‘The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves’. Carl Jung
As we welcome a new being into our home, ‘Artemis’, the feral kitten, I am struck by the energy he has brought with him. It’s a long time since we have had a youngster in the house, and it has brought up a mixture of emotions.
For me though, the overriding one has been joy and I have been reminded of how little I have played, for so long. As adults, we rarely find opportunities for spontaneous play - we tend to have organised activity and, sadly, this is how it is for many children too now.
As a former nursery teacher and home educator, I absolutely believed in and experienced the benefits of free play, experimentation, imagination, fantasy etc that gave birth to creativity and manifestation.
When young beings play, they are practicing skills that they will need as grown-ups. They are also connecting, developing and nurturing relationships, their sense of belonging and community. When we play, there is a sense of safety, we can try things out, make mistakes and that is OK. If the desire to play was only about developing skills and attributes, there would be no need to ever involve others.
Without imaginative play, we cannot bring new things into being.
When I observe the horses initiate and involve each other in a game of sparring or chase, I am grateful of their invitation to look at this aspect within myself. I feel their play energy, and it always uplifts my spirit and encourages me to find the spaces and place in my life where I can bring this in.
Watching Arti crash around the living room for (what I think is ) pure joy of the feeling in his body. I feel that same energy and I want some! I wonder why I find it so hard to make time for play.
It seems the more serious we get, the more serious our problems and the less creative we become in solving them.
The importance of play, has research aplenty stating the benefits. I think the most important thing is that it just feels good and when we feel good we are having a positive effect on our whole system.
I, for one, am determined to play more, laugh more and find the glimmers of joy I can light my torches with and give light to the world.