wisdom

Contact

Mailing Address:
Middenstraat 71
1381 XB WEESP

call: (+31) 0294 – 48 13 10
m: (+31) 06 12 601 349
e: info@questforwisdom.org

w: questforwisdom.org
w: wijsheidsweb.nl
w: animal-wisdom.org
w: Rad van interculturele levenskunst – Game Quest for Wisdom
w: De Gulden Snede

Chamber of Commerce: 66872588
IBAN: NL14TRIO0777827654
RSIN: 856734135

On the Golden Ratio platform:
the Wisdomweb;
Animal Wisdom storytelling
the Game Quest for Wisdom the QFWF videochannel
are integrated as programmes of the Quest for Wisdom foundation

 

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    Space to play — Board Games and Dialogue Tables

    Playfulness creates space for establishing meaningful connections between people, which fosters encounters that both entertain, educate and stimulate the participants: by letting go of our compulsion of norms, codes and traditionally learned frameworks and allowing a new interplay to arise in the in-between space…. Feeling free to explore different perspectives together and to agree on appropriate rules for what is at stake.

    The Quest for Wisdom foundation has created the Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living, on which the game Amor Fati elaborates, enhancing Global Citizenship. The book with the same title explains the board game as well as the philosophy of the Wheel as the intercultural art of living. Lecturer Michiel de Ronde says about this book:

    “I see your work as a great reassessment, also revaluation, of the pre-modern world orientation. All those profound insights and life-creating practices that were often worshipped or cursed through hierarchical dominance, you present within a depth perspective of an endless horizontal mythic-human field, through which the world can become a home for all beings and people can meet on the basis of dialogue and appreciation.”

    NL/EN, 2024, ISBN 978 90 441 3970 9

    Also the bilingual Dialogue Tables Four Winds (De Vier Winden) is developed to enhance an open cosmopolitan culture as global citizens. The Adinkra-game consists of a set of cards with Akan symbols and proverbs, ordered according to the wisdom of the five elements earth, water, air, fire and ether — in a way that the Ghanaian elemental wisdom might be compared to European visions on the natural elements.

    There are more World Games and teaching modules (to be) developed, in which intercultural perspectives are playfully and dialogically incorporated.

    World Games — for the Cosmopolis

    QfWf-Archive — Mythical-Philosophical Boardgames

    Playful Dialogues — the Dis-covering Dialogue Table

    Purchase of Educative Materials

    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.

    Update 2025-02

    Space to play — Board Games and Dialogue Tables Read More »

    Dream Game: Follow your Wish!

    Know yourselfGnosis GameMasquerade GameHero GameCompassion GameDream GameVision game

    Board Game to follow your wish in a dreamlike landscape

    Game Board of Dream Game: Follow your Wish!

    A preliminary round is based on a creative exercise that depicts the dream wish of the players and determines their starting position, linked to their chosen element (earth, water, air, fire) and their chosen attitude in life. Players then place their pawn on one of the eight frames with principles of happiness through which they enter the dreamlike landscape on the game board. They choose a game supervisor from among themselves who will guide the group through the game on the basis of the Instruction Guide.

    The journey then begins by following the labyrinthine paths with mythical-philosophical symbols in five rounds, devoted to life themes.

    In a ‘harvesting’ seventh round on the elemental Places of Arrival, the players reflect on their individual journies and its significance for their (working) everyday life.

    The Power of Interplay and Dialogue

    The dialogues around the game board introduce mythical-philosophical perspectives, tapping into the intuitive knowledge of the players. It is precisely the enigmatic questions and symbols that add an out-of-the-box and metaphorical language about everyone’s dreams and wishes, while the game cards shed light on the insights gleaned from the philosophical art of living. Players are invited to give meaning to what is at stake, and explore the situation into which they have been thrown by the dice (symbolic of chance or destiny). What leeway do you see and how do you give direction on your path of life?

    In-between space …

    Workshop Dream Game: Follow your wish!

    Playing the game calls for some self-reflection, and yet at the same time it is appealing to meet each other in the ‘in-between space’ which is created. Both individually and in a small group, you wander a labyrinthine path across the game board: a landscape full of symbolism. By letting the visual language and the myths speak, an ‘as if’ space is created. While travelling, your own life feels like a dream and your dreams come true…

    The game rounds are devoted to basic life themes: authenticity, education, ups and downs, crises and tragedy, encounters on life’s journey and finding your destiny (the centre of the game board). While making choices in the game, players will experience the existential tension between the power of destiny and following your own course, necessary to find your own true orientation in life.

    ISBN: 978-90-822774-7-0 — Droomspel: doe je droomwens!

