Victory - Finale

Dramatic Role Playing - Finale

All of us was so excited for that day we done our recording even though it was just a 'Bonus point" if we do it. Holding the script, playing the character of 'Marshila' and handling the recording, were not an easy task, but I managed. During the recording every one of us was so co-operative and even know when to talk. We even do not have to do N.G. the whole 'play' was recorded by one take; this is not always the case in real scenario.

Mary was well chosen on the part as the narrator, and the unicorn - her voice was very powerful as a helper.

Ding was so breath taking - as Tanya the voice was so sweet, so seductive and she actually brought me time travel - to the time when I switched on to the Disney's Fairytale - the voice of the princess came out.

Cheng as Harri Penari - the prince in disguise, as Elaine said your luring voice can make any maiden falls for him.

Elaine as Datus Ibris - you are designated to be in this role, remember you said that you would to change the role with Seok Binn and take up the role of the son instead, but at the last moment you decided to take back the role and as a result - it really fits you - the commanding voice, I only have to close my eyes and I visualised a Datuk speaking out.

Seok Binn as Ibris Waris - your voice brought up the courage, young and handsome too. Even you are following the script, but I can really heard your character crusading for Tanya and leading her all the way to her desination.

Phaik Nie as Dhalia and Queen of Elve – you are the really the voice of the good queen in every fairytale movie. Your voice was so emphasised and forgiveness.

And now, myself as Marshila, let me tell you my journey into the character,

Scene 1 - Marshila was making the spell, I actually visualised myself in my secret cave, making the potion. The voice came out so naturally, the slurring, the tone low and loud, the laughing, the cunning laugh, and etc.

Scene 3 – Marshila got back Drakon – the happiness that I can fool Tanya and got back Drakon. The satisfaction of getting back to the villagers for what they have done to her.

Scene 7 – Marshila said “This is not the end of me, you have not seen the last of me yet” deep inside me I do not want Marshila to vanish into thin air, I still long for her return, for better for worse who knows.... well let make it episode AKAN DATANG, yeah.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart ,
for just being there when I needed you most,
for going through this journey not by leading but by my side,
for your generous sharing,
and for being my friend.

Rainbow in Dragonville - Audio

The Near to 'The Return'

The Mission of Operation Heroes in Transitions

We have already finished the storyline, and we have passed it to the script writer to do their magic. Eventhough, Ding and myself did not vote to be in the 'script writer' group but it does not stopped us from going over and joined them on 7 July. We met up at PH's house and we have such a challenging, exciting, finger biting, fun and etc. time. Few of the time when we came into 'Marshila' part, I can't stop myself from speaking out the words. Why am I still so attached to the witch part even after so long since Aug 2009 TOUStorytelling , why does I felt that as it is another part of me? Why did I speak out the words as her from my mouth?

Witch is she bad? Why is it so unfair to say that she is bad? Why is the wizards does not shared this fate? Look at Merlin, Harry Poter, Dumbledore, Gandalf, they are heroes and postive welcoming and why not the witch?

Remembering words from Alex during that time:
Could the witch be the repressed 'shadow' element of the 'anima' calling for the assertion of the feminine power of the psyche? Is progress hindered because the shadow element needs to be integrated and find expression rather than being repressed through placating and ensuring it stays in the depths of the unconscious.

Once again in Dramatherapy I called up my role as the witch, to self check myself?

The witch (as my shadow) attempting to communicate through the metaphors 'waking up the forces dormant 'sleeping' of a powerful transforming force 'dragon' from the depths of the unconscious 'lake'.

If the dragon is a symbol of change and transformation, then have I changed or transformed since the module of TOUstorytelling?
If the dragon which was the powerful force that lies in my unconscious 'lake' is at that time, being contained and repressed, the colour of the dragon was black, indicated the fear of unleashing, was it release from my 'lake'?
If 'Tanya' singing is the ego's attempt to keep the unconscious force to deny its maturation and potential of growth, and to seek the treasure within, then by stopping her and release the 'dragon', what is the outcome for me?

I believe I have already have the answers.......

Turning The White Lady and The Dragon into script.

Oh, what a night, we have many directors we can only afford one transcriptor/typist due to the limited function of the google.doc, and the roared of laughter when some of us input the intimacy, the boldness of the characters, hehehe.... even someone gave a word ‘wow’.

But most of all, some of us including me was very worried whether we meet the deadline or not, due to our busy schedule. The story that we have only edited was only at the ‘Departure’ – The crossing of the 1st Thresholds. As I was writing into this blog, I have yet to receive any reply of the next online.

During the last week, after our online, Mary and myself have taken the liberty to input some ‘meat’ into the story. But, for myself, I have created more than have been asked, I have written a ‘skeleton’ which I have told my team mate, but in actual fact, I have written part of a novel. I have researched into sites, where I have learned of ‘how can I make the witch alive, how can I make the dragon to be fierceful and etc.

I even research for a name for the dragon – DRAKON for a male, DRAKON (Δράκων): Greek name meaning "dragon." In Greek mythology, there are many dragons mentioned. For example, Drakon Ismenios was a gigantic serpent which guarded the sacred spring of Ismenos near Thebes; the Drakon Kholkikos was the guardian of the golden fleece; Drakon Maionios was a huge Dragon that ravaged the land of Lydia.
Infact I do have a female name for it and it coincide with my name ‘MELINDA’ MELINDA: Modern English compound name composed of Mel- (from Melissa ("sweet") or Melanie ("black, dark") and Linda "serpent," hence "black/dark serpent" or "sweet serpent." Surprise, how amazing.

I have started my novel reading since Form 1, those days was M&B, Brabara Cartlands, and etc. but as I was growing up I went into novels and I carried on till this very day. I remember I finished my pocket money just to travel to those days was at Macalister Road, where you have this Indians’ stall renting out story books. I read books during my recess time, underneath my desk to avoid being caught by our prefects, on my daily bus journey from Air Itam to my school at Leith Streets or any where else, at the bus transit station, weekends, confinement days, even now if I have a little time squeeze out from my busy schedule.

You see, I have all the materials inside my head from so many books/ resources, and I have wanted very much to start my amatuer story writing many times, but do not have the gut to do so. Therefore with this mission I have an indirect oppotunity and when I tried to put it done in words for The White Lady and the Dragon, everything comes out so naturally, of course with grammar mistakes. I bought many characters into the story, and also saw them coming alive. I named the grandmother ‘Supa’ remembering Phlox grandmother as ‘Pupa’, the lord as ‘Sir William’, the son as ‘Lord Stephen’ and etc.

I thought I can do the storyline to the advantage of all my teammates, so that coming the next online we do not have to crack our head on the story. I thought I can permit and endure of the cutting out and replacing whatever they wants to change.

Oh my, I was so wrong.......
I was like so lost, watching on my computer screen, seeing my invented characters being removed bits by bits. This is no fault of my teammates, as they do not realise that I have put all my heart into it. The feelings in me was like ‘Tanya saying goodbye to her family’ – my heart felt so heavy, I can’t breathe at some moment, I need to remind myself to breathe, I felt blood rushing to my head, worse of all I felt my heart being wrench out and believe me it is so painful.

Therefore at some point, the google.doc was running into problem to have the story being deleted, I was relieved (but later Cheng asked me to paste it back using my file) sigh-sigh....

I carried the feeling even the next day, the thing still in my mind, and I say to myself I need to pen this down into my blog, not to ask for sympathy from my readers, but a revenue to pour our my sadness so that I have no more of it in my heart.

Now, I can only understand how some of the novelist who has their story to be told into a movie, felt. So many wonderful scene and character be performed ‘karate-chop’.

