Glimpses of Wonder

Glimpses of Wonder – Children in Auroville Creating Worlds on Sand, describes the experiences of Aurovilian Aikya, a Belgian psychologist, working with Auroville children from The Learning Community in the World Game, a term usually described as “Sandplay Therapy.”

Aikya started this work in 2005-2006. In her therapy, the sandbox is positioned in a beautiful garden or in a beautifully decorated ‘sacred space’ in her house. Children play with small figurines in the sandbox, creating their own worlds, while music plays in the background. Aikya, as facilitator, supports them to bring their creativity to the front. Her attitude, she writes, is to be non-judgemental and be present in the moment ‘to be able to communicate through the psychic.’

The children’s ‘stories in sand’ are meticulously recorded. “The children have a remarkable sense of concentration and an incredible sense of imagination,” she writes, expressed in themes such as nature, civilization, battles, and various life events, often involving ‘magic’ figurines of fairies, dragons and crystals. Aikya also sees aspects of the children’s psychic being expressed.

The book concludes with practical suggestions for those who wish to work with the World Game and an introduction to the sandplay origins and history by visiting scholar Dr. Heidi Watts.

Glimpses of Wonder is available from SAIIER and in Auroville bookshops. Price in India Rs 750. For more info contact [email protected].