Turn the Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living!
Free as a Bird – Annelie van Steenbergen
The aim of the Game Quest for Wisdom is to review your course in your life (and career) as seen from the perspective of mythological and philosophical wisdom from all corners of the world. You receive a symbol from this story, assigned by the Wheel of the intercultural art of living, as a signpost for your personal quest.
The Game is based on mythical narratives, proverbs and intercultural symbols that encompass visions of happiness to explore your own art of living.
Twenty stories and eighty symbols from all corners of the world are categorized according to the Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living. Through reflecting on questions and visualizations of elemental wisdom, players arrive at one of the 20 stories and are assigned to a personal path, that is mirrored in the narrative, assigned by the Wheel. They then choose one of four symbols from the story assinged, as a symbolic signpost for their quest. In total, the game consists of 80 different symbols from wisdom traditions from the East, West, North and South.
How to play the Game for Wisdom
Animals from the woods ― symbol for natural wisdom
The Game for Wisdom invites players to reflect on (their own and others’) views on happiness in life by means of seven questions.
These revolve around themes of the art of living:
To which natural element do you feel connected to: earth, water, air, fire or ether?
Is your attitude to life oriented towards being proactive or more towards go-with-the-flow?
Choose an elemental motto to give direction on your life’s path!
Which strong quality is your basis for further development and which other quality do you want to develop more?
In which direction are you heading on your path to happiness:
See how a narrative envisions your path in this direction, according to the Wheel of the intercultural art of living;
Which intercultural symbol from this story, assigned by the Wheel of the intercultural art of living, would you choose as a signpost for your personal quest?
Would you like to receive the full story and the symbol by mail in order to tap into the meaning of the symbolic signpost – possibly in a conversation with a Quest for Wisdom Counsellor?
Please contact us for free: info@questforwisdom.org
Heart, symbol of being open and listening to your own heart
Would you like to reconsider the particular course you’ve taken in your life and your career, as seen from the perspective of inter-cultural mythological and philosophical wisdom? Please, play the game and you receive a symbol from the story, assigned by the Wheel of the intercultural art of living, as a signpost for your personal quest.
The symbolism of the game forms a valuable mirror, which can be further explored through play & dialogue for the development of your art of living individually, as well as of your group of friends or family, and your work or sports team.
Professional use of the Game for Wisdom
Are you interested in using the game in a professional environment yourself? Inquire about possibilities:info@questforwisdom.org
Images of good and evil, The Wulf and the Crane – Annelie van Steenbergen
With the Golden Ratio Collections, the QfWf aims to give voice to the intercultural art of living, to counterbalance the hardening social debate. By expressing a cosmopolitan ethos and initiating practices of world citizenschip to unite people and show transcultural values, connecting cultures.
Harsh voices and destructive forces on the geopolitical stage are threatening both humanity and the entire planet, with all its winged, scaly, hairy and arthropod inhabitants. As a response(-ability), the QfWf-authors with Wild Hair of the (Animal) Wisdom Collections provide answers of humanization and ecological awareness. In doing so, the QfWf aims to contribute to the good life in the cosmopolis – with values of inclusion, cultural diversity and global responsibility.
Drawing and other forms of cocreation
By cocreation, the QfWf wants to propagate this mission as an intercultural community through artistic forms: by drawing, musical expressions, dancing and Arts Dialogues as well as by disseminating the developed artistic and intercultural materials as inspiring examples in wider circles of concern. Just as Dirk de Wachter undelines in our interview with him the power of hope we do believe an ethos of world citizenship can overcome the destructive forces.
With this in mind, the Quest for Wisdom foundation has launched the Golden Ratio Collections that stimulate cosmopolitan and ecological awareness, reciprocity and respect for other beings within the cyclical processes of our Mother Earth.
Animal Wisdom Storytelling
The mythical significance of animals as bearers of wisdom and natural power are linking pins between cultures, showing the beauty of cultural diversity. The transcultural perspective of Animal Wisdom Storytelling has inspired the QfWf-authors to collect old and new narratives about animals, enhancing ecological and cosmopolitan values. Examples of stories are presented on the Animal Wisdom website and explained in more detail in the Animal Wisdom (e-)book Collection:
Madagaskar, Land van Orale Cultuur, Lemuren en Kameleons
Golden Ratio Collections
QfWf-event on Global Citizenship -Presentation Amor Mundi
The Quest for Wisdom aims to pass on old wisdom to new generations in appealing, contemporary forms. The QfWf-Circle of authors have realized this mission with the Golden Ratio Collections published as (e)books in the (Animal)Wisdom Collection — since 2024 on a yearly theme of social importance in artistic and musical forms, to be collected on the QfWF-platform The Golden Ratio.
