H is showing the opening and closing form of his eurythmy therapy exercise ‘Daisy Puzzle’. The therapy is tailored to each pupil’s age and developmental stage. This design aims to help the pupils settle more deeply into their bodies and strengthen their sense of self, fostering a feeling of safety, trust, and confidence.
Following a eurythmy therapy session, eurythmy therapist Rebecca spoke with 12-year-old Harry about a eurythmy form inspired by a daisy.
What was the first thing we did?
H It was looking at the daisies at the edge of the field – that was the first thing we did.
So, we looked at the daisies in the playing field and then we brought one daisy into the eurythmy room. How did we turn the flower into a eurythmy form?
H Well, it had that big yellow spot in the middle, and
then we tried to make petals.
How did we do that with our body?
H We stayed in the middle with our arms up, and then we went away and back into the middle – north, east, south, west. You know there’s actually a saying for this?
Tell us what it is.
H The saying is, ‘Never Eat Shredded Wheat’!
It’s funny!
And what did we do next?
H We made the petals a little bit bigger.
And then we did something in the middle, to let our body know that we were in the middle. What did we do there?
H We looked at the floor. There was a mark, and we would look down and remember – that’s the right spot.
At first you needed the mark on the floor, but after a while you didn’t even need to look down.
H Yes, because I remembered the spot really well. There’s a pattern – you go in the same direction and end up on the same line. You can tell the spot is still there.
Is there a certain feeling that tells you you’re in the centre because the room looks a certain way?
H Yes, it gives you a vibe. Let’s say this is our middle [Harry demonstrates], and then I start the steps. I remember what I saw facing forward, and when I walk back, I see it and I know – that was my middle.
So, you had an orientation in the room and you used your eyes to orient yourself?
H Yes, at first I always looked down at the mark, but then I remembered other things I saw – as long as I was in the same position, I could see that I was there.
What did you do with your arms to let your body know
you were in the middle of the daisy?
H I crossed my arms.
What did that gesture tell your body?
H It told my body that I was in the middle and that it knew
the spot.
You had four petals – how many middles did you have?
H One middle and four petals.
And you called it the daisy puzzle, didn’t you?
H Yes, I did! And you thought of that name as well – maybe we thought of it at the same time. I thought it was a puzzle, and you thought it was a daisy to go with it.
Do you remember why you thought it was a puzzle?
H Well, it’s like a little riddle because you have to remember what a daisy looks like, and the form is like the pieces of the puzzle [Harry demonstrates the whole form].
What did you like most about doing this exercise?
H I really liked using my legs and eyes at the same time –
moving around and trying to make the right shape.
And now, when you see daisies, does it remind you?
H If I sit on the edge of the field and see a daisy blooming, it reminds me of eurythmy.
What would you like to tell all the people of Ruskin Mill Trust schools and colleges about this experience?
H That eurythmy is very fun. We usually do good puzzles, and one day you’ll get used to it. If they want, I can show them what it’s like and what we do.
Harry
Grace Garden School pupil
Rebecca Paten
Eurythmy Therapist