Warsaw, April 17- 19, 2012

 Once again Jolanta Graczykowska and Fred Donaldson will invite people from different parts of the world to attend an international Seminar Original Play®.  Participants in the seminar will play with babies, special needs children, kindergarten- and primary school children.

 The purpose of the seminar is to learn the skillful use of "Original Play"® in different environments with a wide variety of children and join in international cooperation with others involved in "Original Play".

               Warsaw, April 23- 26, 2012

 Jolanta Graczykowska and Fred Donaldson will invite people who participated in workshops and minimum two Basic Seminars to  attend an International Advance Seminar "Original Play"®.

 The purpose of the advanced training seminar is twofold: (1) to increase participant responsibility in a mentored and intense play experience with a variety of children in different circumstances, and (2) provide additional opportunities for persons from around Europe interested in original play to meet one another, share experiences, and create the potential future cooperation.

               Warsaw, April 20- 22, 2012

 This 2 day clinic is advanced,  intensive training for those who have completed at least the Basic Training Seminar, have played with children in other settings, and are committed to learning Original Play®.  This clinic is meant to enhance your basic practice by providing practical instruction and advice on improving technique and problem solving.

The advanced practice of Original Play® is a constant blending of vision and practice. Each clinic will focus on particular aspects of Original Play®.   Each of these aspects is literally a touchstone of reality in which a key principle of practice and realization is experienced. During the Clinic many lessons will be learned over and over again, for the first time. Sometimes a new view, a new example, especially if it is unexpected, helps to absorb the fundamentals of Original Play®.

The first clinic will take place in Warsaw, Poland.
The cost: 490 euros.
Max. 10 participants.

               May 19-20, 2012

“Original Play®- HorsePlay”

Beyond Horse Beyond Human: Experiencing Beyond Diversity To Unity

“Where there is no difference that makes a difference.”

Many people love horses, or dogs, or dolphins, others have bears or wolves as totems.  This course goes beyond the love of particular animals to the ground of being.  Here we will experience the sacred force/energy/spirit that exists beyond the various forms we call horse, dolphin or even human.

Chunang-tzu said that, “everything is a horse.”  He was able to see beyond the distinctions imposed by his culture.

Do you remember coloring with crayons on blank paper?  Then it was impossible to color outside the lines.  But then someone gave us paper with outlines of horses and people.  Like a wild horse in a corral, our coloring was tamed when forced inside the lines.

This workshop is not intended as a way to struggle against the lines of culture, but to realize as we did when we first began to color that the lines are unnecessary.  We can relearn to interact as if there were no lines, no categories.  We can truly play outside the lines.

This is not a workshop about becoming a better rider, or taming an unruly horse.  It is not even about horses and humans.  It is rather about feeling the belonging that unites horse and human beyond the categories.

Such play requires courage and trust.  We must trust that there is something to hold us if we let go of the reins.  We must live the courage to remain open to life’s inherent surprise.  We must believe that in our relationships with all of life’s forms there is more than we are told.

The power of such play with the world is alive in its timeless pattern of graceful sharing.  Our play does not seem to obliterate differences; instead we operate at a deeper level where our differences, human and horse, make no difference.

O. Fred Donaldson, Ph.D.

“Original Play®- Horse Play” Workshop will take place in Poland, Turze/ Tczew.

               June, 9-10, 2012

 Original Play is an invitation to come out and play with the world.  The practice of original play requires an open heart and flexible mind to get back in touch with the world. Original Play’s skills are developed through  giving and receiving.  This with no fixed ideas, no rigid plans, and no expectations.

In this workshop we will experience Original Play as a pattern of relationship not only with each other but with nature as well.

The first 3 day course will be offered in Poland.  We will play with each other and weather permitting with nature.

Place:  Leśna Podkowa, Turze/ Tczew, Poland
Beginning at 18:00 on Friday, June 8th and end at 17:00 on Sunday, June 10th.
Registration until May 1st.
Cost: 190 euros.
Contact Jolanta Graczykowska regarding costs and location.