Even my ‘home minister’ felt my misery when we went to bed but he told me his side, “it is okay, it is for the benefit of the mission, you win some and you will lose some, it is okay” and I keep my finger crossed I will be okay then.

Chatango chat - Into the realm of the silent kingdom

I was not really deep into the dream this night, there are something in my mind that could not leave me be. I was the player with a semi-conscious and semi-unconscious mind this night, whatever I dreamed was not semi-spontaneous but rather what I want it to be. Oh what a mess and I accept my flaw. Hope that I didn't spoilt the soup this night.

The Beginning.....

I wanted
-to be the one to rescue Phlox,
-Phlox to smile to the seaweeds,
-the pathway to the return to the castle to change,
-the castle to change,
-to communicate with the occupantants in the castle,
-a character of a shadow to appear,
-the creature to hold a spear and point at us,
-OFO to touch the creature with her magic touch,
-to see one couple, looks like the king and queen, very loving...too on the wall
-to see 2 little girl playing here... on this end of the wall
-to look at the ground..... there is no ground.... we are walking on air.....
-to look and imagine....BLUE is standing there..... infront of another entrance.... he is asking us to go forward....
-to imagine BLUE to standing staring at us, very impatiently waiting at the side
-to shift my torch to BLUE way, and all to see his eyes is red in colour.... very fierce....
-all to come closer together, I will put on my protecting sheild..... so as to sheild us until Fidget comes... okay..

Or is it my imagination that I was dreaming? Sigh-Sigh... what a night....

Chapter 1 - Facilitating Play with Non Player

Answers to Questions unanswered previously.

How would I apply this contribution into my clinical work?

Play takes place in the period of illusion in the "transitional space" (Winnicott) between the imaginary and the real world between the "me" and the "not me". Therefore has to do with me as the therapist and client playing together, if I cannot play then I will not be suitable for this work. If the client cannot play, then something needs to be done to enable the client to be able to play, to allow the dramatherapy to begin. As said by Winnicott - there is a linkages between play, self development and creativity - it is in playing and only in playing that the individual child or adult is able to be creative and to use the whole personality and as this result the individual discovers the self.

For my 1st play in BOLD, I have experience the playing together with T, I found that I can play, and very fortunately for me as a therapist T is a player and as a result we went into a lot of imaginary scenes, that also allows the dramatherapy to begin. Not only my client found his self, but me too at some point.

Is attachment universal or only limited to children with their natural birth mothers?
According the the attachment theory by John Bowlby - studying attachment behaviors in animals and humans, he theorized that the function of early attachment to the mother is to protect the child from the predators (same for both humans and animals. On the Evolutionary level - the attachment shields the infant from harm.
On the Psychological level- the attachment serves to reduce anxiety and to impart a sense of security.

If the child has a Secure base of attachment to the mother, Bowlby hypothesized, several important achievement can follow.
1. the still vulnerable child can comfortably explore the environment with less fear and arousal, knowing that the mother is available in times of danger,
2. the secure child will have less need to develop psychological defenses and
3. the child can form and internal mental representation of the caring protector, and overtime can identify with the internalized image.

Bowlby believed that the need for Attachment is never outgrown but endures throughout one's life. So, does it answer that Attachment is Universal to both humans and animals.

then,
What about.... Is attachment only limited to children with their natural birth mothers? How does that relate to the object realtions model of say Winnicort?
No attachment is not only limited to children with their natural birth mothers, then I will use Winnicot theory to answer - Transitional object.
In human childhood development, a transitional object which is a physical object with takes the place of the mother - child bond (dolls, teddy bears or blankets). When the young child begins to separate the 'me' from the 'not-me' and evolves from complete dependence to a stage of relative independence, it uses transitional objects. The infant sees himself and the mother as a whole, whereby the mother 'brings the world' to the infant without delay. But what about in separation, the child comes to realize that the mother is separate from him throught which it appears that the child has lost something. the realization can be painful, and also frustation and anxiety too, knowing that nobody can will 'bring the world' to him/her. The transitional object is often the first 'not me' possession that really belongs to the child. This object represents all components of 'mothering' and it means that the child himself is able to create what he needs as well. It enables the child to have a fantasized bond with the mother when he/she gradually separates. This is important at the time of going to sleep and as a defence against anxiety.

But in here, it might result into another further theory by others using "Strange Situation Test" -
1. Secure
2. Insecure (insecure-avoidant, insecure-ambivalent, or insecure-naracissistic)
3. Disorganised/disoriented.

Unstable environments, financial problems and self preoccupied parents - who are unprepared for parenting and not able to adequately support the child's development are common in the histories of Disorganised/disoriented attachment. Because here, parents in such situations cannot promote self-regulation, increase sensitivity to others, or aid brain developemnt the child is at risk for future emotional, cognitive and psychological problems.

Can my client T, in this stage of Disorganised/disoriented? I see the parents as being young not ready to for parenthood when he was born, and very self preoccupied always busy and as a result not being able to support T development.

Thanks Alex for asking me questions, now I have a clearer picture.

Comments are needed for my further learning, I might be at 'wrong track'.

2nd Online Group Supervision (Part 3)

Reflection On 2nd Online Group Supervision (Part 3)

SUPERHEROES

Why does the client choose to use super heroes?

Can it be he/she has been expose to social culture, from the videos, TV programmes – Power Rangers, Ultraman Tiga, Spiderman, Superman and many more. Sometimes the client will stick to one, sometimes they keep on changing – there is a different in psychology of heroes. It is not always bed of roses to play super heroes, as super heroes usually have got a lot of baggage, the 1st thing is to dealing with anything that have powerful means dealing with the powerlessness. If the main character happens to be powerful which can means that this person is feeling powerless, in his real situation or in reality experiencing powerless.

Superheroes are the symbols in child play, representing emotional areas, psychological too, he can be a very powerful Power Ranger metaphorically but he just a baby Power Ranger, so don’t assume that the Power Ranger is about other things that goes in that child projected into the object of the character. Therefore it is useful to know the symbolic meaning or the potentially social culture (google later to learn more).

How can we help the child to change into the capacity to transform change to an area that the child came from and familiar with. Use the metaphor and terminology that the child is familiar with, then when we use it, it will be in therapeutic intention, so when we help to transform he won’t just transform but thinking to transform into role, whereby we are able to extend our role play into a helper, a mentor, a guide like the Sifu, the Master. In this role, we make our self available to provide some help in the child struggling with the monster. So that he will able to respond in role in the character, rather than only having the power to kill everybody or anybody, unable to reach out for help and unable to see advice. We in our role not only as the mentor figure but also as a therapist starting to sow the seed of potential healing to his character and also to him indirectly.

Chat at Chatango on 21 June 2010

When Crest got poisoned at one point, Shaylee felt that it is her fault that Crest poison, I can really felt the guilt built up in my heart at that time of the moment. The panic of searching in Shaylee spell book for the cure, the flicking through until she found it, the assurance that she must have in order not to make any mistake to find the correct spell because Crest needed her.

Even though she can felt that the rest of the friends were trying to help Crest too, she took her initiative to cook up the cure: ran to the pool, and used a cup leave to scoop the water, ran back to Crest, then put her purple crystal into it and let Crest drank it.

At one point, Shaylee was not sure whether the rest were going to explore deeper into the pool. She for sure, is going anyway and will see them at the bottom if they are going. Why? Is it there I can get my own personal answer? What is there waiting for me to discover? Is it what I am here for? Is this my quest?

In fact from here, Shaylee indeed did not really knew what were exchanged among her friends, but she turned and looked up and see that the other a not following along, they were still up there. In order not to lost the creature she kept on swimming towards it. Discovering to herself what a vast forest of sea weeds, standing out in a maze. Then suddenly, she heard that someone is calling to her and looked up and saw the rest are joining her after all.