    • Wisdom game for investigating a personal motivation and guiding values in life and work contexts, by playfully practicing the philosophical and mythical art of living.
    • Duration: 1 day to six half-days, for 3 to 8 players.
    • Also applicable for groups and teams of up to 24 people (with a counsellor and suitable working materials) to explore the interplay between personal and professional values and to empower relational qualities and enhance developmental processes.

    Playing Materials

    2 Boxes containing:

    Dream Game: Follow your wish!
    • Board game, Playing Fields en Overview:
      1 game board Landscape of happiness;
      1 playing field Dreaming in the Mirror of Myths;
      1 playing field Alchemy of the Soul;
      1 playing field Temple of Life’s Riddles;
      1 Overview per round of playing cards and rings
    • Playing cards and rings:
      3*32 Cards of rounds;
      3*4 Cards of Elementary way’s;
      6 rings with forces of prosperity and adversary;
      20 Cards of Destiny
    • Playing attributes:
      1 sic coloured dice;
      1 whirlabout;
      1 hourglass (of about 3 minutes);
      1 CD Dream travelling and Heroic Dreams (Droomreizen en Heldendromen) with 22 songs
    • Playing figures/ pawns:
      2 green, 2 red, 2 yellow en 2 blue wooden playing figures;
      2 green, 2 red, 2 yellow en 2 blue hats for the playing figures
    • 120 Elements of happiness:
      30 green — Earth;
      30 red — Fire;
      30 yellow — Air;
      30 blue — Water
    • Working materials:
      1 Instruction Guide with
      8 Fill-in form for the exercises in the game My Life’s Myth.

    Inquire: info@questforwisdom.org

    Explore the motivational power of dreams!

    Read more (NL): Het innerlijk kompas door Heidi Muijen, supervisie en coaching
    See (NL): Workshop cyclus met het Droomspel
    Video (NL) over de filosofie van het spel en de opbouw van de spelronden.

    Philosophical Lantern in the Round of Education

    Update 2022-07

    Dream Game: Follow your Wish! Read More »

    Quest 1: Wisdom Web

    The Wisdom Web is dedicated to the intercultural art of living.

    At its core are values of inclusion of different cultures and the beauty of being different.

    At the Wisdom Web, wisdom from all over the world is collected and presented in a special symbolic way.

    In this sense, collecting, arranging, developing and presenting — via the Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living — takes place in a very unique way, emphatically distinguished and handled differently than, for example, Wikipedia and other (open source) encyclopedias do.

    In doing so, the QfWf wants to contribute to intercultural connections based on the realization that these:

    • grow through awareness of the historical roots of cultures,
    • thrive on interest in other cultures and wisdom traditions and
    • bear fruit through encounters and cross-cultural perspectives.

    The Wisdom Web continues to grow organically, with a rich palette of philosophical, artistic and spiritual expression and reflections, which concretize the Wheel of the Intercultural Art of Living.
    This is accomplished thanks to the input of various QfWf-authors[1]

    update 2022-07

    [1] QfWf authors are authors, actors, artists, designers, drafters, photographers, illustrators, video and film makers and other producers of text, images, sound, and stakeholders who make the texts and other materials available to a QfWf-site have made.

    Quest 1: Wisdom Web Read More »

    Animal Wisdom Collection

    Golden Ratio CollectionsAnimal Wisdom Collection — Wisdom Collection

    Inter-Cultural Storytelling

    Dieren WijsheidWisdom of AnimalsBuddha as an AnimalCaught in the Cosmic WebGevangen in het Kosmische WebJewels of Indian FolkloreMadagaskar, Land van Orale Cultuur, Lemuren en Kameleons

    The Animal Wisdom Collection aims to unlock cosmopolitan and ecological wisdom from cultural traditions worldwide. It consists of an intercultural storytelling programme, developed from the artistic and philsophical presentations on this theme at the Meeting Days 2019-2021 and the QfWf-project for the development of a digital intercultural lesson on fables worldwide and the website Animal Wisdom, honoured by the Fund Zuidoost i.c.w. Prince Bernard Culture Fund. The aim of the Animal Wisdom Programme is to show the beauty of cultural diversity of animal stories from all corners of the world on the one hand and, on the other hand, the cultures uniting cosmopolitan and ecological values expressed in the fables. Developing the ‘elemental’ wisdom that transcends the boundaries of cultures is the focus of this series of (e)books.

