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Shadow Play

Materials Needed:

To Support Feeling:

Rushed

How to Do It

Find a light source and create shadows with your hands on a wall or surface. Let your hands move slowly and deliberately, creating shapes or forms that represent calmness and control. As you watch the shadows, imagine they are guiding you to move through your tasks with ease and grace.

Why It Works

Engaging in shadow play helps to focus your mind on slow, intentional movements, reducing the urgency of rushing by creating a calming, meditative visual experience.

Guided Practice

Find a space where you can create shadows with a light source. Sit or stand comfortably and close your eyes, taking a deep breath.

Moving your hands and arms slowly, noticing the shapes they create in the shadow. Observe how your movements change the shapes and forms of the shadows. Allow yourself to experiment with different motions, staying curious about the patterns that emerge and how they shift with each movement. Gradually, start involving more of your body in the movement. Stretch your arms wide, twist your torso, or bend your knees, and notice how these larger motions alter the shadows. Feel the sensations in your muscles as they contract and release, and observe the dynamic interplay between your movements and the shadow's response. You might explore moving in circles, swaying side to side, or creating angular shapes with your limbs. Sense how your body feels grounded or light, noticing any areas of tension or ease as you continue to engage with the shadow play. Take a few moments to explore different speeds and intensities. You might try slow, fluid movements, then shift to quicker, more abrupt changes, noticing how the shadow follows. Feel the rhythm in your movements, the weight of your body shifting, and how the shadow mimics every action. Stay connected to the physical sensations—how your feet press into the ground, how your spine curves or straightens, and the gentle pull of gravity on your body. As you begin to wind down, slow your movements, allowing them to become more subtle and gentle. Feel the stillness gradually settling in your body and the shadows around you. When you’re ready, bring your focus back to your breath, noticing the rise and fall of your chest. Take a moment to sense the quiet within you, perhaps noticing a calmness or an awareness that has emerged. When you feel complete, gently return your attention to the room around you.

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