2nd Online Group Supervision Session : 2 June

Reflection On 2nd Online Group Supervision (Part 2)

At one point, I gave an example of asking my client: “If you are a policeman, are you powerful, what is your special power?”
Alex said that I should not have asked a closed question, and do not put words or ideas to client, it will be better for him to come about by himself.
When coming to question and answer, do not interrogate, the things that we do is enough to provide the structure for a richer role playing experience and give us thought on how do we prepare to enter from ordinary reality into dramatic reality, and once the person enter that is all action, dialog and action and we do not need to interrogate all.

During a session with the client, while working with them in the playroom doing anything, and it came to us that if we saw the potential or if the child indicate that he/she is ready to go into the action matter of role playing, how do we help him/her to move from the transition of ordinate reality into the dramatic reality. How do we help him/her to move from one to the other taking into account to create a clear boundary to distinguish between ordinary and dramatic reality, using the repetitive name of the character, so as the child do not confuse of – are we asking him as the person in character or are we asking the character.
Using the interviewing technique, at 1st you are starting into scene setting – where, who, what – questions like –
• Can you use thing to show me,
• could you show me,
• when would I carry eg. My weapon,
• how could I stand,
• where would I carry my weapon,
• could you feed me with the details,
• show me how I can imitate you,

From here then, you are into improvisation, starting role playing (keep an eye and observation of any emerging themes). If using war game miniature of soldier and tanks, if there is one person that stands out in the play, then we know that it is starting to develop characterisation, there is a potential protagonist and the on the opposite side stand the antagonist, then we will know that could be a potential to go into the dramatic reality, the dramatic dole play. Otherwise, if it is just only all the tanks, planes and the fighting going on, bombing, killing of all the soldiers and etc, then there will not be protagonist and antagonist.

Even if using different colour soldiers, like in grey or green, there is no protagonist and antagonist until we get a clearer development of the protagonist - the hero coming out. A group of soldier does not have a major significant to go into a dramatic role play, but if there is this different one soldier - "Well, what shall we call this hero, Can this be the leader, Was this hero a commander?" This particular soldier the child wanted him to be seen, then we have the character of protagonist.

Continue playing with the client – Can you show me how and where is this hero is standing in this battle field; this is when we are moving from an ordinary SWP into role playing with a clear protagonist and antagonist. The moment the storyline focus on the energy in a character, then we will have the potential for dramatic role playing. Once the identified protagonist started to emerge and into role playing unconsciously self – he will then plays out the representation of the internal struggle which is parallel to his external struggles.

(to be continued)

1st Online discussion on Mission Impossible

Cheng, Ding and Phaik Niew sent their apologies.

At the beginning, I totally does not have any clues on how to starts, I have told the group I am in such a blur-blur stage. But as Elaine guided us along, the words just flow out from my mind.

Storyline - children story or tennage story with identity crisis, enough, peer group, acceptance - teenager, 13-15, simple issue, like rejection by peer.
Elaine suggested fairy tale, moden story, like the movie karate kids but must have the storyline that have the hero journey, like in the Lord of the Ring.

Then Mary suggested why not use The Legend of Dragonville, The White Lady and the Dragon.
We are going to write the dialogue using the story, but we need to have the agreement from the rest.

The next meeting in space will be on Thursday 9.15pm - 10.00pm

Hope all can attend.

This was the exciting part, where the adrenaline pumps in for every character.

OUR AMAZING, EXCITING, UNBELIEVABLE RIDE

Enjoy the reading through:

