Children’s forest group at the fourth symposium More-than-human-curiosity

We return to the Orlické Mountains for the fourth Symposium. More-than-human-curiosity, organized by the friendly team of the Forest – a community for cultivation, theory and art.

The Institute of Anxiety returns to the Orlické Mountains to the meadow and forest land, where it co-organizes a children’s forest group program Trees and people used to be good friends.

Together, we will take a journey to find the spirits of the forest. Along the way, we will shed the masks that bind us and create new temporary identities. We will walk, run, dance, create, learn from the non-human world, create costumes, tell stories and much, much more. The group will be prepared together with Magda Stojowska and Jana Landsinger. The group program for the youngest children is prepared by Jana and Jakub Adamec.

Trees and people used to be good friends (Totoro, 1988)

The Children’s Forest Group calls its members together on a journey to find the spirits of the forest!

It is clear that the forest is in danger. The spirits are restless, a suspicious cloud has approached their territory. There is nervousness, rapid breathing and trembling in the forest. How can we contact the spirits of the forest and offer them our help? Can the animals, plants, mushrooms, rocks and other creatures that live in the forest help us? Or do we connect through our own dreams and dreaming as a space in which we can be together across what separates us? In what ways will we communicate with the spirits? What should*we learn to understand*their language? What extra-human abilities might help us to do this? And can this process also help us to transform ourselves? Into fantasy creatures, animals, or simply into those we don’t have to be but want to be?

We *would* like to find a place in the forest where we feel comfortable and that allows us to create, think, imagine and become part of the story of the forest. We will walk, run, dance, tune our bodies to different sensations, learn from the non-human world, make masks, tell stories and much, much more. We will try to tune into the forest guardians, connect with them, put away the masks that bind us and create new ones and with them new temporary identities.

Eating, reading, playing and relaxing together will be an important part of our fellowship. In addition to the tutors, two older children will also be an important part of the group and will care for the younger children together with us, creating a bridge between the two groups. We will have a tent, art materials and materials for making costumes and masks. Many of these will also be provided from finds on our walks together. Important props for us will be books from which we will select stories to tell together, as well as musical instruments to help activate our senses and connect us better with ourselves and our surroundings.

The prerequisite for becoming part of the group is nothing but openness, curiosity and sensitivity to what is happening around us. Daydreaming is not forbidden but encouraged and developed, it is just attempted collectively within the group:)

We look forward to seeing you!

The complete programme of the children’s forest group and the whole symposium can be found at Woods website.