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Some meditation pics at GII
Middlesex University GII, London UK
Last week we spent four day at Middlesex University in London at the Global Improvisation Initiative symposium.
We were people from many different countries celebrating Improvisation and Awareness.
I managed to make dolls with people four days non stop, first time ever!!! Only next day I realised how tired I was but really happy.
The makers were Shannon, Johan, Catharine, Susanna, Oliver, Joel, Chloe, Carla, Janet, Chris, Bronwen, Daniella, Kelly, Diana, Emma, Holly, Cath, Derek, Alison, Marcus, Gina, Stefano, Shannon, Shemekka and Nicola, 25 makers in total, we made 30 dolls together.
We were doing an awareness research for the symposium. We tried to observe our ‘attention’ and ‘awareness’ during the process of making dolls and meditation. We realised that the more we focus our attention in doing a specific thing the more aware we are of everything else within and around us.
Some of the makers wrote comments:
‘When I sat down with Regina to make the doll I was so tired and was done with talking. To gently, slowly listen, touch, feel, make… to sit with others doing the same…and then to sit quietly with the doll meditating…beautiful, resting, soft, focused, moving. As I was in the middle of making I was feeling it would be hard to pass it back to Regina… but strangely, or not, after meditating, it was right the time to let it go. Beautiful and necessary contrast for me among all the talk and action of the previous two days. Thank you!’
‘Luscious! Great way to relax and take your mind to a peaceful place. Regina is fabulous and really helps to relax you whist making dolls.’
‘It helped me to check- in with myself and ask if I was ok again.’
‘I had heard how peaceful and refreshing the process was with Regina before I began. It lived up to my expectation and was a soothing experience throughout the whole time. I enjoyed the concept of dreams being filled into our personal dolls. Dreams of the past, present and future that came from strangers but feeling like our own. Adding the heart and giving it my heartbeat was an unifying ritual and I was sad to let him go but am happy he has joined the other ‘Dreamers’. Thank you for this!’
‘Calm, caring and careful accumulation of form filled with dreams and a beating heart – and then I felt that it was my heart beating…’
‘I felt very relaxed. It was a wonderful experience. I have a fascination with dreams. Thank you so much for sharing this with me.’
‘O encontro do passado e do presente. Fui capaz de colocar aqui todos os meus e os sonhos de outro alguem dentro de um lindo ser. Lembrando que todos somos diferentes e que isso é a beleza do universo. Lembrando que juntos somos mais fortes. Obrigada Regina, de coração, por esse momento delicioso de cura e partilha.’ ‘The meeting of the past and the present. I was able to put all my own and the dreams of someone else inside a beautiful being. Remembering that we are all different and that this is the beauty of the universe. Remembering that together we are stronger. Heartily thank you Regina for this delicious moment of healing and sharing.’
‘Filling my doll with dreams and a heart was a lovely moment to pause and actively engage in a creative act. I am grateful to have had this opportunity.’
‘I felt I was giving a body to my dreams and that I found the pulse that animates my dreams. I loved the calmness of making the doll.’
‘The experience was incredibly relaxing and stress releasing. I found the process very moving. I found myself shaping and creating this doll made of dreams which made me feel in balance with myself and with the people around me. It was a great experience to converse and be in company with other human beings while creating small human shapes. The final meditation is a great opportunity to connect personally with the doll and give it a unique identity and blood flow. I learned to craft dolls and sew it, while chatting about the most random topics with people from different cultural backgrounds. This experience made me think, love and smile. Grazie.’
‘This project is the representation of love and we shared hearts and dreams together. It was a truly lovely experience. Thank you.’
‘I loved to make the doll of dreams. Sitting quietly, talking, and listening to very lovely souls, enjoying being together in this magical process. The dolls will bring love and spread love wherever they go. And my doll will be with them all. A community of dolls full of love and dreams. A very beautiful creation and experience. The meditation at the end was so peaceful. Holding the doll, aware of the voices around the room, being in the still centre. Thank you Regina, and the dolls and the dreams.’
‘Thank you for the wonderful experience. You are magic.’
‘Thanks Regina for putting me back in touch with myself. It’s great work you’re doing.’
‘The experience of making the doll for Regina’s project felt comforting, life affirming and heart warming. A space to forget problems and focus on the dreams you are pouring into the tiny body. I felt very connected to my doll, I will miss her when I give her back but I am glad to see her be part of the project. Thank you so much.’
‘Regina’s warm and curious and calm and grounded and absolutely lovely to be with.’
‘The tears came, slowly at first… this doll, all the dolls, all the people who have helped to make them, all the people who are suffering in the world, and me, and my grief, the grief, these are the tears of the whole fucking world. The doll had given me the opportunity to slow down and simply notice what’s alive inside.’
‘This might have been my favourite part of the conference.’
‘It was therapeutic, the comfortability comes from the way Regina supported and advised me whist making the doll. My favourite part was when we put the heart in, Regina said ‘you need a good bed of dreams for your heart’, it was instructive and meaningful for me. I needed this workshop.’
Thank you so much for all the makers – we talked, stayed in silence, meditated, laughed, cried… we shared special moments, we felt good together.