Crestmaiden: PhloxE, watch out, there is hanging stone there...... right in 500 meter/
Exodusor: did u see the stone there phloxe! Be careful
Crestmaiden: it's amazing here... Shaylee, hold tight ya, OFO okay? BHInD me?
Shayleemomo: There is another one coming towards us from the right, quick turn to the left
PhloxEAwing: SL, not to worry hang on to the switch direction again
Shayleemomo: Hurray, it missed us.
Exodusor: OFO, r u there?
Shayleemomo: Where did all the stones comes from.
Crestmaiden: Oh MY, Phlox E, watch out, i am seeing a lot of stoney rock here...and all hanging here and there.. floting
PhloxEAwing: gethering speed wive the way through
Shayleemomo: Are we in a stone maze,.
Crestmaiden: OFO, how are you, are you K?
PhloxEAwing: Gosh this is fun
Shayleemomo: OFO, what happen you are stunned?
(Shaylee can actually felt that OFO was freezed and her eyes was closed)
Onefoolishother: Yes, i am here. i am fine, just afraid of height..
Crestmaiden: Lone ranger.... where is the light now?
Shayleemomo: No wonder you are so quite.
Exodusor: i can't see it now since the stones seem to appear suddenly
Shayleemomo: Wait, Crest you can freeze time right?
Onefoolishother: feel scary of height and speed (8.52.52pm)
Crestmaiden: OFO, if you are afraid of height, maybe u can sing a song for us, and the music will calm u down.
Crestmaiden: shaylee, yup, what u want me to do?
Shayleemomo: Crest quick think, more stones coming
Exodusor: the stones r blocking our views...
Crestmaiden: $%^&&****$# FREEZE TIME
Onefoolishother: that souds good to distract myself////...taking up the flute to blow
Shayleemomo: You can freeze time, and when it happen all the stone will station put.
PhloxEAwing: All, I'll just follow this through and when we are ready
Onefoolishother: try the sound, sound can break up the stones...
Crestmaiden: TIME FREEZE, all the stone station put, and sounds of flute come in
PhloxEAwing: we can stop somewhere and put our thoughts toghther
Shayleemomo: Pointing towards the stone maze, see all the stone not moving anymore.
PhloxEAwing: gentlely glading by
Shayleemomo: Phlox, quick go thru the maze, don't everyone touch anything.
Crestmaiden: PhloxE speed slow down already, and moved to the light comes
Onefoolishother: Let me blow the fute, and the sound will disintegrate the stones ..
Exodusor: hEY, CAN U SEE THE PATTERNS OF THESE STONES...THERE SEEM TO HAVE SOME MEANING
Shayleemomo: Dont OFO don
Shayleemomo: Don't do it, it will wake up the stones..... no......
Onefoolishother: what does it say to you , Lone ranger...
Shayleemomo: OFO change tune, to the calming tune pls.
Exodusor: CAN anyone read the codes from the patterns of positions of the stones?
PhloxEAwing: the stones look ... what the word?
Exodusor: i don't know...
Crestmaiden: the writes here, seems to say EMOCLLEW
Crestmaiden: EHT
PhloxEAwing: Karrputahu
Crestmaiden: NESOOHC
Crestmaiden: ENO
Crestmaiden: what's that??
Shayleemomo: May be if we fly higher and look down it will form a word, what do you think?
Crestmaiden: does it makes sense?
Exodusor: %%@@**
PhloxEAwing: I think I best find a place to land, any objections (8.58.36pm)
Onefoolishother: it may have different meaning for each one of us....
Exodusor: yes phloxe..
Exodusor: maybe, ofo
Onefoolishother: yes, i think so, Phloe can be tired now/
PhloxEAwing: lokking looking
Crestmaiden: PhloxE, why dun rest in the big tree with the big stone, the green one
PhloxEAwing: landing.
Onefoolishother: Lone ranger, you said the stone is blocking our view
Shayleemomo: OFO, we landed you can open your eyes now.
Crestmaiden: OFO, are you k? we are landing, but still in quite a high position, dun look down
Exodusor: yeah, but crestmaiden managed to keep them still..n now we r on top of them..
Onefoolishother: I have been half closed half open.....i am aware of what is going on....but I don't seem to find the codes as you all have said
Crestmaiden: lone ranger, what u see the writen words?
Exodusor: ##%%@@
Onefoolishother: what does it mean for you, Lone ranger
PhloxEAwing: wow, the stones reads karraputahu to me
Exodusor: still thinking how to decode the symbols
PhloxEAwing: tahu, is know
Shayleemomo: Is it the name of the place?
PhloxEAwing: karaput ????
Exodusor: ofo, i m not sure
Exodusor: it is unfamiliar to me
Shayleemomo: Kaput I know, but not karaput.... hhehehe (laughing away)
Crestmaiden: its seem this "emoclew eht nesoohc eno" or this eno nesoohc eht emoclew
Onefoolishother: One of the foolish thing I have done is try to decode the symbol , in the end, I have missed the mark..let it be....wonder and awe as it is,
Crestmaiden: hmm... i have no idea, whatis the sound like, i can;t spell it correctly..... is it a puzzle game or what?
Exodusor: how abt u OFO, can u depict anything from the stones' patterns?
Onefoolishother: Crest, it really looks Greek to me.......or ancient text......
Crestmaiden: hmmm.. OFO, can u decode this?
Shayleemomo: Yawning away
PhloxEAwing: Oh i got it the turtle knows
Crestmaiden: Shaylee, can you use spell to decode this wording? Hehe
Onefoolishother: no, don
PhloxEAwing: Kura is turtle
Shayleemomo: Suddenly lookin at Phlox with wide eyes, what turtle? (9.05.28pm)
Onefoolishother: maybe Phlox has her way..
Onefoolishother: Tell us morea bout Kura
Crestmaiden: PhloxE, i seem this at other way of the rock pattern "emoclew eht nesoohc eno" or this "eno nesoohc eht emoclew"
Crestmaiden: is it related with Kura??
Shayleemomo: Hei, I got it, does it mean the turtle knows?
PhloxEAwing: yes the turtle-kura, tahu-know, that leaves me with pa, THE PAPA TURTLE KNOWS
Shayleemomo: then okay, where can we find this turtle?
Onefoolishother: Yes, Phlox, I do not trust my senses now....but something else, can help us to unlock the meaning? maybe your Kura can?
Crestmaiden: is this turtle is alive creature? or is a landmark??
PhloxEAwing: The turtle may not be the answer for all of us but for me it is a clue
Shayleemomo: Crest, turtle live only in water, can it be back to the pool? (9.09.10pm)
PhloxEAwing: yes
Shayleemomo: What yes? We are goint back to the pool?
Exodusor: the sky is getting dark....perhaps we can go back to the pool
Onefoolishother: You know....we have some strange experience at the pool, the water, the rippling, the movment on the surface....could Kura lives int e fool..yes, Shaylee, also thinks this way..
Crestmaiden: i had never seem this living things, but as far we fly from sky, there is only water place- the pool...shall we go there?
Phlox Awing: OK
PhloxEAwing: getting ready topush off
Exodusor: let's go back to the pool before it gets dark
Shayleemomo: OFO, hold to my body, I will set you up on to of Phlox.
Crestmaiden: let's go , we go back to look for kURA
PhloxEAwing: all on good here we go
Crestmaiden: OFO, hold my hand too
PhloxEAwing: ready/
Shayleemomo: Lone ranger, can you hold my hand, Crest is holding OFO hand.
Onefoolishother: Yes, I feel good about this idea...let me hod your hands, crestmaiden thanks for help
Shayleemomo: I am ready.
Exodusor: ok, sl
Crestmaiden: let's fly....watch out...
PhloxEAwing: off we go
Onefoolishother: Let go, let me open my eyes now, to enjoy the flight as i feel secured with you all...
PhloxEAwing: i
t's just a dash,
Exodusor: can u see phloxe? since it is getting darker
Shayleemomo: We......we....... here we go... (it so nice to feel the wind blowing thru my hair.)
Crestmaiden: The time freeze make the stone sto moving, and (9.12.48pm)
PhloxEAwing: remember I have night vision
Exodusor: ok
PhloxEAwing: perfect landing
Onefoolishother: I think so, Lone ranger, Phloe has the eye of an owl at night.......she is really a good helper at this adventure
Exodusor: thanks! that's a good landing
Shayleemomo: OFO, let me help you down.
Crestmaiden: i will make the time move again once reach the pool safely it;s so nice to hold together and let the wind fly
Crestmaiden: TIME moved again.......
Onefoolishother: Waoo....I can open my eyes and look at the beauty of the sky,,,,/....amazing right.....the moment I let go and do some thing i considered foolish..
Exodusor: it is too dark to look for KURA
Shayleemomo: Why not we take a rest and see when the light comes?
Exodusor: what do others think?
Crestmaiden: seems like i have a way.... but i think its good enough we can rest and think how to look for KURA
Onefoolishother: Kura will appear itself if he is our helper...we will meet without making much effort. as Shaylee said, we shall wait////..
PhloxEAwing: settling by the pool and looking at the gang
Exodusor: i m going into my stillness now...
PhloxEAwing: time to share what we experience
Exodusor: i would probably find an answer regarding the codes
PhloxEAwing: would anyone like to tell of the experience just now
Crestmaiden: PhloxE, i saw this code on the pattern stone, "emoclew eht nesoohc eno" or "eno nesoohc eht emoclew"
Shayleemomo: We have thought that the answer is away from here, but how would we know it is here all along.
Crestmaiden: and, also the pink clouds with shining sunlight from the mountain...... and we are here again at pool side...
Crestmaiden: hmm..... i must find a way to decode this,
Crestmaiden: the phrase
Shayleemomo: emoclew eht nesoohc eno - let me write it down.
PhloxEAwing: it felt great to test out flying and knowing papa kura will help
Onefoolishother: yawnling,,,closing her eyes...it is a tiring day at the market place, of listening stories....some energy is drained off too.....I need a rest.....,,
Crestmaiden: getting tired and also feels cold....
PhloxEAwing: ya let's sleep on this
Shayleemomo: Phlox can I close my eyes beside you, I feel cold tonight I guess after all the excitement.
PhloxEAwing: you are welcome SL
Crestmaiden: PhloxE, can i beside u too? its cold tonight
Shayleemomo: thanks.
PhloxEAwing: sounds like we are at a campfire
Onefoolishother: Well, at the moment, I have no idea what the code or the shapes of the stones mean to me..i cannot figure it out now...let me ponder over it and see how it goes it will come as i least expected of it....... (Mon Jun 14, 9.30.34pm)

Why is there a beautiful, colourful and bright light?
Why can't the character reach it?
Where did the stones come from?
Why was there code for the character to decode?
What has the KURA got to say?
Is KURA a place or somebody?
Why back to the pool?
Is the pool - antagonist or protagonist?
We started as 7 characters, can we finished the journey without the 2?

CHATANGO – CHAT ON MONDAY JUNE 14, 2010

Shayleemomo: Combing the entangle hair with my fingers, Hi all.
(very unconsciously action of combing the hair just appear, has it became a morning unconsciously ritual for me)

Shayleemomo: Putting both hands up, don't don't go near please.....
(remembered of the pulling of the current)

Shayleemomo: Lets see what Crest is standing there looking at, but make sure not to go too near, Lone ranger, bcos that day I nearly drown there.
(reluctantly going near the pool, as Shaylee still remember the mishap)

Shayleemomo: Yup, Phlox pulled me up. OFO keep on calling me to use my wings, but I can't you see, I was to shaken and paniky that time.
(Still do not know why Shaylee did not used her pair of wings that day, too frighten or forgetful)

Shayleemomo: Crest, see around the pool you can actually see the bottom, so clear (pointing towards the centre) but look at the centre, it is like a whirlpool... what is your thought?
(where did the whirlpool comes from, is it a calling for us to enter into it? Antagonist or protagonist?