Boekpresentation Amor Fati in the OBA Reigersbos 25 jan 2025
Amor Fati, containing “playing wisdom for the cosmopolis” opens the Wisdom Collection. This first book of the Series describes the QfWf background philosophy of the Wheel of intercultural life art of living. Greg Suffanti’s English-language intercultural reflections on his watercolour series give the reader — together with the visual work of Agnes Roothaan, Louis van Marissing, Annelie van Steenbergen, Caroline Young, Nour Kayali, Klaske Rehorst, Josee Tesser, Elin Maljaars, Maya Plas & Mitra Muijen around the mythic-philosophical themes of Amor Fati — a surprising route of the imagination through the book. As a welcome gift, QfWf-Friends receive this book with an annual donation of € 45.
The Wisdom Collection consists of twelve volumes. Worldwide, cultures have developed wisdom traditions containing artistic, philosophical and spiritual forms expressing the art of living with different perspectives. The QfWf aims to unveil these precious treasures in a unique and artistic way for a hopeful cosmopolitan future to happen.
Amor Fati: by Heidi Muijen exploring the Quest For Wisdom vision;
Koloniale wa(a)r(d)en: by Fred de Haas, enlightening the historical colonial context of the Caribean intercultural identities, poetry and music.
Amor Mundi: documenting the QfWf-project on “Global Citizenship”;
Walking Two Roads, Accord and Separation in Chinese and Western Thought; an intercultural exploration by Hans van Rappard.
Russische Zigeunerromances: by Fred de Haas, presenting the Gypsy romances with its rich cross-cultural and historical sources;
Middeleeuwse Chirurgie in Woord en Beeld: by Marcel Reyners with drawings by Şerefeddin Sabuncuoğlu (1385-1468) with the text of “The Method of Medicine” by Albucasis (936-1013).
One hundred percent of the money raised by the sale of all of the products will be used in realising our upcoming QfWf educational projects, all of which are non-profit and run by volunteers.
The QfWf continues to collect animal stories from all over the world on the Animal Wisdom website. The overarching goal of this storytelling programme is to present how the symbolism in the narratives transcends cultural borders and at the same time the beauty of cultural diversity is presented. This goal is explained in the first two books of the Animal Wisdom Collection. This collection also contains specific cultural storytelling traditions and presents examples with various artistic forms, sharing the intercultural wisdom about how to become truly human (in the mirror of animal life) and how to build happy communities.
By developing this quest for wisdom perspective into (e-)books, teaching modules and other educational forms, these old treasures are preserved and made freshly available for new generations.
The good life in the cosmopolis
Courageous as a tigre – Nour Kayali
Animal stories can be found in all cultures of the world in a colourful diversity of narratives and genres. Through their differences, these stories express a cross cultural elemental wisdom that these animals embody.
The crosscultural significance of the narrative use of animals as embodying wisdom and natural strength forms a golden opportunity for building bridges between cultures. Educational goals of the programme include the strengthening ecological and cosmopolitan values of global citizenship — such as inclusion, cultural diversity, ecological awareness and 21st century skills. In appealing artistic and educational forms, the QfWf aims to reach different target groups: children, students, parents, teachers, professionals, managers and administrators.
On the Animal Wisdom website the intercultural Wheel of Animal Wisdom categorizes the gathered animal stories from all over the world. This Wheel visualizes the overarching goal of the intercultural Animal Wisdom storytelling programme: how do the (un)wise animals mirror in a symbolic way human behaviour, virtues and mischief. The QfWf develops not a “flat moral” from those stories but a multifaceted one in artistic forms that is thought-provoking: as narrative wisdom that cultures worldwide have developed and that tells in a visual language about humanity and community building.
Intercultural Animal Wisdom
Sea Mermaid — drawing Chrisje Ronde
Communities from all over the world pass on their cultural wisdom gathered over generations in the form of stories, proverbs, symbolism and rituals.
The QfWf Storytelling program unlocks this intercultural source of wisdom and gives it appealing artistic forms, focused on connecting the stories and transcultural symbolism!
Animals embody elemental wisdom
Snake, symbol for natural wisdom – Nour Kayali
Animals represent an elementary wisdom, they display clever and vicious tricks as well as being paragons of virtue. However differently the animals are presented, according to the specific cultural and historical context in which the stories were created, in all cultural traditions animals reflect basic natural strength and wisdom.
