Whenever it is used to free participants´thoughts, enhance a state of mind or provide the break required to reflect; meditation can have a huge impact in a larp development.
Several studies have shown meditation not just as a religious/philosophical element, but as a powerful tool that has both short and long term effects in our brains.
With this in mind it is clear that meditation, visualization and other techniques can have strong effects in a larp.
Meditation can be the first workshop exercise to let problems behind and center in the workshops and larp to come. It can be used in workshops that build the participant’s character details using guided processes.
Or it can be used individually to perform diegetical/extra-diegetical steering.
In short whenever we need to free ourselves from blockades, limitations and taboos, meditation can represent the key to unlock our conscience.
Use examples
Meditation can be used in numerous ways, during workshops and larp methatechniques (both diegetic and non-diegetic), some examples are:
- Relaxation
Meditation used as a workshop relaxation tool allows participants to free themselves from their daily problems. Participants should focus only on getting rid of their thoughts (E.G. counting their breathing) and not in the relaxation of body parts.
The duration depends on the time destined to workshops and the peace of mind required. However a minimum of 5 minutes is recommended.
- Guided visualization
- Character’s triangle
Described in detail in this article, the character triangle workshop fills the physical, mental and emotional uniqueness of a character.
Similar to guided visualizations, participants should be fully relaxed before the guide starts talking, always with a soft voice.
- Steering
If used for steering the participant should focus on freeing their mind, only allowing relevant character’s thoughts to stay in their mind.
- States of mind
Certain larp themes call for specific states of mind. From the soft relaxed mind of a sect, to the one open towards the uncanny for those who play with the forbidden.
Deep states of mind are hard to achieve and require of long processes free of interruption, that contain some of this elements: constant meditation, mantras, music, dance, action/reaction freedom, placebos (the use of real intoxicating substances is not recommended since they can turn simulation into reality)
A quite complex process that needs to be strongly addressed into the larp design, that can reward in exchange unforgettable larp experiences.