    Caribean stories on Nanzi the Spider – Mirelva Romano

    The natural power that animals embody — attributed to animals in fairy tales, legends, myths, and other stories — show this elemental wisdom known to cultures worldwide. It is a symbolic form of wisdom, holding up a mirror to humans on how to shape the good life in the cosmopolis. These cultures transcending values in stories offer a perspective beyond value relativism and power politics by mono-cultural, polarizing and oppressive ideologies on the world stage. 

    QfWf-Authors and artists have collected animal wisdom stories worldwide from various genres. They have processed these stories in new and appealing and artistic forms. In doing so, they introduce readers both to cross-cultural wisdom in a variety of genres as well as to stories (traditions) from specific cultural regions.


    Dieren Wijsheid ― uit Noord, Zuid, Oost en West

    Heidi Muijen
    NL, 2022
    ISBN: 978 94 921 27 099
    201 pages, pdf
    Purchase: Dieren Wijsheid

    and

    Wisdom of Animals ― North, South, East and West

    Heidi Muijen and Greg Suffanti
    EN, 2022
    ISBN: 978 94 921 27 105
    177 pages, pdf
    Purchase: Wisdom of Animals

    This e-book explains the QFWF storytelling program.

    It unlocks the philosophy behind the Intercultural Wheel of Animal Wisdom.

    This e-book contains 20 animal stories from four cultures: Snake, Salmon, Raven, Lion and other (mythical) animals are always highlighted from the North, South, East and West.

    Sninniq Wild Woman – story of the indigenous Northern American people – Greg Suffanti

    In all the stories, original works by visual artists — Caroline Young, Chrisje Ronde, Greg Suffanti, Louis Van Marissing, Nour Kayali, Robin Stemerding and Veronica HuisintVeld — express the wisdom that these animals embody. Just like the photos by Adri de Groot, Gea Smit, Heidi Muijen, Johann Gomes, Joke Koppius, Laurens Gomes, Maike Stegeman, Marie-Claire Marx, Miny Verberne and Moniek Steggerda.

    Due to the appealing stories and artistic forms, this animal wisdom drawn from all over the world, feeds the soul very directly – even without having to decipher the symbolism – and in addition, reflections by Dr. Heidi Muijen on all stories provides food for reflection on how animals as strange birds, smart foxes and courageous lions can develop ‘global citizenship’.

    This book is available in a Dutch version and in an English version


    Buddha as an Animal

    Greg Suffanti
    EN, 2022
    ISBN: 978 94 921 27 075
    61 pages, pdf
    Purchase: Buddha as an Animal

    The third eBook is Buddha as an Animal, as Originally Told in the Jatakamala by Arya Shura, and features classic Buddhist stories retold by Greg Suffanti. Several stories are in poetic form and one can be heard as a rapversie!
    It is sung how the Bodhisattva, reborn as Dhritarashtra, king of the geese, spread the wondrous Dharma….

    Read how a woodpecker, rabbit, buffalo, elephant and other wise animals from the east also embody Buddhist virtues!
    In addition, Greg has illustrated the stories with his watercolours.
    This e-book contains all of the stories from the Mahayana Buddhist Jatakamala Narratives in which Buddha is represented as an animal.

    In English


    Caught in the Cosmic Web — Ghanaian Folk Tales in the Twenty-First Century

    Kofi Dorvlo and Louise Müller
    EN, Akan/Twi, and Ewe, 2022
    ISBN: 978 94 921 27 112
    130 pages, pdf
    Purchase: Caught in the Cosmic Web

    and

    Gevangen in het Kosmische Web — Ghanese Volksverhalen in de 21e Eeuw

    Heid Muijen and Johann Gomes
    NL, Ewe en standard Akan/ Twi, 2022
    ISBN: 978 94 921 27 028
    circa 140 pages, pdf
    Purchase: Gevangen in het Kosmische Web

    Ghanaian stories about the spider Anansi and other African animals. Twenty Animal stories straight from the modern oral tradition, put in writing for the first time by Dr. Kofi Dorvlo… can be found in the 4th and 5th e-book! With an introduction by Dr. Louise Müller. Josee Tesser’s cheerful illustrations bring the old Ghanaian stories to life for today’s readers with her refreshing and artistic interpretations.

    As experts in African Studies, Louise Müller and Kofi Dorvlo shed light on how the spider Anansi, when encountering other animals, demonstrates both his wit and criticism of the greed, stupidity and arrogance found in human society.

    Two trilingual e-books:

    English, standard Akan/Twi and Ewe — and
    Dutch, standard Akan/Twi and Ewe.