Beautiful forms of the latter are found in the classic tales of the of the Hindu Panchatantra and the Buddhist Jatakatamala.
Also, the famous stories of the Ghanaian Anansi as well as the less famous but extraordinary adventures of cricket, chameleon and other Malagasy hero’s.
Bolinus brandaris, the purple snake — drawing Chrisje Ronde
Animals in myths, legends and fairy tales present a wise natural force: proverbial is the wisdom of the owl and the cunning of spider Anansi.
Birds in fairy tales and myths often convey messages, like the raven for example, as a mediator between the world of the gods, the humans and the underworld.
In addition to similarities, there are also interesting cultural differences. For example, almost all cultures have stories about dragons. Although they differ in shape on the one hand — sometimes more serpentine, sometimes more like a giant bird or like some kind of dinosaur — they all embody an enormous (super)natural power.
The QfWf-Mission: the Intercultural Art of Living in a Global World!
The Quest for Wisdom foundation was founded in 2016 by Heidi Muijen. With an intercultural community (the Soul Circle — Quest for Wisdom Circle), the QfWf organizes activities to promote a culture of openness and plurality: necessary ingredients for inclusion as world citizens. Each year, the Soul Circle develops a programme during Seasonal Meetings to be presented at the Annual Meeting Day. Through these activities, the Quest for Wisdom Circle spreads cosmopolitan values into our branching networks as Soul Circle — using playful artistic materials and our World Citizenship programme. In doing so, the QfWf aims to strenghten the connections between people and their cultural heritage. Thereby, contributing to an open and plural culture of world citizenship (inter-esse for cultural diversity) by tapping into one’s own and shared historical (inter)cultural roots and wisdom traditions — highlighting the underlying transcultural values of humanity, compassion and hospitality.
The “Global Citizenship of the streets” project in 2023-2024
Start of the project with world cafe dialogues – photo Marc Broens
With a subsidy from the Cultural Participation Fund, the QfWf has realized the “World Citizenship of the Street”-project in 2023-2024 in the form of a triptych in 3 phases. Reflecting on the history of slavery (phase 1); then, collecting intercultural ingredients of collective and individueal dreams of global citizenship in images, music, dance, stories and other expressions of (inter)cultural heritage (phase 2); culminating in a social experiment with collaborating partner organizations (phase 3) for global citizenship. The result is an intercultural programme with wisdom and beauty from the four corners of the world.
The QfWf method is using Art as magic and collecting inter-cultural ingredients as fuel, to be presented in meetings as well as in books: (Post)Koloniale Waarden, Amor Fati and Amor Mundi. As spinn-off, the digital platform The Golden Ratio was launched to present the World Citizenship programme; developed in collaboration with social partners: Culturele Droomwevers and Curinesa Foundation, independent artists, Robin Stemerding, Nour Kayali en Louis van Marissing, and the Wehpokamanong Cultural Group, who preserves the cultural heritage of indigenous Caraibs from Suriname in the Netherlands and passes it on to young generations. This project started in the fall 2023 with a meeting in Bussum, culminating in several meetings during the year 2024 and ended with the presentation of the books and an migrants exhibition.
These books and the exhibition were presented in the Public Library of Amsterdam (OBA) in Weesp on the 28th of September 2024, and on the 19th of October 2024 together with the residents of the Regenbooggroep, the organisation that gives shelter to migrants, refugies, homeless and people in need: exchanging cultural ingredients with music, dance and sharing food from each others cultural kitches. A ceramic statue, made by Camile Smeets was presented: this Rainbow Paradise Bird with Cosmic Egg incorporates the world dreams of the intercultural project group. On the 25th of Januari 2025 in the OBA Reigersbos, the exhibition Amor Mundi was reopened, together with the presentation of the book Amor Fati, sharing an intercultural programme with music and spoken word by Angela Gilds review on the project meetings.
The need for an intercultural art of living
Being able to deal in a human way with differences is a delicate matter in our current times. The QfWf calls for an intercultural art of living, visualised with the Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living.
The QfWf sees World Citizenship as the human answer facing the collective fear for migrants as ‘the strange others’. Tilting tendencies of hatred and agression towards a path of openness and inclusion.
The intercultural art of living is the ability to move nomadic between cultures and to be able to see the beauty of cultural differences. To enhance the art of living as world citizens the QfWf-Soul Circle organises every year around a social relevant theme an intercultural programme and presents this on its digital platform de gulden snede as well as by living encounters such as the yearly QfWf-Meeting Day.
