One a Penny, Two a Penny (2025:4)
Notes, Thoughts, and Notions
Hello all,
Well, what a breath of spring! Sunshine for several hours and my garden scattered with grape-hyacinth, tulips, daffodils, magnolia, cherry blossom, primulas, forsythia.
The birds are at last trusting my feeders. We are being recommended to feed birds, even in the better weather, to try and slow down the reducing bird population. There is also a suggestion that we feed birds cooked potato – no additives, even salt. It can be mixed with seeds or nuts, to provide a very rich diet.
It was sad to leave the Indian NDP course. I was laden with lovely scarves, toys, more of the delightful embroidered horses that I collect; such openness and generosity and cultural exchanges. It was good to share the Inanna semi-precious jewel – the lapis lazouli. It is believed to bring healing, fertility and security – in the sense of being grounded. Of course since I live near Glastonbury, I have access to a huge range of crystals of all shapes, colours and sizes. In one of our NDP projects on a dementia ward, every participant had a crystal in a small net bag. I was asked that one woman could have sweets in her little bag, because she would eat whatever was inside.
In particular, the little drum which can be used in so many ways, was very welcome. It is small, portable, and conveys sounds such as thunder in an underwhelming way.
As I said previously, this year with the Indian Diploma we had the Mahabharata stories instead of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Usually we get to know the play, and people choose a character to explore. They use the character as a basis for creating a puppet. They also create a scene from the play in their ‘theatre-in-a-box’. Finally they make a mask for their chosen character, and present six lines from the play for their assessment. Although most Indian students know AMND, there was a difference working with stories from their own culture. There was a greater understanding of the issues and a deeper experience of the learning. We still made puppets, miniature theatres and masks. It was more a question of the Indian students choosing a story, which had a character they wished to explore.
There is one story from the Mahabharata that I tell in my therapeutic stories, that I find very moving. I sometimes share it with staff teams, where there is stress or the possibility of burn-out.
The Story of Makandayar
It was a long journey across the bleak and devastated landscape, as Makandayar walked more slowly now. All around him, everything was dead: no trees, flowers or vegetation. He slowly came to a halt by a tree that had appeared, and next to the tree sat a child. The child smiled at him, ‘Makandayar, you are tired, why don’t you rest now? Come, through my mouth’. And there was a strong wind, whoosh, Makandya entered the child’s mouth and dropped down, down, down…
He entered a new landscape and all around him were fertile fields, and animals. Everything was youthful and growing. He walked through this new landscape, and still the green growth continued, with groups of people working on the farms or herding the animals.
Suddenly there was a a strong wind again, and whoosh, and he was transported up, up, up, and came out through the child’s mouth. The child said, ‘Ah, you are rested now – you have been away for a hundred years.’
Censorship
Have people been following the news, where a toddler of three has been banned from a nursery school for being transphobic? I know there is huge debate on language and inclusion and diversity which is affecting spaces and sports and prisons and education.
I am old enough to remember the joy and celebration when censorship in the theatre was abolished. No longer did we have to submit our play scripts to the Lord Chamberlain, to receive the red pencil, which crossed out any words or phrases that were deemed to be offensive. Often a play was banned completely, without reasons being given. Club theatres had opened that one could join, in order to see plays that had been refused a license. After extensive debate, in 1968 the censorship laws were repealed which resulted in a cascade of writing and creativity.
Stratford Meeting?
A few years ago, a group of us would meet in Stratford-on-Avon and have a meal, and then maybe see a play at the theatre. However the important thing was meeting together, and having the opportunity to talk and share ideas. Some people even went on a boat trip down the river! Is a anyone interested in reviving this event? It could be fun! Do let me know.
With love,
Dr Sue
Forthcoming Webinars
NDP and Sand Play
Monday 19 May, 1200-1400 (UK time)
Wednesday 21 May, 1800-2000 (UK Time)
NDP and Social Anxiety
Monday 23 June, 1200-1400 (UK time)
Friday 27 June, 0900-1100 (UK Time)
Remember that you can study for the NDP Diploma as a Self-Guided course, in your own time and at your own pace. There are optional ‘live’ tutorials. The elements are the same as the live training and so are the assessments.
STOP PRESS: Due to last-minute cancellation we now have two places available on the Naxos NDP Course!
Naxos NDP course (Diploma, Advanced, Trainers) is Monday 26 May – Saturday 31May. Two places now available – remember it is my last one! More information on website Naxos Creative.
Supervision: Groups and Individual
We have one place in our evening Supervision Groups
Individual Supervision – there is currently one space available.
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