The Games We Play:
Ancient wisdom traditions and the contemporary seeker
From the earliest of times, as a diversion from the necessities of preserving and protecting life, human beings have resorted to imaginative game-playing as a respite from the stresses of daily life. For some, the games are physical, fascinating to both the players and observers who fill sports stadia around the world. For others, interested in engaging the mind and spirit, theater is an ancient arena in which ritual, drama and role-playing expand our experience, offering possibilities and alternatives that feed our curiosity, allowing our imaginations to soar. As adults, we can find addictive the mental strategizing required in playing scrabble, sudoku or card games— all readily available on our smartphones and tablets. Whatever the game, everyday reality is suspended for a brief period as the child within every adult becomes absorbed in the story, rules and challenges of a different reality created within the ambit of the game itself.
In our reflection and mind play, we are constantly in search of the truth about ourselves and our place and purpose in the cosmos. Mythologists note a common thread in the myths and legends of all peoples throughout history reflecting the attempt to answer the questions of who and why we are here and where we are headed. Known as the ‘hero’s journey’ it describes the adventures of the protagonist who feels somewhat estranged in their own normal day-to-day experience. Responding to a call to adventure, leaving everything that is familiar, with the help of mentors and the challenges of threshold guardian, she finds her unique opportunity for spiritual growth. Like Dorothy’s return to Kansas in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ she inevitably returns home, transformed, and bearing the gift for humanity— the wisdom of an evolving consciousness.