Just like the beauty of the Golden Ratio in natural forms such as the rhythmical growth of leaves and snail shells, as well as in cultural expressions such as the principles how cathedrals are built and the musical harmony in chords.This QfWf-vision and mission to contribute to a cosmopolic world order and culture of inclusion is the core of the QfWf.
Quest for Wisdom, meandering along
Quest 1 — the Wisdom web with wisdom from all corners of the World and a digital platform to exchange ideas.
Dealing with differences has been raised as a social issue by Paul Scheffer, in his controversial article “Het multicultural drama” (2000). Then, calling the fact of living in a multicultural society a ‘drama’ raised debate, now it seems ‘the new normal’. Before that, the international debate had been heated up by Samuel P. Huntington’s terrifying perspective on the Clash of Civilizations (1996). Since then, the political debate on multicultural issues gets harder and harder, increasingly rude on the social media ….
The QfWf wants to play a role in tilting the debate
Diagram met de 17 duurzame ontwikkelingsdoelen
The QfWf wants to turn the polarized debate about migration, refugees and religious fights from a problem for ‘political experts’, to a wake up-call for all of us. As world citizens, we hear in the cry for help an ethical appeal to us, to everyone, from the current administration to our neighbours in the street.
How do we deal with, and how do we want to deal with ‘the strange other’?
That strange other can be the foreigner, the outcast, the migrant, the refugee and if we are honest, the ‘other’ we are ourselves …
In order to tilt the debate, the QfWf urges for awareness of who ‘we’ are underneath identifications with our culture, nationality, ethnicity, religion and gender: we are citizens of the cosmopolis, nomads with inter-cultural identities:
Museo Nazionale Archeologico di Taranto, Italië — foto Joke Koppius
The inter-cultural art of living means not to exclude the other as the ‘unwelcome stranger’, but to see behind our maskes ― the roles we play in society ― seeing our shared human nature, and recognizing ‘the strange other’ in ourselves! Thereby, we create space in-between us (which is in Hannah Arendts view confitional for preserving our humanity), inducing inter- and transcultural connections! This soft power, the fragility of goodness as Martha Nussbaum sees it, is our weapon of world citizenship to overcome the divide and rule power-politics, that we witness in the increasing aggression and hatred, greed and indifference, that we tolerate to rule in our world.
Recognizing the beauty of cultural differences as well as shared human values, is stronger than the fear of ‘otherness’. The road towards this challenging goal is the world of the arts and (inter-)cultural expressions: by co-creating meaningful connections between people and their cultural heritage!
Creating inter- and transcultural connections
QfWf-event in the Library of Amterdam – photo Michel Odjo
The QfWf aims to develop artistic, philosophical, social and practical inter-cultural connections through the arts and wisdom from East and West, North and South. Thereby inspiring people for an intercultural art of living as world citizens: by interacting in respect and interest for each other’s differences. To preserve values of plurality for world citizenship, requires openness within ourselves as well as in-between people by keeping in touch with our human core values, like hospitality, empathy and happiness, which truly connect us as sisters and brothers ― keeping a common playing field open for all!
Addressing life themes with symbolism across the boundaries of cultures
A workshop under QfWf guidance
Art Dialogues around the board game Amor Fati
Amor Fati is a board game to enhance the intercultural art of living: you undertake a journey across a colourful landscape full of symbolism and along the way you pick up intercultural visions and mythical wisdom.
Around the Amor Fati game board, you travel through seven game rounds that address life themes and exchange associations and experience with your travel companions for a wise way of dealing with the questions life poses.
On the journey you explore the tension between amor fati as fate of your destiny and the freedom to shape life yourself:
In a workshop to get acquainted with the intercultural art of living.
In a master class to learn how to guide this game form yourself.
From one full day to 9 half days, suitable for individuals, groups and teams
The Quintessence Game
As an introduction to the cosmopolitan art of living of Amor Fati’s there is a shorter play mode can encompassing a (half) daily Quest through the Quintessence Game
This is a wisdom card game that introduces the art of living as a group of global citizen with three different layouts and conversation formats:
Quintessence: how to connect the wisdom of earth, of water, of air and of fire to the unsaid of the fifth element?
Your Quest? Explore an issue with each other by allowing chance or fate to play a role in your exploring the question behind the question!
Oracles: How to unlock ancient wisdom from the four corners of the world by being the oracle for each other?
Sitting around the Play Table with creative materials
Around the Amor Fati game board, full of mythical-philosophical symbolism, you explore the intercultural art of living, with the aim of promoting meaningful encounters and enriching conversations as global citizens.
