommetider endda hysterisk, når der endelig lukkes op for de fortrængte kræfter. Det var sådan jeg ofte oplevede mig selv.
Jeg var et legende menneske med de bedste forudsætninger, men syg fordi de ikke kom til udfoldelse og udtryk.

Min holdning er, modsat den ovenfor nævnte generelle, at hvis man ikke holder fast i legen, så bliver man syg!! "Legesyg"!

Selvfølgelig er det en generalisering at "legesyg" opfattes negativt i den voksne verden, men jeg synes det er værd at lægge mærke til hvordan man selv forholder sig til det.

Og selvfølgelig er der tusinder af eksempler på at legen har større værdi end nogensinde før.
"Er din hobby dit levebrød"? "Hvor er du heldig"!! Den kender de fleste vist. Noget af det ypperste for mennesket i dag er at kunne forene hobby, og altså leg, med erhverv.
Yderligere er der fokus som aldrig før på legens værdi for børns udvikling i alle retninger. Og utallige beviser på at de børn som ikke får mulighed for at udfolde sig frit i legen, hæmmes og får besværligheder senere hen i livet.

Men vi er først på vej. Det gælder også for voksne, også de skal udfolde sig legende frit, og det er en udfordring som er værd at tage op. Som også James, og Det legende Samfund gør det.

Jeg personligt er ikke legesyg mere, men legeglad, legevillig, legegod, legeivrig, legelet.... Og det behøver ikke være en hemmelighed at det er James der har kunnet hjælpe mig med at finde vejen til forløsning af fortidens masker og bånd, og tilbage til evnen at kunne udfolde mig frit og kreativt. Men nu skal det her ikke være et reklameindslag for Metayoga, så jeg vil afholde mig fra videre hurraråb.

Dette var blot en lille tanke om ordet "legesyg", et gammelt ord sat i et nyt perspektiv, et forsøg på at afdække lidt af sprogets utallige tvetydigheder og skjulte signaler. En leg jeg vil bruge utallige timer på videre hen for at forsøge at løsne sproget fra en bundethed der efter min mening dirigerer os steder hen vi ikke bevidst registrerer vi befinder os, men hvor vi ikke altid har godt af at være. Og omvendt.

Så hvis nogen har et par ord de vil have belyst, fra nye perspektiver, eller går og tumler med et eller andet begreb de ikke helt har fundet forståelse for, så smid dem på bloggen og lad os snakke, debattere, pille dem fra hinanden og nytænke lidt.

Sproget er manifestationen af menneskehedens frihed og fængsling, lad os udfordre begge aspekter i legens navn. ;-)

Irene

Lecture: 2nd October: The 4 levels of intuition

2007-08-26T12:03:00.000+02:00

Looking for more inspiration on play as an "elixir " in your life, then come to my next lecture in Copenhagen on the 2nd of October at Husets Focus
topics discussed:

Intuition
the Osiris car
The New Age labyrinth
play and metamodels
Meta the Course
Meta Meditation
The Play Foundation

Play is more than learning

2007-08-26T11:44:00.000+02:00

Play has been completly underestimated and undervalued throughout every aspect of society,religious,social,political,philisophical, and intellectual.
It is still a relatively new phenomenon which is being researched And those who have in the past researched it, such as psychologists, have used it basically to justify their own personal theories on cognitive development, how one learns and thinks, practically reducing play to a sideline and a preoccupation only for children.
The stigma and taboo of play needs to be adressed.
Play is why we are here
Human beings are playing.
If you dont know how to play,you will never learn anything new. Take for example the theories from Gardener regarding the 7 intelligences, I am astonished he has not realised about play. For me Play is the metamodel to all models of learning (intelligence). The glue which glues them all together. If you cannot play there is no quality learning. Playing is the best way to learn, and the only way where you feel good about what you learn. Some people argue that Play and learning are the same...I disagree.

Play and learning.......they may sit on the same table like salt and pepper, but nobody is going to convince me that salt is pepper.

Exploring the world of Play

2007-08-26T11:40:00.000+02:00

I have been exploring the world of Play all my life
It takes courage to play- immense courage
Play is more than learning
The mind is designed for the sole/soul purpose of playing!
When our heart plays, it sings and dances
Play is the "Meta" of the Human Spirit.
META
- is behind all things
- is together with all things
- changes all things
Every single human being "KNOWS" how to play.
You cannot "teach" it
By the time you are old enough to read this..you already have "learned and mastered" it.
Watch what happens when you encourage it.
Even though it takes and demands immense courage to play.
Strangely enough - it is highly "enjoyable!"
Play is the "glue" of life It simply unites the Universe. "It is LOVE, in Action"
Play is the "mother and father" of "new life" , new hope new solutions to old problems new energy and healing, New Love, New Ideas, and last but not least INVENTION!