In the last big circle Phelim gave the dolls the chance to speak their silence, it was beautiful!
Most of us didn’t want it to end despite being tired after four long days taking part in loads of activities, sometimes until 10pm. This is love. You amazing people!!! I feel happy, privileged and blessed to have met you all, Thank You!
Awareness and attention
When we make dolls and meditate, we observe our natural abilities of ‘attention’ and ‘awareness’.
We are aware of the coexistence of these two kinds of consciousness and we experience both of them simultaneously.
We focus on an specific activity to make dolls. At the same time we notice a multitude of thoughts, sensations and emotions inside and outside us.
We realize how broad is our consciousness.
Relaxing for GII
Dolls relaxing in decaf tea for GII that starts tomorrow.
GII Middlesex University, London UK
We are thrilled to be at GII Global Improvisation Initiative next week!
Dreams and a Heart will develop an awareness research during the two first days of the event alongside loads of other amazing activities.
Come and join us in this fantastic unique event.
https://giisymposium2019.sched.com/speaker/regina_mendes.1zie8z51
Regina Mendes
dreamsandaheart.comRegina Mendes (UK) ‘I am a body filled with dreams and a heart just like all of us. I am also a mother and an artist. I close my eyes, sleep and dream. I see the world.’ Regina Mendes created the community art work for peace Dreams and a Heart and have been running it since 2011. She is a theatre-dance deviser, performer and director, a visual artist including photography and painting and a psychologist specialised in play therapy. Some of her shows travelled abroad and received some prizes. She had worked with children for over ten years and for the last thirty years she has been working as a psychological astrologer. In her experience all these areas, theatre, dance, visual and healing arts, complement each other.
My sessions
‘Dreams and a Heart’ awareness research will investigate the impact of making dolls and meditation on our natural abilities of ‘attention’ and ‘awareness’. We will observe the coexistence of these two kinds of consciousness and we will focus on experiencing both of them simultaneously in an optimal way.
Drop in sessions.
Wednesday, May 15
12:00pm
Thursday, May 16
11:00am
Middlesex University, London UK
Regina will be taking Dreams and a Heart to Middlesex University’s Hendon Campus in London, UK, to develop an awareness research at the Global Improvisation Initiative.
Dreams and a Heart will investigate the impact of making dolls and meditation on our natural abilities of ‘attention’ and ‘awareness’.
Launched in 2016, the Global Improvisation Initiative (GII) is a global gathering of improvisers, artists, educators, scholars and activists promoting the evolution and advancement of improvisation.
Two days of workshops, performances, presentations, and round-tables on improvisation around the theme of awareness will be followed by two days of Open Space with Improbable’s Devoted and Disgruntled (D&D).
Alongside Dreams and a Heart, it features contributions from field leaders in improvisation including Improbable, Patti Stiles and Theresa Robbins Dudeck; sessions on improvisation in disaster relief settings and for communication in healthcare; and performances including Keith Johnstone’s Maestro. The full programme is available at https://www.improbable.co.uk/…/global-improvisation-initia…/
GII 2019 runs from 15 – 18 May at Middlesex University, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BT
IMPROBABLE.CO.UK
A global gathering of improvisers, artists, educators, scholars and activists promoting the evolution and advancement of improvisation. Co-hosted by the iii! and Middlesex University.
Dreams sunbathing
Preparing dreams for GII.
The Actor’s Centre, London UK
Last Saturday we spent the afternoon at The Actor’s Centre in London at the D&D event ‘NOW what are we going to do about European Theatre?’
Sarah did a brilliant introduction. I said to her that I am never tired of it, she replied ‘Me neither because it remind us how to live.’ Exactly!!!
Jeremy and Sarah came to my session, we make three dolls in total, two theys and one he.
‘A very calming & meditative experience! Definitely coming back in a future D&D.’
‘When I make a doll, my hands are busy. Somehow my mind opens, my heart opens. I can have a more meaningful conversation + connection with the other makers.’
I also attended the session ‘What does cheer you up?’ It was lovely to have this joyful conversation, to remember what make us happy in this difficulty world scenario.
I am very grateful for another wonderful time we spent together, thank you!
Royal Academy of Arts, London UK
Last Friday we went to another InPractice event at Royal Academy of Arts in London.
All the artists were fantastic! It was great to see them sharing their work and talking about their artistic processes.
I was specially inspired by the experience of a trans artist. Her work shows many phases of the process since the early days when she became aware of who she was, going thorough her decision to transitioning, the surgery and the experience of recent years as a trans woman. She was so honest and keen to clarify many misunderstandings about gender dysphoria. All the struggle, pain and accomplishment expressed in her art, amazing!
It was also great to follow the experience of an artist who had a stroke that limited him a lot physically. His work is really funny, made us laugh, he showed amazing positivity and sense of humour despite his painful condition.
The makers were Matty, Julia, Vera, Nina and Anahita. We made 5 dolls, I’ll finish them all at home.
‘It made me feel useful. It made me feel calm.’
Thank you so much Molly and Sarah for inviting us, it is always wonderful to attend InPractice