The board game is developed by Heidi Muijen as Human, know yourself from 2006 onwards in her philosophical counselling practice Thymia, resulting in six game forms of playing around life-themes. These are still available as a workshop as a means for personal and professional growth.
The six mythical-philosophical workshop themes:
Whereas Amor Fati is a play for which you need up to 9 half days time, there are introductory forms to get acquainted with Amor Fati from half a day to 4 half days, suitable for individuals, groups and teams:
Elemental Wisdom — Gnosis game: a quest for wisdom!
The Art of Encountering — Mask game: the strange other!
Follow your ‘Hero’s Paths’ — Hero game: play yourself!
Elementary way’s of research — Compassion game: the good life!
The Art of Dreaming — Dream game: Follow your wish!
Envisioning your view of life — Vision game: attune to your inner compass!
Around a colourful Dialogue Tablecloth full of transcultural symbolism ― around myths and philosophical and spiritual perspectives from all coners of the world. These aim to uncover the important questions behind opinions: Explore your differences in framing an issue on a quest towards the core of sense making with intercultural perspectives!
What is your Quest? is played in four rounds by means of symbolic objects and two sets of cards with Western and Intercultural perspectives from East, West, North, South.
By reflecting on the images and symbolism on the Dialogue Tablecloth, a delay of reaction is created and the conversation tilts from simply ventilating opinions, to questioning and hearing the polyphony and layering in different meanings.
Dialogues in personal and professional settings
Workshop on location
Around the playful dialogue tablecloth you engage in a dialogue, with a team, your family, a group of friends on a discovering journey. There are four dialogue rounds, with intercultural symbolism and perspectives, such as: elementary wisdom, the search in the labyrinth of life, meaningful encounters on the journey of life, how do you interpret signs as a language of the soul, listening to your moral compass.
In a workshop one becomes acquainted with a playful form of dialogue.
In a master class you learn to use a playful form around the dialogue tablecloth yourself as a professional.
From half a day to 4 half days, either in Dutch or in English
Suitable for individuals and groups: friends and family and (sports and working) teams.
You either explore a common issue or each participant explores their own question.
Through the QfWf-dialogue game The Four Winds an Educational Team of the University of Applied Sciences has explored the issue of “Inclusive Communication with our students and with each other, how?”.
With the team around the Dialogue Tablecloth Four Winds
One of the responses:
“Talking with images, or from images is sometimes easier, if you don’t know the meaning of symbols at first …. Beautiful work forms, special experiences, cheerful …. Staying with your feelings, not everything has to have a meaning in your head …. It brings you surprisingly close to the core. Norms, values, beliefs …. Free, playful, associative. Instructive how images can evoke so many different emotions.”
The Dialogue Table was developed by Heidi Muijen from 2010 onwards in her philosophical counselling practice Thymia, resulting in different forms of playful dialogues for the purpose of investigating personal, professional and social issues. The workshops around the Dialogue Tablecloth are designed to stimulate the imagination and with creative exercises, so that the participants are focussing on questioning their own frame of reference behind the issues at stake.
There are shorter (thematic) Dialogue forms, playfully tackling life themes, that are still available as a workshop as a means of personal and professional growth:
The Images in Dialogue — in four dialogue rounds to the core of an issue.
The Quest — dialogues around a triptych Past – Present – Future.
The Pythiagame — a creative oracle game to explore your own wisdom.
The Existential game — follow your own path to the good life according to ethical perspectives.
A contemplative game that is both challenging and fun
A workshop under QfWf-guidance
With Adinkra — an intercultural communication game in 2 rounds.
A workshop offers an exercise in an indirect form of communication and an introduction to traditional African wisdoms — in particular the symbols and proverbs of the Akan in Ghana.
In a masterclass one learns to use this form of play professionally
Lasts from 1 to 2 half-days, suitable for groups and teams.
Together with your team, family or other network, you first follow an introduction given by Dr. Louise Müller — an expert in the field of African and intercultural philosophy — about the background of Adinkra, the Asante culture and various philosophies of Ghana.
Also, it is possible to play Adinkra online with each other.
You can see how this intercultural communication game can also work as a digitally powerful game, by connecting within your own network!
A few impressions from participants:
“Great to experience this and see what is possible digitally.”
“Nice and creative initiative. Beautiful things also arise to keep in touch with each other.”
“It’s great that we are not being fooled by the corona virus and still meet each other in this way.”
“Very inspiring and surprisingly fun!!!”