Shayleemomo: Crest Phlox, I am thirsty do you think it is wise to drink near the pool?
(Shaylee needs a lot of nurturing – always thirsty)

Onefoolishother: how have you been after the long sleep that night? I thought you were thinking of your mother..
Shayleemomo: Yup, the thought is still in my mind. OFO.
(was too excited on the new day and the new beginning, have to push it aside to come to term later, or to find out whether the calling is a way for me to come to term?)

Shayleemomo: But but, what about Fidget and SS, what about if they returned and find us gone.
(at that moment I really felt that we should wait for the rest to return before we starts the journey but time can’t wait therefore Shaylee need to follow in order to find the answer)

Shayleemomo: If you are going, I am coming too (running towards Phlox)
(don’t want to be left behind)

Shayleemomo: Using my pair of wings and fly on top of Phlox.
(now she remembers that she has a pair of wings to fly, hehehe.)

Onefoolishother: Can I get on to your wing to fly on top o f Phlox, Shaylee
Shayleemomo: Oopps, okay, I will come down again, Phlox dont go yet. Okay
(Felt very nice that I can help others, rather than the always helpless one)

Shayleemomo: Suddenly lookin at Phlox with wide eyes, what turtle?
(All along, Shaylee has this thought that the calling has to do with the pool, is it?)

2nd Online Group Supervision Session: 2 June

Reflection On 2nd Online Group Supervision (Part 1)

Role playing process (things to know and watch out)
 Frame works
 Assessment thru the emerging contents
 The storyline
 The character development
 The quality of the character development
 The imagination of the projection
 The capacity of the role player
 Themes that are coming out
 The symbols
 The metaphors that are emerging from the role play.

Questions to ask self:
 Can I consider it as a psycho dramatic role playing
 Is it a scripted role playing

When a child is setting out a scene, how do we know that he is entering in the dramatic reality, how do we know how significant is that he has established the boundary between ordinary reality and dramatic reality, how to secure the dramatic reality.

The moment we see the potential of going into the role playing space or if recognised that the person is going into the role playing we can use the comments like:
• I know that you would like to do some role playing.
• May I suggest that we clear some of the stuff and us the things that are relevant to us.

By this way, you are consciously prompting to the child that both of you are going to do role play. Once he has the scene set up, we need to make the scenery sorted out, in this way we can enhance the role play, potential imagination by creating the transition from the ordinary reality into the dramatic reality, let the person imagine “Oh, this is my castle, my house, my cottage, here is the pathway to my house, there is a market near my house and so forth.” This way it will make the person feels special. We need to help him imagine the set up of the scene, therefore it will make him feels that at moment he is no longer Terry but the character itself, whom the house belongs to and may ask him what shall we call your character.

Summary: 1st thing – developing the setting, the characterisation as part of the ritual transitional process from moving from ordinary reality into the dramatic reality.

Example of Open ended questions:
• Who do you want me to be?
• What kind of character would you like me to play?
• Could you show me what kind of .......?
• May Be you can demonstrate to me so that I can get the idea, can you show me?
• What do I call you?
• Who are you in this character?
• I see that you wants to do role playing, how would you like me to participate?

If the person said he is the bad guy, need to ask him:
• What kind of bad guy?
• Could you show me?
• Does he have anyone else beside himself?

If the person said he is the policeman, need to ask him:
• Are you the sergeant?
• What shall I call you?
• Are you the inspector?

It is important to know that by role playing usually they are engaging you already, if not they are only doing self play or solitary play, just playing by themselves. Always keep on telling the person or rephrasing that the person is going into role and stuck into the role during play, “Benny, can you tell me where your house is? Is it by the hill top, kampong and etc. If he is putting his effort in ensuring of his setting scene, means that he is putting his concentration on how his house setting is like, we might get him to elaborate more on the scene setting.

If the person wants more than one character, then he will have to say so, depending upon the person capacity, depending where he is at, in development of his storyline.

In Terry case, he just go down and shoot – kill the monster as a result felt much better, come back again next week, shoot kill the bad people, nothing have change – role fixated, just to release his tension. Here the other therapeutic expect has not been cultivated or developed through the dramatic reality through the role repertoire or introduction of different potential theme, in the story line. Here is when you using your role to engine the possibility, when you know what is going on, find out deeper into the situation and his role.

(To be continued)

Chatango - At the pool side .......

Shayleemomo: The water is very sweet and tasty, cooling too.
Shayleemomo: Iwonder what the taste of the grass at the bank taste like?
Shayleemomo: I am curious what the grass there taste like? Go near the site, and pull it out, put in the mouth, yuck, it is bitter and it have a four taste, I need to wash my mouth? Yuk2......
Nurturing? - Like other ‘lack of nurturing ‘children, I too have a very busy pair of parents, and they do not know how to play, come to think of it. Luckily, I lived in a big bungalow house which has 14 tenants, including mine and I have a lot of childhood friends. But I still missed my parents psychologically.

Shayleemomo: Phlox, can I sit on you right?
Shayleemomo: closed eyes and listen to the sweet melody from OFO flute,
Shayleemomo: Open eyes, head turn to OFO, I am Shaylee, call me SL, how do you do?
Shayleemomo: OFO not to be nervous, we don’t bit..... hehehe.
It has been the 3rd time I went into Chatango but I still felt safer to sit with Phlox, it can protect me with it's wings

Shayleemomo: I also have family, me and my bossy mum.
Shayleemomo: Well even being here with new friends, why am I worried about my mum?Shayleemomo: Hei OFO, may be you can play one song for me, I will closed my eye and meditate.
Shayleemomo: Thanks, OFO, the music really touch my heart. Sigh.... Sigh..... I missed my mummy.
Shayleemomo: Small tears rolling down my eyes...... Why must I always argue with her? I should have let it be, sometimes. Mummy I missed you.....

About my mum, where shall I start, my childhood she only knew how to control me with the cane, whenever wrong that I have she will bring out the cane. After my dad passed away, she had many failed relationships towards my teen and even after my marraige. Only the last one, lasted until he passed away, 5 years ago, and the relationship was not a pleasant one, he was a wife beater, possessive man, despite it she still stick to him, and my family and myself have to endure all this.

I know that she is old now, infact I have given all the best that I think she needs to have. But sometimes, her nagging was too much for me to bear and made me mad, and I will answer back. But lately, I have been very patient with her, I have tried to be better with her. I, too need to come to term with her, let go of the pass and hold her hand and walk forward, towards the remaining days that have left for her.

Oh, why must this comes out in Chatango? Is this the reason, I am there to search for the key to unlock the heart of mine to forgive and forget?

(At this moment, my tears keep on flowing down....sigh....sigh)

Fitting The Lord of the Rings into The Hero's Journey stages (contd)

RETURN

11. The Crossing of the Return Threshold - hero crosses the threshold of adventure and returns to the everyday world of daylight.

Amid the victory celebrations, Aragorn is crowned King of Gondor, and he marries his long-time love Arwen the daughter of Elrond.

Meanwhile however, Saruman has escaped his captivity and enslaved the Shire. But the four returning Hobbits raise a rebellion and overthrow him in the Battle of Bywater. Saruman’s throat is slit by Grima Wormtongue, his former servant, who is in turn felled with arrows from Hobbit archers. The War of the Ring thus comes to its true end on Frodo’s very doorstep.

Merry and Pippin are acclaimed as heroes and eventually become Lord of Buckland and Thain of the Shire respectively.

Sam uses his gifts from Galadriel to restore and beautify the Shire, and marries Rosie Cotton.
Frodo remains wounded in body and spirit and some years later accompanied by Bilbo and Gandalf, sails from the Grey Havens west over the Sea to the Undying Lands to find peace..