    Jewels of Indian Folklore ― Blurring and Blending of Cultures

    Nivedita Yohanna and Greg Suffanti
    EN, 2022
    ISBN: 978 94 921 27 136
    173 pages, pdf
    Purchase: Jewels of Indian Folklore

    The sixth eBook contains 20 traditional Indian stories: some are retellings by Dr. Nivedita Yohana and Greg Suffanti of stories from, among others, the classic Panchatantra — from the ancient Hindu Vedic tradition.

    In addition, Nivedita and Greg, inspired by this old storytelling tradition, have created a number of original stories themselves. Enjoy the timeless wisdom, which is reflected in the coexistence of animals, with difficult confrontations between a jackal and tiger, the servitude of the camel, the arrogance of the young tiger and the witticisms of a monkey. Each ‘moral of the story’ has been brought to the fore with practical and fun exercises for students and reflections on the virtues that the animals represent.

    Together, the authors illuminate the meaning of these stories and their roots in the Vedic tradition.
    Nour Kayali’s original drawings and oil paintings and Greg’s watercolors depict the mythical wisdom of these animal tales.

    In English.


    Madagaskar, Land van Orale Cultuur, Lemuren en Kameleons

    Marcel Reyners
    NL, 2023
    ISBN: 978 94 921 27 129
    316 pages, pdf
    Purchase: Madagaskar, Land van Orale Cultuur, Lemuren en Kameleons

    It was English and Norwegian missionaries who were the first to record their folktales, before Madagascar became a French colony in 1895. In few similar countries was there such a wealth of oral tradition in all its forms.

    Dr. Marcel Reyners takes us along in the 7th e-book to a series of Malagasy animal stories. Such as the story of the healing of the king’s only daughter, which provides a fascinating explanation of why the locust serves as food for the chameleon.

    Illustrated with animal and embroidery pictures by Malagasy women, and with original illustrations by Mirelva Romano and watercolours by Greg Suffanti.

    In Dutch.


    Purchase of Educative Materials

    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.

    Update 2025-02

    Animal Wisdom Collection Read More »

    Golden Ratio Collections

    Golden Ratio CollectionsAnimal Wisdom Collection — Wisdom Collection

    Books of Wisdom for the Cosmopolis

    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, given the hardening social debate. With a cosmopolitan ethos, transcultural values and practices to unite people and make connection between 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 … By disseminating the developed artistic materials as inspiring examples of global citizenship in wider circles of concern. 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 links cultures, however different they may be. This transcultural phenomenon of Animal Wisdom storytelling forms the basis on which the QfWf-authors have collected narratives on Animal Wisdom, 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:

    1. Dieren Wijsheid ― uit Noord, Zuid, Oost en West
    2. Wisdom of Animals ― North, South, East and West
    3. Buddha as an Animal ― Boeddha wijsheid  met vertellingen uit de boeddhistische Jatakatamala.
    4. Caught in the Cosmic Web — Ghanaian Folk Tales in the Twenty-First Century
    5. Gevangen in het Kosmische Web — Ghanese Volksverhalen in de 21e Eeuw
    6. Jewels of Indian Folklore ― Blurring and Blending of Cultures
    7. Madagaskar, Land van Orale Cultuur, Lemuren en Kameleons

    Golden Ratio Collections — Authors with Wild Hair

    QfWf-event on Global Citizenship -Presentation Amor Mundi

    Two series of the Wisdom Book Collection are aiming at passing on old treasures to new generations in appealing, contemporary forms. The QfWf-Circle of authors with Wild Hair have collected these as (e)books in the (Animal) Wisdom Collection — since 2024 around a yearly theme of social importance in artistic and musical forms that is collected on the QfWF-platform The Golden Ratio.

    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 to make the cosmopolitan future happen.

    Boekpresentation Amor Fati in the OBA Reigersbos 25 jan 2025

    Amor Fati, containing “playing wisdom for the cosmopolis” opens the Wisdom Collection. This first as well as the third book from the Series, Amor Mundi documenting the development of the World Citizenship Project, were presented in 2024-2025 at the Amsterdam Public Library, locations Weesp and Reigersbos, with a colourful intercultural programme, thanks to many involved hands and hearts of the project-group and the QfWf Soul Circle.
    Amor Fati describes the QfWf background philosophy of the eponymous board-game as well as 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.