“Adinkra, with image-rich proverbs and powerful symbols from Ghanaian culture, allows people to experience the wisdom of the Akan philosophy in a playful way”.
Workshops, guest lessons and master classes, also on location.
For teambuilding, company outings, masterclasses in cultural diversity, intercultural communication and high-context culture exercises using adinkra.
Dr. Louise F. Müller also gives workshops, guest lessons and masterclasses on location and tailored to the purpose of the meeting and the target group.
Including: an association, a club of friends, a family reunion, a cultural team outing, team training intercultural differences; guest lectures for students, teachers and other professionals, administrators and managers, who take inclusion to heart and want to further develop their skills in cultural diversity.
Workshops and masterclasses both live and online! Requests and to Purchase: info@questforwisdom.org
Hybrid play with the Game for Wisdom
Find your course in life through the Art of Living
A workshop under QfWf-guidance
The Game for Wisdom can be combined with face to face meetings― as an activity introducting the Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living!
Is suitable for individuals, groups and teams for the purpose of setting your course in life and career.
The game consists of seven rounds with questions based on intercultural symbols and stories from wisdom traditions from the East, West, North and South.
The Game for Wisdom can be combined:
Hybrid Game for Wisdom as a Pre-conference acticity
On a Quest as team for a full day or as a pre-conference activity; also in a hybrid form of training in combination with a masterclass
In a workshop in order to become acquainted with dialogue and play as a means of developing the intercultural art of living. Using intercultural symbols and stories from wisdom traditions from the East, West, North and South.
In a masterclass one learns to use this form of play professionally.
Requiring at least ½ half a day;
Also it is possible to organise a meeting of up to 3 days if desired, suitable for individuals, groups and teams.
In 2026 we have cancelled the expensive Mollie-service. As a consequence the Donation button does not work anymore. So please, donate via a bank transfer:
bankrekening IBAN: NL14TRIO0777827654
The reason for cancellation is that the monthly costs of this service are too high for our limited budget.
5: The QfWf Policy plan: the intercultural art of living
The QfWf policy is planned in detailed multi-year plans, as documented in point 9: Beleidsplan-QfWf-2024-2026
Objectives and Policy Plans stem from the QfWf Mission and Vision:
The Quest for wisdom was founded on the 20th of September 2016 by Dr. Heidi S.C.A. Muijen with the mission of fostering a culture of openness towards inclusion and cultural diversity. This objective of the foundation according to the statuten calls for an intercultural art of living as response(ablility), given the fear of ‘the strange other’ in order to develop inter-cultural connections as ‘multicultural society’ by means of:
historical awareness of the (inter)cultural roots of wisdom traditions;
interest in other cultures and wisdom traditions and
engaging in inter-esse by living encouters and cross-pollination between cultures
To this end, the QfWf-programmes are cocreated by paying attention to the cultural-historical contexts of the collected stories, rituals and symbolism from wisdom traditions from North and South, East and West on the one hand; on the other hand, by highlighting transcultural values, like hospitality, empathy and humanity through music, visual arts and other intercultural expressions, that help to transform the globalizing society.
Being able to deal well with differences is a pressing as well as delicate issue of late modern times; a social question that sparks intolerant opinions and heated political and religious debates. To stay away from polarizing discussions, the QfWf focusses on inter-cultural connections, following a path of ‘glocalization’ ― a combined perspective of ‘the local’ with ‘the global’. In this way, the QfWf aims to contribute to a cosmopolitan mindset in growing Circles of Concern (Martha Nussbaum). This integrative approach was discussed by the late emeritus professor Couwenberg on the Wisdomweb.
Dealing with differences: World Citizenship!
The QfWf activities continue to take place together with a growing circle of stakeholders, who share the mission of the foundation – as visualized and expressed in the ‘Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living’.
Therefore, the QfWf focusses on creating awareness of who ‘we’ are as citizens of the cosmopolis: nomads with intercultural identities, transcending differences in culture, race, religion, ethnicity, gender,…
Diagram with the 17 sustainable development goals
The QfWf-goal of world citizenship follows a path of developing inter-cultural artistic programmes both by tapping into the cultural and historical contexts of stories, art, music, rituals, and symbolism from various wisdom traditions, as well as creating in-between spaces through living encounters with music, visual arts, and dialogue, expressing values that connect cultures — like mercy, empathy, and humanity — to foster an ethos of world citizenship in the dynamic field of a globalizing society.
By stimulating the recognition of the beauty of our differences and shared commonality, instead of a fear of ‘otherness’, through artistic and (inter-)cultural expressions, the QfWf seeks to create space both in-between people for a human world (Hannah Arendt) and establish meaningful connections between cultures!