The story has been read as fitting the model of Joseph Campbell's "monomyth". – not totally the 17 stages or steps that Joseph Campbell description but more or less the stages are there in the story.

Fitting The Lord of the Rings into The Hero's Journey stages (contd)

INITIATION
5. Hero encounter test and more helpers/The road of trials. Series of tests, tasks or ordeals that the hero must undergo to begin the transformation.

Frodo and company are forced to travel through the Mines of Moria, and were attached by Orcs (monster). Gandalf defends the Fellowship from a Balrog (monster) and both the creature and himself fall into a deep chasm, allowing the others to escape.

6. Hero meets with the Goddess

(but int Frodo case he did not fallen in love with Lady Galadriel but instead she gave him a magical amulet)
Now, Aragorn led the Fellowship, take refuge in the Elven forest of Lothlorien where they meet the Lady Galadriel (helper) who discuss the Quest with Frodo. She gave the Fellowship boats and gifts, and then they travel down the great River Anduin to the hill of Amon Hen. There Boromir (who is supposed to be helper but lure by the Ring) attempts to take it from Frodo, this made him decided to breaks from the Fellowship to continue the trek to Mordor accompanied only by Sam, who insists on coming to assist and protect him.

7. More battle – more test – the hero encounters tests and helpers:

i. The Dark Lord of Sauron sent the Orcs (monster) and his ally Saruman (sorcerers) to attack, and managed to killed Boromin and kidnaped Merry and Pippin. Aragorn, Gimli(helper) and Legolas (helper) pursue the orcs into the kingdom of Rohan. Merry and Pippin escape when the orcs are slain by the Rohirrim. In the Fangorn forest the befriend the tree-like Ents (helper - nature), led by Treebeard. Here, Gandalf resurrected after his battle with Balrog (monster) and is now more powerful "Gandalf the White).... more war....more helpers.

ii. Gandalf rides off to gather more soldiers with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli travel with Theoden, King of Rohan and his nephew Eomer. After a night of siege at Helm’s Deep, Gandalf arrives with the Lord Erkenbrand and reinforcements. Then the Rohirrim mount a final charge and drive the orcs into a forest of Huorns raised by the Ents, where they are never seen again.

iii. Meanwhile, the Ents destroy Saruman’s remaining forces in Isengard. Gandalf, theoden and the others arrive at Isengard to confront Saruman. Sanuman refuses to see the error of his ways, however Gandalf strips him of his rank and most of his powers and the Ents imprison him within his tower at Orthanc.

8. The Hero reaches the innermost cave

Frodo and Sam capture Gollum, who has been following them since their journey through Moria and force him to guide them to Mordo. They travel a long and hard road as Frodo begins to weaken under the Ring’s power, briefly hindered and then aided by Boromir’s brother Faramir. Gollum betrays Frodo by leading him to the great spider Shelob in the tunnels of Cirith Ungol. Frodo is left unconscious by Shelob’s bite, but Sam fights her off using Frodo’s sword Sting and the vial of light from Earendil’s star – one of the Lady Galadriel’s gifts. Sam believing Frodo dead takes the Ring, and forces himself to leave Frodo, until he overhears orcs who find Frodo’s body and reveal unknowingly to Sam that Frodo is not in fact dead, but unconscious. Frodo is carried to the tower of Cirith Ungol by orcs.

9. The Final Battle – the hero endures the supreme ordeal.

The Dark Lord Sauron begins his military assault upon Gondor, with the Witch-king of Angmar, greatest of the nine Ringwraiths, commanding Sauron’s armies in the battle. Together with Legolas, Gimli, Dunedain and sons of Elrond, Aragorn take the Paths of the Dead where Aragorn raises an undead army of oath-breakers. These help him to defeat the armies of the Corsairs of Umbar in southern Gondor, enabling the region’s forces to sail to aid of Minas Tirith in it Siege.
With the timely aid of Rohan’s cavalry and Aragorn’s reinforcement a significant portion of Sauron’s army is defeated at the Battle of the Plennor Fields. King Theoden dies in the battle, but the Lord of the Nazgul, the Witch-king of Angmar, is slain by Eowyn and Merry, though both are wounded.

10. The Ultimate Boon - The Hero endures the supreme ordeal.

Sam rescues Frodo from captivity, and they make their way through Mordor. Frodo weakens as the weight of the Ring increases, but is aided and sometimes physically carried by Sam as they reach the Mount Doom. Meanwhile, in the climactic battle at the Black Gate of Mordor, the vastly outnumbered alliance of Gondor and Rohan fight desperately against Sauron’s armies, with the intent of diverting Sauron’s attention away from the Mount Doom, which Frodo must reach in order to destroy the Ring.
At the edge of the Cracks of Doom, Frodo is unable to resist the power of the Ring and claims it for himself. But at that moment, Gollum reappears, struggles with Frodo for the Rind and bites of Frodo’s finger, Ring and all, but in doing so he falls into the fire, taking the Ring with him. The Ring is thus unmade. In that instant of its destruction, Sauron perishes, his armies retreat, the Dark Tower crumbles into dust, the Ringwraiths disintegrate and the War of the Ring seemingly ends.

(to be continued - Return in the next post)

Fitting The Lord of the Rings into The Hero's Journey stages

Campbell's work has been applied by a wide variety of modern writer and artist, for example the best known is George Lucas - Star Wars trilogy and J.R.R. Tolkien's novel The Lord of the Rings which also have the fitting of the Monomyth stages. I will be using the Lord of the Rings to go through the stages of the hero's journey, for my review. Hopefully I got it right, I have divided it into 3 posts – Departure, Initiation and Return.

Stages of the hero's journey in The Lord of the Rings:

DEPARTURE

1. The Call to Adventure: The hero is called to adventure by some external event or messenger.

The story begins in the Shire, as Frodo Baggins inherits the Ring from Bilbo his uncle.

2. The Hero is reluctant at first.

At first he was reluctant, but Gandalf the Grey, a wizard learns of the Ring's history and advises Frodo to take the Ring away from the Shire, before it will bring misfortune to Shire. He and his company encounter the Ringwraiths whilst still in the Shire, the destroyer sent by the Dark Lord Sauron.

3. Helpers/Amulet:

In Frodo case :
Helper are -
Samwise Gamgee (Sam) his friend, 2 cousions Meriado Brandybuck (Merry) and Peregin Too (Pippin) to help him,
Gandalf the Grey - a wizard (Merlin-like character - who is the hero's mentor/Supernatural aid)
Tom Bombadil - enigmatic and powerful, who aided Frodo and company
Aragorn "Strider" - guide and protector,
Elrond, master of Rivendell - rescued Frodo and company by creating and controlled a flood waters to rise up and sweeped the Ringwraiths away.
Along the journey Frodo, have more helpers coming to aid him.


4. Hero crossing of the first threshold/Belly of the Whale (final separation from the hero's known world and self. In this stage, hero shows willingness to undergo the change.

Frodo was hurt but recovers under the care of Elrond. The Council of Elrond knows much of the history about The Dark Lord Sauron and the Ring, the harm that it may brings if not destroy by returning it to the Cracks of Doom in Mordor (the mission). Frodo the hero, volunteers to take the Ring and a "Fellowship of the Ring" is chosen to accompany and protect him (More helpers).

(to be continued next post - Initiation)

MONOMYTH - Joseph Campbell

Who is Joseph Campbell?
He was a student of the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung.
His term of Monomyth also referred as the hero's journery, which he also refer that his study of world myths is that THEY ARE ALL
BASICALLY THE SAME STORY -- retold endlessly in infinite variation.

