This exercise is to create a sensory experience from the imagination and a transformation with the body
What you’ll need: Yourself and a little space, and an understanding of the natural cycle from seed to tree, one other person
What’s it for?
This exercise should help with movement and body exploration. It is also useful when dealing with changes and to cultivate resilience.
Check In: Notice how you’re feeling right now. Close your eyes and notice what’s going on inside your mind and body.
How are you feeling?
What are you thinking?
How does your body feel?
Method:
Move to a space in the room that is comfortable to move around.
Your partner places an imaginary seed in your hand
Close your eyes and curl your body into a tight ball, imagine that you become the seed.
Your partner can slowly read out what's happening as you act it out:
Imagine that you are underground in the winter time when the ground is cold, dark, and solid
Can you hear any sounds there deep down underground?
Imagine the season turning to spring as sunshine, water, and a little warmth start to penetrate the soil. The sun has melted any snow, and there's a sense of very small movements in the seed.
The seed starts to break through the seed pod.
The seed is starting to grow. Reflect this in small body movements, and act out growing in the soil.
With all it's strength, the seedling breaks through the soil
The little seedling gets its first sunlight on it. It feels nice and warm.
The seedling turns into a sapling growing taller and taller and starts growing branches.
Buds and leaves start to grown on the branches and the tree trunk is getting strong.
Summer is here and there is more sunlight, more energy and growth
Imagine it is autumn and the leaves turn yellow and then brown and start to fall.
Lastly back to Winter, all the leaves are gone. This is a time for the tree to rest and hibernate until the next spring. The tree will then burst with energy, continue to grow, and have leaves again.
Spend a moment to reflect on the exercise (and give your partner a turn at acting out growing from seed to tree). Think about what your tree was like, and how it felt to go on this journey of growth. What was it like to have all the tree's strength?
Extra Activity:
Think about the seed starting to grow in a different season, would it make a difference?
Act out the tree enduring some weather obstacles like a heatwave, sandstorm, thunderstorm, or windstorm. Imagine the seed as different types of trees such as a fruit tree, evergreen tree or a mystery tree from your imagination. How would they grow would they look like? Would people eat the fruit or produce of the tree? Would the tree give out special gift to those that eat them? Does any animals or creature use the tree? Draw a picture of your tree.
When you’ve finished, spend a moment reflecting on the activity and ask yourself the following questions:
How did it feel to grow?
Was there anything that felt scaring?
What felt good while growing and changing?
How strong was your tree?
Did you learn something different about yourself?
How did the change feel from growing from a seed to tree?
What other ways does change happen with you?
Conclusion:
This activity helps you to experience change and transformation within the body and also within the imagination. It uses both left and right brain to support creative visualisation, combining logic, language and creativity.
If you would like to, share something about your experience with this activity with someone you live with! Ask the person who looks after you to send us an email if you have any questions or comments about the activity, or would like to send us any pictures (info@catcorner.co.uk). Don't forget to subscribe for more fun CAT activities!
Created by Vanessa Reid © February 2022
Creative Arts Used: Drama
Psychological Areas Explored: Play, Resilience, Self-Exploration
If you enjoyed this activity, you might also like: Blossoming Tree: Create a tree, leaves, and blossoms to help you focus on what makes you feel grateful and proud
These activities could be done by children of all ages, but some may need the support of their parent or carer to read the instructions or complete the activity safely.
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