Laying on the floor in the somatic activity I really had to attune to verbal cues. Sometimes I got up to check the screen for clarity. In studio I would use my peripheral vision to provide information I may not have understood. And, not interrupt my physical position. I think you have to be really calm in mind for online embodiment. It demands more mental focus. If you are laying on the floor and can’t see the screen to access the visual cues directly, auditory cues become heightened. That said, the somatic practice grounded my body. Once I allowed myself to forget about ‘getting it right’ I was able to relax and open to the experience. At the end of the day’s session I experienced inner and bodily calm which was a welcome shift in my overall attitude and openness toward the virtual platform.

I was able to join the last couple of hours of the workshop, but I felt the sende of togetherness and care when I entered. Also, how the design of the gathertown actually worked like I was visiting the studio/Pia in my imagination (It was kind of a virtual reality!). In other digital platforms, usually everyone can see or hear everyone on screen once people join at the same time, but this time when I entered, I saw Jessie first to be updated what was going on and joined one group by going in one of the studios. Afterward, I was able to see everyone on the table. In this sense, it was somehow more virtually real to actually join the space. Not just jumped in, but there were steps like I actually would have done it if I entered the real Pia Bouman studio. Something to think about how we can gather/enter in the digital space. I felt using/accessing different senses to be aware of space around you and your body/self-awareness help to focus and be intuitive for the creative process/space in the digital space by hearing others' comments and feedback.

how to prepare for an online event. it really felt good to revisit the Gathertown app for this context. it felt friendly and allowed participants a freedom of movement between rooms. i loved how the space was designed like the Pia Bouman studio the live space where the Marathon was previously hosted - it gave us a sense of familiarity as to where things were and where to meet others, e.g. in the couch area. i absolutely loved the grounding aspect of this design. Peter's work was a great lead into the work. there was a kind of somatic defamiliarization that came from him leading us into familiar shapes through different language. i came to see how precious language is, something Maxine had referred to in the Forum posts. in my time online, i was really relying on the visual, even though i was using language a lot, it was interesting to experience the full instruction through language and how that language helped shape the journey through the proposal. I felt I was in the space with everyone in the way there was a foundational pattern to the program, but there was also space to have conversation and to allow casual conversation to flow. this is one of the sweetest experiences I have had online, going through the frustrations of new technology adaptation but in the company of familiar faces. i was also able to experiment with a proposal and to discuss my questions. i definitely feel this would provide a sufficiently robust development stage if we had a few days to revisit questions and to see how the time together became visible in the workshopping of performative action. thanks so much! what a great day! i had to rest after. it was a great experience that I gave all my energy to in the spirit of the marathon and the tired fullness of it was as i remember it. 😀 💥