He discovered that all story-telling, consciously or not, follows the ancient patterns of myth. There were always charecters of the young hero, the wise old man, the shape-shifting woman, and the shadowy nemesis, are identical with the archetypes of the human mind, as shown in dreams. That's why myths, and stories constructed on the mythological model, are always psychologically true.

Such stories are true models of the workings of the human mind, true maps of the psyche. They are psychologically valid and realistic even when they portray fantastic, impossible, unreal events.

This accounts for the universal power of such stories. Stories built on the model of THE HERO OF A THOUSAND FACES have an appeal that can be felt by everyone, because they spring from a universal source in the collective unconscious, and because they reflect universal concerns. They deal with universal questions like "Why was I born?" "What happens when I die?" "How can I overcome my life problems and be happy?"

No doubt, he has describes 17 stages, but not all myths contain these stages. Anyway, these 17 stages he organised into 3 sections: Departure/Separation, initiatin and return.
Departure - the hero's adventure after receiving the quest,
Initiation - the many adventure of the hero,
Return - hero return home with the knowledge and power acquired on the journey.

(to be continued - my further study on associating J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings to Joseph Campbell's Monomyth - hero's journey)

Dreamy Adventure in Chatango land

I read the email from Alex quite late this afternoon, and he suggested to use Chatango for our chat. I know at that hour, all my group members must be busy with their own work, therefore I came back home early and try to set it up. By the I finished preparing the group chat window, it was 6.15pm, quickly SMS them and asked them to use the link to do the chatting at 8pm.

We should have use the SKYPE to do the chatting, rather than being so adventures and daring to use Chatango, I apologised to those who felt that way. Anyhow, I will try to help Elaine in order to connect to it.

Shaylee started here:

Oh er..r...r.., what a beautiful day...... smell fresh too...
(Like always, I wanted the day to be beautiful and fresh - even I have to attend to a rude doctor today with a smiling face - I wiped that out and put in a beautiful day - why must I put a beutiful day and not a bad/stormy/day?)


Crest - i am scare what it all that smoke......
This happen when Shaylee saw "Shapeshifer" entry, she got a shock to see it in and trying to picture the role coming in a smoke. Scare = still have the feeling of the teacher and the student complex.

I must cling to Crest cape, that will make me comfortable. Fidget: why are you crying, do you want my handky.?
Everytime when in a new surrounding I am always get uneasy, confuse and I need something to hold me to the ground, that is part of me. That is why, automatically Shaylee reached for the cape to give me the shield, protection and the security.

Exodusor : Why are you standing there? I am sure you have some wise thought to help too.
Shaylee felt uncomfortable to know that Exodusor was stand out of the group, like always I like to bring ppl into the group, to make them feel welcome.

Exodusor: Yeah I quite like to day dream, so sorry if I assume that you from then.
Exodusor: Sorry if I am mistaken, beause I saw you angryly mumbling away.
I do not know why Shaylee apologised, maybe in realtime it is my natural, I do not like to offend people or make people get angry, I will feels very bad if I know that I have done something wrong to them. Can anyone help to decode this......?

Despite that we set the protocol, and yet the senerio in the Chatango land was very confusing, every character tries to talk at once, Shaylee was like running round and round to look at people who is talking. Suddenly,she thought that Skysaver was not in and suddenly he was there. Fidget was very fast, Shaylee need to run to keep up with her storyline. Shaylee do not know why that she have to cling on to Crestmaiden.
Shaylee knows that everybody is friendly, except for Exodusor he was so cold, that is why she tries very hard to melt his heart. (I need ppl to help me to look through this reflection. help).... confuse.

1st session into role using 'Shaylee'

After taken the potion prescribed by my doctor for my knee and I encountered the side effect of – dizziness, nausea, sweating – quickly referred the Mims (which is the dictionary of medicine) oh mine, why hah my doctor didn’t tell me....
But mustn’t let down my team mate, must go on to do the chat in our role.
Mary was not well too.

I felt very strange when I was into the role. Firstly, when arrived into the scene, we introduced our selves. I felt uneasy, when we can’t see each other, we do not know who is talking to whom. Who is directing the question to whom? At one time, I was directing the question to Mary and she did not know that, so I need to describe the costume that she is wearing, only that she knows that I am talking to her.

Since there was no script, it was very hard but when we got the hang of it, we just flowed using by. We also have multiple conversation, how erh? We need to find a way to stop to let the person talking to finished then we continue.

Next session will be on Monday 31, May. Time : 8.30pm-9.30pm.

Chapter 1 - Facilitating Play with Non Player (Longer version of my review)

Chapter 1
Facilitating Play with Non-Players
A Developmental Perspective – Eleanor C. Irwin

Dramatherapy = using drama to nurse, serve and cure.

Most of the drama therapist work toward the general goal:
1. Facilitating imaginative play at the highest possible level,
2. Strengthening self control and affect regulation;
3. Helping individuals put feelings and behaviours into words.

Not all children and adults can play – they are called non-players who cannot be spontaneous, symbolise thoughts, feelings, and engage with others in an imaginative way (social).

Inability to play is the result of congenital, environmental or developmental difficulties.

Doing Dramatherapy to children which is non-player will be better understood through an examination of attachment theory, research into the development of object relations and affect regulation.

These will help the drama therapist navigate navigate worrisome therapeutic paths more clearly, comfortably, especially those dangerous areas which may get stuck in transference/counter transference.

Dramatherapy offer s valuable help tin diagnosis and treatment, this is where individuals will tell or pour out their personal or make up stories. They will become their script playwrights, actors, directors, set or scene designers. In it the therapist will see the children’s fantasies, preoccupations and defences unfolding.

Drama therapy stimulates language and cognitive development. In the drama, the child is asked to express, elaborate ideas, sustain attention, focus on themes and sub themes, negotiate with other on their needs and wishes. It also encouraged the child to use language to control and understand his affective life.

This chapter as I see it,
Encourage drama therapist to not let go and to continue to work with individuals both players and non-players which were the hardest and time consuming group to give therapy to. But nevertheless, these non-players in fact needed the patient, sensitivity attempts from the therapist to understand and help, using her/his empathic way. Only by this way that the barriers created will be knocked down and trust will be build instead and the healing process will emerge. In order to success in this, a drama therapist also needs to familiarise on the theories of child development and also the attachment patterns.

Chapter 1 - Facilitating Play with Non-Players

Chapter 1 intention is to encourage drama therapist not to let go and to continue to work with individuals both players and non-players which were the hardest and time consuming group to give therapy to. But nevertheless, these non-players in fact needed the patient, sensitivity attempts from the therapist to understand and help, using her/his empathic way. Only by this way that the barriers created will be knocked down and trust will be build instead and the healing process will emerge. In order to success in this, a drama therapist also needs to familiarise on the theories of child development and also the attachment patterns.

My reflection:
This chapter gave me the insight on how to give therapy to non-players, which I have not came across, mind me, I have only began with my 1st client. It also prepared me what to expect if I have this kind, at least I will not be totally drown and lost. I also understand better now on what is mutism, like was present in Timmy case. Mutism does not mean will be a long life sickness, it is a matter of time when he/she will utter the 1st word, like in Timmy case.
I also must arm myself in depth with the theories of child development, so as to be able to help to heal the players.

Online Tutorial Write up - 19 May 2010 (con'd)

Useful learning question from the floor:
Can we un write our script?

Nope, we can only re-construct and create but we can’t un write sometime that is already there.

Will people find us eccentric?
In the role that was given to you, eccentric is part and parcel of who and what we are, because we can be flexible and at the same time we can be silly. We got the role flexibility that can be silly when we chose to be and can be serious when we chose to be that means by self-possession.

(Like at the workshop, Alex asked us to act in the Magical Room, acted out the behaviour which was not us, I acted a swaying movement, talked also different – the above question also popped up in me, will people see me as CRAZY)

Our role do not determine us, we are in procession of the role we play. Wherelse if the role is in possession of us, unaware, then we are the prisoner of the role to that script.