Hospitality, respect and inclusion and other shared values of humanity are what truly connect people as sisters and brothers ― opening a common playing field for all, established by the core value of reciprocity! Please, contact us on out vision and mission: bestuur@questforwisdom.org
The members of the board do not receive any remuneration for their work. They are, however, entitled to reimbursement of costs incurred in the performance of their duties, such as, for example, a travel allowance.
Board members cannot dispose of the assets of the institution separately. There is a separate bank account in the name of the QfWf. In addition, an annual financial overview is drawn up by the treasurer of the QfWf. This overview is discussed and adopted during an annual board meeting (at which at least 3 members of the board are present).
9: Report of the Activities Performed
The Quest for Wisdom carries out its activities through the voluntary efforts of a Circle of dedicated artists, writers, and other volunteers. The occasionally awarded grants have given the QfWf-projects a boost.
The grant applied for in 2025 by an alliance of 8 organisations to the municipality of Amsterdam was unfortunately not awarded. However, this application did provide a spin-off for a new collaboration and for exposure, such as participating at the event in Pakhuis de Zwijger in Amsterdam on 19 March 2026 during the week celebrating 60 years of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, established by the UN after the Sharpeville massacre of 21 March 1960.
In 2021 as well as in 2024 the QfWf received funding, due to the cultural and social relevance of her activities. The first grant in 2021 was given for developing an intercultural storytelling programme during the Corona lockdown which was presented on a specially designed website Animal Wisdom including an educative offer with a series of ebooks.
The second grant in 2024 on Global Citizenship resulted in organizing several events around a visual exhibition with an intercultural program and the launching of a digital platform for the Golden Ratio Quest around a yearly theme of the intercultural art of living.
Hereby,the QfWf has integrated the three Quest for Wisdom to serve the shared goal of world citizenship: through the Wisdom Web; Quest 2 ― Golden Ratio of Educative Materials; and Quest 3 ― Meet, by means of Annual Meeting Days, Workshops, Masterclasses, Newsletter ‘Spinning web’ and the Video channel.
From 2024 onwards the three Quests are integrated focussing on the enhancement of world citizenship by developing every year an intercultural artistic and educative programme which is presented on the Yearly Meeting Day as well as on the digital platform The Golden Ratio.
Awarding Cultural ANBI-status
Toekenning Culturele ANBI-status
Since its foundation in 2016 the QfWf celebrated on 6 July 2018 that it has been recognized by the Tax Authorities as a Algemeen Nut Beogende Cultural Instelling (cultural ANBI-status) with its objective and activities in retrospect since 1 January 2018.
See below the reports of QfWf-policy for activities in chronological order:
The QfWf Wisdom Collection is written by QfWf-authors, to disclose the richness of cultures worldwide with stories, music, visual arts, philosophical and spiritual traditions. Thereby, the wisdom from North, South, East and West is shown in multifaceted and artistic forms. The Wisdom Collection contains both general and intercultural essays as in-depth explorations to highlight specific artistic wisdom from cultural traditions.
These (e)books are published in the Dutch and/or English language; and sometimes multilingual. The proceeds of these (e)books will entirely benefit this programme and upcoming QfWf projects. We hope for a wide and interested audience for this entire varied series.
The first three books in the QfWf Wisdom Collection has been published in a physical form, due to a grant awarded in 2023 by the Cultural Participation Fund for the ‘QfWf Global Citizenship from the Street program’.
The fourth and next publications in the series are all ebooks (pdf).