About the Play Foundation

2007-08-26T11:06:00.000+02:00

The Play Foundation has also been created to help individuals and groups to channel their natural creativity into such areas as the Arts, Business, the Child, Dance, Education.Farming,Genetics, Humour, Internet, Journalism, Knowledge, Law, Media, Nature.Order, Philosophy, Quantums, Realization, Solar-energy, Time, Universe, Vision, Meta-models.

The structure of the Foundation is a network.
It is for those..... who support the primary policy of the Foundation,
and who also like to play with the qualities of
creative thinking.
It is for those..... who are keenly interested in working with other like-
minded creative people......to exchange information,
ideas, and talents.
It is for those..... who wish to think and act beyond their natural
limitations.
It is for those..... who come from all walks of life, from all over this
world.

The Play Foundation is financed by the goodwill of its members through........................ the membership fee
.........................donation
.........................investment
The membership fee ...100kr for the first year.

Donations to the Foundation can be offered in goodwill with money or goods, by anyone who is interested in giving concrete support to the Foundations vision.
Investments
The purpose of investment, is to help establish the Foundation on a more stable-footing. Where the Foundation is fitted with the capacity to be a more dynamic organization.

To Play

2007-08-26T10:59:00.000+02:00

“To play - has the curious sensation that it is happening of itself - without the need to force it, study it, or contrive it.

Play is the "Here and New"

2007-08-24T22:09:00.001+02:00

The relationship of play to the "Here and now" becomes more concrete... to play, simply puts us "In Touch" with this magical powerful moment, life charging energy charging..and breath taking awake and elated. play is not just an idle occupation, or trivial pursuit, for me it is "The Holy Grail" to create change new transformation and elevation, new learning and new possipilities. It stretches me over my edges. It is not the "Here and Now" It should be more appropiately more precisely called "The Here And New" for that is what the Now is....it is "New" If it is not New, then you are not here...now. And the New is cosmic creation itself ...all empowering..

For myself, I cant work my way to it, to reach out for it, use effort or training or technique. There is no expectations or preplanning for it, no hill to climb or path to walk to get there ...there-is-here.. I am not excluding anything at all, Here, for me "all is inclusive" rather than exclusive. no removing the obstacles in the way, such as worries and thoughts even feelings, even experiences of the past or thoughts for the future. This here is filled with everything at once...

Everything I know, and everything I dont know..is here the identifier and the observer, and the witness to both, and all the strangers I have yet to meet. is here,
and in this seemingly silence, and stillness, there is this moment-miracle, this power of now, the power of the silence, this immense power, with the speed of power, and before I even have time to realise this crytal clear light of now........I have just been hit by a bolt of lightning.

The earth-shattering shock of the rolling thunder... comes later

Play is "In touch"

2007-08-22T10:48:00.000+02:00

“Play is Play, but it is also about what it has become, a way and a path, for Play is on the move, Play is changing because of its own influence on those who practise or observe Play. Play has now become a myth and an icon , a symbol of all that is spiritual, a discipline, and a teaching and an awareness, a symbol of devotion and dedication, even an art.” James

There is something deep and challenging going on around "play" It is not what it appears to be, it goes beyond the frames of the mind. It is the "will o whisp", that undefinable ghost within our own intelligence machine. It breaks through our comfort zones, (the maps we have created to bring stability and normality into a reality which has none.)
It unsettles us, simultaneously, as it sets us free to be "in touch". Because of this, we play half hearted, half afraid to play. To frivilise and trivilise , so we can minimilise "in Touch" to brief fragmented moments in our lives.

We wish to be free, yet in our desire for this uncoupling from our own inner and outer frames, we deep down know its demand, its quality of courage, to leap, jump and spring, into a freefalling, where the classical cliche´s such as "Being here and Now" stops drastically short of even attempting to explain what is happening.

New confirmed dates for meetings in Odense

2007-08-21T10:46:00.000+02:00

board meetings taking place in Odense
5 sept
4 oct
1 nov
28 nov
please confirm with Lisbeth that you are coming to the meeting on the 5th sept
Board meeting starts kl 18.00 at Lisbeths House

team blogs are available

2007-08-21T10:31:00.000+02:00

members register with google using their own email to create account and then all are open to participate

2007-08-21T10:06:00.000+02:00

Hi Irene, yes here is an excellent way for the members to keep in touch and communicate what they are up to with their ideas and projects they are working on. We can also add photos to give a more alive feel to the blog. code and password is available for those who wish to add their own blogs, while others after registration with Google, can come with their comments.

Common members Blog ;-)

2007-08-20T22:41:00.000+02:00

Hej, Irene her, med en glad hurrahilsen i og til vores nye kommunikationsplatform.

The network is playing

2007-08-19T21:49:00.000+02:00

An international Network of like-minded individuals and groups inspired by the playing of James Findlay, and the importance of Play, as a transformation tool for developing human beings, increasing well being and enriching the quality of life.

come with your comments

2007-08-19T21:42:00.000+02:00

welcome to the Play Foundation's Blogs

2007-08-19T21:41:00.000+02:00