We can’t un write but we can re-create all the time – new roles and new experiences. When re-create the new role we will experience the new roles – means it challenging you. For example, when we are at that time, depressed, the only role to play is to be in depress, so people see us as depressed and label us - Depressed – anticipate us as depressed, therefore we played our role.

Online Tutorial Write up - 19 May 2010 (con'd)

In the process of me into the role:

 How do I take onto the role,
 Make it believable for myself and to other,
 Projecting into the role (Projection happen – one part is conscious and the other part is unconscious = it is me and it is not me, sometimes when it make one feels alien)
 Engage into the role, live with it.

Reflection on creating my avatar:

I set out creating Shaylee, consciously but it does have a heavy element of my unconscious (after heard what Alex said at our), I have created the unconscious social culture – gender, symbols, and etc.

I choose to set it up in the “fairyland”, I can easily follow others by choosing an avatar that is a superhero. Why? Maybe I was exposed in my teen in reading fairies book, it was kept in my unconscious, and when I have the chance it just came out, to experience the fantasy lives, the beauty, to feel the fantasy freedom of roaming in the fairyland. Now, the test will be how far can or willing to go to explore the inner world.

During my schooldays, I envied all my schoolmates who were in the drama society, every now and then there will be a drama showing. Those days, I was not so brave hearted you see to jump into the wagon, drama society was no-no to my group (we are from the last 2 classes) drama society was only for the ‘Good’ classes. There were no teachers who will encourage us to join. I hope this is not the scenario now in the school, drama does helps a lot for the children.

In this Dramatherapy module I am given an opportunity to play different role or to experience what is like to play another role. The challenge is there will be no script given to us.

Online Tutorial Write up 19 May 2010

Cheng: Green Tie
Melinda: Little Girl in Blue
Alex: boy in purple shirt
Ding I Ling: skateboat
Mary Chuah: tongkat
Seok Binn: the mother in red dress
Elaine: the glasses
Phaik Nee: The green doll


I was the little girl. When Alex asked us to generate questions and say a little about the object. It just came to me this pharse, "Hurray, 12345 Once I caught a fish alive, daddy not going to fishing instead we are going Queensbay".

Since I am not in the hot seat, here are some of the questions I would like to ask the little girl.

1. Who is your best friend in this picture?
2. Do you go everywhere with Little Kitty?
3. I see you are wearing a pinafore, is that your school's uniform? Did you just dissmissed from school?
4. Since this looks like an outting, can I know what is the occassion?
5. If you are given a chance, who will you go for comfort when you are sad?

My ritual for de-role.

Ooophs, I am Melinda, mother of 2 and no longer the little girl.

Below is my object similar to what I am using to de-role, it is a pinky japanese lucky cat with a bell attached to it. I will also ring the bell.

Dear all, please welcome Shaylee my avatar

Profile of Shaylee

Name of Character
My name is Shaylee; I was named after the Fairy Princess of the Forest. I am the descended race of the elves and fairy.

Nick Name
Momo short form for Mong-mong cha-cha because when I am day dreaming everything will goes wrong. My friends called me blur-blur.

Age
Our race is ageless. Our branch of race were looked upon as youthful and beautiful, but not me. I have been told by most I am beautiful from inside out.

Gender
Female

Height
5’ 6” in human size, and when in circumstances I can changed into size of insects or into the size of buttercups and daisies so that I can hide under toadstools when there is danger. We can also change into tiny beings that delighted the eye but were impossible to catch.

Weight
70kg in human weight, but when I am tiny it will be weightless.

My History
I am a supernatural creatures with wings, has an extremely long life, known to possess magical powers such as the ability to fly and cast spells (but we are forbidden to use our spells until when we need to and the term used PRN – use when necessary or else our Supreme Council has the power to revoke our spells and this will make one feels despair or like one having toothless)
Our races are known to have connections to the human world, the deadland as well as the heaven. Our old Wisemen have the ability to move freely in and out of the heavens, the earth and the underworld. As for the human world only on occasionally like during celebrations of Christmas, Halloween and Grievance.
I always carried my purple bag fills full with food, fruits and medication in my in case of emergency. I am also very forgetful that is why the Invisible Book of Magical Spells is also in my hand so that I can refer to, it can only be read by me and invisible to others.

Abode (Where do you live)
I live with my family in the mystical forest called the Valley of Forbidden Shadow. We make home in a beautiful big and high tree, where the top almost reaches the heaven.

Likes
Pollen of flowers, morning dews, crunchy green vegetation and fruits that grow int the forest and also beside the spring and river.
Fly with the fireflies at night, makes one feels so magical in the forest. Sit on the eagle back and let it brings me high-high up the sky, let the wind brush pass me with force.

Dislikes
Bullying from the arrogant fairies and unkind fairies. I also dislikes weather like in the thunderstorm, heavy rains, storms and very hot.
Closed dark chamber like in the caves.

My relationships to others
Friendly, concern, helpful, makes other happy. Most of my friends said that I am easy going person.

Abilities
I can cast spells when I need to, enter into others dream. I possess a magical pink/purple crystal which was passed to me by my ancestors, it will help me to change shape and also make me invisible to others. I can also add on body parts like if I wanted to go under the water I can add on gills on to my face and also web leg like the frog.

Weaknesses
I am too kind hearted and I listen to other pouring out their sorrows and this sometimes make me sad and I need a long time to go back to normal. Everybody to me is a good being, but sometimes my personal friends said that I cannot differentiate the good and the bad. That is why everytime I will get hurt after the true comes to the surface.

How can my character be extinguished or killed off?
When laughter, love, kindness, happiness and joys cease.

Therapeutic Use of Dramatic Role Playing - 8th May 2010

Drama therapy – what is drama therapy?
If I have not participated in the earlier Creative Arts Therapy Workshop series, I would expect more from Alex. I would expect him to teach me how to act in a drama, which I think I can see on the faces from some of the participants, my apologies Alex.

A group of kindergartens’ teacher were having their own agenda half way through and they have indeed expected Alex to teach ways to act in a drama. A group of arts teachers were waiting for Alex to give them clue on how to act in a drama and so for. A group of students are nodding away half way through on the theory side. That is my observation and might not be others view point.

I have bought in 4 HELP students into this workshop and after that I was asked by one, why is there no notes or handouts, we actually paid RM150. I told them this is the way Alex have his workshop, it is supposed to be an Action Learning Set, where a group of people brought together to analyze and to develop an action plan. It is a form of learning by doing. (Anyway, since they are not continuing further into this module, Alex would you like to share some notes with them for their further learning? It will be great help for them in future.)

Myself I am enjoying throughout especially during the acting in the magical room. The actions just came out from inside of me, and I just play on. It was fun to play the part of rabbit in The Rabbit and The Lion.

What is Drama therapy? (From Introduction to Drama therapy – Sue Jennings foreword by Clare Higgins)
Drama therapy is the application of theatre art in clinical, remedial and community settings with people who are troubled or unwell. It is necessary in a way as a transformative medium for people who are clinically ill, damaged or vulnerable.
The methods include movement, voice, dance, theatre games, role play, improvisation, text work, puppets and masks. The client groups can use verbal and non-verbal expression and resolution within a dramatic or story structure.

My unanswered questions:
1. Can I use drama therapy in children with no verbal, mutism and autism?
2. Is drama therapy same as group therapy? How?
3. How many session to see result?

Lastly, just wanted to share with you this video from YouTube, and it is very interesting. I thought that drama is supposed to be dull, dialog and etc, but less expected that it can be in the form of latest popular form - GLEE or High school musical. Hehehe.