The series opens with Amor Fati: Spelende wijsheid voor de kosmopolis in which Heidi Muijen explores the question of global citizenship through the Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living. The book thus highlights both the vision of the Quest for Wisdom foundation and the background for the board game of the same name developed by her, which addresses mythical-philosophical symbolism from the four corners of the world. A
Greg Suffanti telling about his aquarelles for Amor Fati
series of watercolours, Chinese brush paintings, drawings and collages by Greg Suffanti, Agnes Roothaan, Louis van Marissing, Annelie van Steenbergen, Caroline Young, Nour Kayali, Klaske Rehorst, Josee Tesser, Elin Maljaars, Maya Plas & Mitra Muijen depict intercultural themes as a common thread throughout the book. (NL, EN, 2024, ISBN 978 90 441 3970 9)
The second book (Post)Koloniale wa(a)r(d)en by Fred de Haas contains layered reflections on (post)colonial history: the author mirrors the Caribbean and Latin-American identity in poetry and literature, also with poems written by his own hand. The portraits of poets and historical figures in black-and-white drawings by Josee Tesser has given a lighthearted touch to this heavy history of oppression. In addition, the approximately 100 clickable links to musical interpretations bring the intercultural identities of Caribbean and Latin-American peoples into experience. (NL, ESP, Papiaments, Creools, 2025, ISBN 978-94-927-273, hard cover en ISBN 978-94-927-297, e-book)
The third book Amor Mundi: Wereldburgerschap van de straat — with editors Heidi Muijen, Klaske Rehorst en Robin Stemerding and many authors from the QfWf-Circle — documents the project ‘World Citizenship of the Street’ with art, poetry, images, raps, intercultural and philosophical reflections of the Quest for Wisdom Soul Circle how the world dream of the cosmopolis is developed into artistic forms for current contexts. (NL, EN, 2024. ISBN 978-94-92-127-198)
Hans van Rappard expertly explains the fascinating Chinese and European wisdom traditions in an intercultural-philosophical manner in e-book 4, Walking Two Roads, Accord and Separation in Chinese and Western Thought (EN. 2023. ISBN 978-94-92-127-204)
In e-book 5 Russische Zigeunerromances, Fred de Haas opens up a hitherto little-exposed genre of Gypsy Romances with its rich intercultural and historical sources. The (90!) clickable links to beautiful old and newer renditions, including the musical renditions of Fred de Haas (guitar and vocals) and Ralph Kreuter (balalaika), are surprising. (NL, RU, 2023. ISBN 978-94-92-127-211)
In e-book 6 Middeleeuwse chirurgie in woord en beeld, Marcel Reyners has made a unique combination of the drawings of Şerefeddin Sabuncuoğlu (1385–1468) with the text of ‘The Method of Medicine’ of Albucasis (936–1013). He illuminates medieval surgery, drawing on his years of life, travel and work experience. (NL. 2023, ISBN 978-94-92-127-228)
E-book 7, Ik ben iemand die intens leefde… — Bloemlezing: gedichten en illustraties by Marianne H.B. van Halewijn contains a large collection of poems and mandalas, bequeathed by the author to the Quest for Wisdom foundation. This colourful anthology expresses an intensely felt cosmic connection. (NL, 2024, ISBN 978 94 92 127 174)
E-book 8, Knipoogjes: Korte en luchtige tijdreisjes in gezelschap van Henry Bergson, consists of columns in which serious issues are light-heartedly addressed by Rosalie de Wildt. The illustrations, watercolours by Greg Suffanti, add a humorous, colourful and intercultural layer to Rosalie’s philosophical reflections. (NL, 2024, ISBN 978 94 92 127 181)
E-book 9, Het duurde maar even … – Gedichten die mij raakten consists of translations by Fred de Haas of about 60 poems in Creole, German, French, Galician, Papiamento, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian…. (NL, multilingual, 2024, ISBN 978 94 92 127 242)
E-book 10, Eye of the Tiger – Colorful Heritage of the Far East contains a unique collection of Chinese brush drawings by Caroline R. Young, interspersed with historical and mythical stories from the Far East. (EN, 2025, ISBN 978 94 92 127 259)
Volume 11, Plempius Vopiscus Fortunatus: Amsterdammer, Professor in Leuven (1633-1671), by Marcel Reyners, sketches the life of this Amsterdammer and Leuven professor and his position in the philosophical-medical debate between ancient Galenic medicine and the emerging Cartesian mechanical approach to the body. In addition to a discussion of the significance of Plempius’ work for the development of medicine, this edition contains an extensive bibliography and remarkable illustrations of medical instruments and writings that bring this time of transition to life.
(NL, 2026, ISBN 978 94 92 127 303)
In Volume 12, Traveling with an Expat: 20 Years on the Road on 3 Continents, Marie-Claire Marx describes her life as an expat, together with her husband and physician Marcel Reyners, in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Starting in 1998, they traveled to Cambodia, Albania, and Kenya and immersed themselves in the cultural and historical backgrounds of the people of these countries, including the Khmer Rouge reign of terror. This intercultural context, together with the author’s own photographic material, provides a unique perspective on the necessity of drawing historical lessons for global citizenship.
(NL, 2026, ISBN 978 94 92 127 310)
The financial benefits from these (e)books and other educational materials – which are all realised by volunteers – will entirely benefit this programme and upcoming QfWf-projects.
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On the journey you explore the tension between amor fati as fate of your destiny and the freedom to shape life yourself:
