In the duality of life we have work and we have play. Work is how we cultivate the seeds of self. We choose a direction that we want to go in — in effect, we are plowing the field and planting the seeds that we wish to grow. Paying attention to our work, and therefore the direction of our life, is important because of this.

However, I do not believe enough time or thought is given to the play aspect of our lives. Or if we do play, it is often in a competitive way, with the goal and purpose being to win. That is not what we see when we look at creation.

Many animals use play as a way to hone their instincts, to strengthen their skills and to push beyond their limits. Professional sports players will know this reality, as their work is their play. Although they are out to win, most athletes will say that the passion behind their choosing play as work comes from their desire to push themselves to their limit.

I remember a rite of passage in our house was when we became old enough to play pinochle with my mom. We'd hardly had hands big enough to hold all the cards, but it was such an honor to be taught how to play. We'd start out with two-handed and then move on to three-, then four-handed. Eventually there were enough of us kids to have a decent game of six-handed pinochle.

The other game we played with mom was Scrabble. She loved to play Scrabble and really challenged us to find bigger and more complicated words more quickly to keep up with her own competitive nature. Not only did we all become expert spellers, but we also all ended up loving word games.

Playing with words did not have to be complicated, though. One of the favorite games we'd like to share with any visitor was "My grandmother likes coffee but she doesn't like tea." She likes samosas but not chapati; she likes broccoli, but not carrots — because she likes coffee but she doesn't like t.! The younger ones usually got the joke before the grown-ups, having less concepts and more flexibility of thinking.

I never realized how important game playing was in developing a heart connection to each other and to others until recently. We still play games every holiday that we get together. Now I'm on my way to Indiana. I've been asked to conduct the morning rituals for the Evolution class residency, and I've included skits so that we can play!

Whereas teaching hones the mind, stories open the heart. When I was in kindergarten, the focus was on creative play. These days the focus seems to be on learning to read and write. One whole side of playing is being lost when this happens. So before this master's class begins the chore of sitting and listening to lectures all day, I get a chance to bring them together to share their hearts.

In play, when we are out to win, a me-against-them attitude develops. Even in team sports, I remember being on a basketball team in high school where I never got a chance to play since I was not one of "the best." An easy way to encourage more of a team attitude is with storytelling and skits. Each person has a part of the story that needs to be told, and they need each other to see the whole picture.

We're beginning with the Cosmic Walk, which tells the story of creativity from the Big Bang until the present. This unfolding story of the universe is what connects us with the past and plays a role in shaping our future. It has been a common denominator in most cultures from the beginning of history. Through role-playing, these students will have an opportunity to celebrate the most awesome story of Earth's becoming aware of itself, as they begin to see and act out this evolutionary dance of existence.

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Anne E. Ulvestad is a free-lance writer residing in Maryland. She has her master's in earth literacy, and is available for public lectures and group presentations and rituals on Spirituality and the Environment. Anne can be reached at {email anne@ourplaceintheuniverse.com}anne@ourplaceintheuniverse.com{/email}. © copyright 2007 by Anne E. Ulvestad