Ai’s Experience (Participant) [she/her]

“How long has it been since you looked

Into the eyes of what you fear?

What is life for, if not to go within

And find what′s real, find what’s yours”?

- Ajeet Kaur in “The Waters”

HARD WORK. Trials and Tribulations. Resistance and Dread. Awareness and Play. These are some words that come to mind when I think about WOTS with SPLIT. 

Don’t come to WOTS if you don’t want to act like a fool, an “un-normal”’ person, or explore emotions (sometimes hard ones) and your past memories.

Come to WOTS if you want to explore new ways of playing, new ways of relating, new ways of thinking, and new ways of being; if you want to examine your movements with more specificity, and if you want to attune to a greater level of self-awareness and body awareness. 

“Specificity breeds connection” - Darryl Lim

As someone who contemplates human connection, vulnerability, and relating, I found this phrase quite compelling and definitely sticky. 

In my conversations, I now try to add details. I am important,  the listener is important, and we can share experiences and relate better via specificity. Small things matter.

Channelling from the need

“Emotional labour is the task of doing important work, even when it isn’t easy.” ― Seth Godin. 

In today’s world, we may not do the manual labour of a farmer or a hunter-gatherer. We do a different form of hard labour - the labour of emotional work.

My experience with physical theatre has been a form of emotional labour. Acting in front of an audience (even my own classmates!) has been an exercise in vulnerability.  

Drawing from the need adds soul, and soul opens up cracks in the high walls around our hearts.

I and Thou - concept by Martin Buber

In this work, individuals aim to relate to each other as unique whole beings, representing worlds of possibilities and not via superficial or preconceived lenses.

“Each [person] represents a world in us, a world of possibilities not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” – Anais Nin

“To attune to someone, we need neutrality towards all feelings, moods and inner states and the fearless openness of mindfulness. Acceptance is pure mindfulness.” - Richo

How can I be with another, to witness their neshama (soul or essence)?

How can I treat my thoughts as clouds, knowing that there are many thoughts available to me? 

How can I tune into the inner worlds within me, knowing that “I” am also a “Thou”?

What vibrations will ensue? What ripples will be generated?