    Wisdom (e-book) Collection:

    1. Amor Fati: exploring the Quest For Wisdom vision;
    2. Koloniale wa(a)r(d)en: enlightening the historical colonial context of the Caribean intercultural identities, poetry and music. 
    3. Amor Mundi: documenting the QfWf-project on “Global Citizenship”;
    4. Walking Two Roads, Accord and Separation in Chinese and Western Thought;
    5. Russische Zigeunerromances: presenting the Gypsy romances with its rich cross-cultural and historical sources;
    6. Middeleeuwse Chirurgie in Woord en Beeld: with drawings by Şerefeddin Sabuncuoğlu (1385-1468) with the text of “The Method of Medicine” by Albucasis (936-1013).
    7. Ik ben iemand die intens leefde … — Bloemlezing: gedichten en illustraties: een grote collectie gedichten en gedigitaliseerde mandala’s die uiting geven aan een intens doorvoelde kosmische verbondenheid.
    8. Knipoogjes: Korte en luchtige tijdreisjes in gezelschap van Henry Bergson, bestaat uit columns waarin wezenlijke kwesties lichtvoetig worden aangekaart;
    9. Het duurde maar even … – Gedichten die mij raakten: gedichten met vertalingen en bewerkingen van zo’n 40-tal dichters in Creools, Duits, Frans, Galicisch, Papiaments, Portugees, Spaans en Russisch …;
    10. Eye of the Tiger – Colorful Heritage of the Far East bevat een unieke verzameling Chinese penseeltekeningen met historische en mythische verhalen uit het verre oosten.

    Purchase of Educative Materials

    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.

    Update 2025-02

    Golden Ratio Collections Read More »

    Workshops and Masterclasses

    Meet — Meeting Day — Workshops en Masterclasses — QfWf-Soul-Circle — Video-channel and Newsletter

    The Quintessence Game introducing Amor Fati — Art Dialogues around the Dialogue Table — Intercultural Communication, Adinkra MasterclassHybrid play forms with the game Quest for WisdomGolden Ratio Educational 


    The Board Game on Global Citizenship: Amor Fati

    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?

    Interested? Please, contact us info@questforwisdom.org or order directly in our Wisdom Shop

    Art Dialogues around the Play Table

    From Drive to Resilience

    A workshop under QfWf-guidance

    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!

    More information, Requests and to Purchase: info@questforwisdom.org


    Art Dialogues around the Dialogue Table

    From Imagination to Vision

    Workshop with the Playful Dialogue tablecloth

     

    A workshop under QfWf-guidance

    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?”.

    Een teamdag rond het dialoogtafelkleed Vier Winden over het thema interculturele communicatie
    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.”

    Requests: info@questforwisdom.org
    Or purchase directly in our shop: Vier Winden of Four Winds


    The Art of Dialogue

    Playing materials of the Dialogue Four Winds

    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.

    More information, Requests and to Purchase: info@questforwisdom.org


    Intercultural Communication, Adinkra Masterclass

    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.
    • Purchase and Request: info@questforwisdom.org

    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!!!”

    Klassiek Adinkra symbool — funtumfunafu-denkyemfunafu

    Louise Müller on the game Adinkra:

    “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.

    More information, Requests and to Purchase: info@questforwisdom.org


    Golden Ratio Educational — Courses and Teaching Modules

    Intercultural education, workshops on how to innovate the curriculum

    With Ecological Wisdom, Global Citizenship and 21st Century Skills taken from Ancient Traditions:

    • For Basic education in primary and secondary education
    • For MBO and HBO
    • Further reading information.

    Update 2025-02

    Workshops and Masterclasses Read More »

    Wisdom Collection (e-)books

    Golden Ratio CollectionsAnimal Wisdom Collection — Wisdom Collection

    Amor Mundi presented in the OBA Weesp

    The QfWf Wisdom Collection was born from the wisdom of wildhaired QfWf authors, who open up the richness of cultures worldwide with stories, music, visual arts, philosophical and spiritual traditions to a wide readership in their own way. They show wisdom from North, South, East and West in breadth, in multifaceted and artistic forms. Collections that go into more depth and highlight specific artistic wisdom from cultural traditions will also appear in the QfWf Wisdom Collection.

    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 will be published in a physical form, partly 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 Meso-American identity in poetry and literature, also with poems written by his own hand. Josee Tesser has enlivened this charged history with portraits of poets and historical figures in striking and humorous black-and-white drawings. In addition, the approximately 100 clickable links to musical interpretations bring the intercultural identities of Central and South American peoples into experience. (NL, 2025, ISBN 978 90 441 3973 0)
    • The editoral board of the third book Amor Mundi — Heidi Muijen, Klaske Rehorst en Robin Stemerding — documents the QfWf 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 makes this invaluable combinations of the drawings of Şerefeddin Sabuncuoğlu (1385–1468) with the text of ‘The Method of Medicine’ of Albucasis (936–1013). about illuminated medieval surgery available to a broad Dutch-speaking audience – drawing on his years of life, travel and work experience with his richly flowing and literary pen. (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 digitised 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 essential issues are light-heartedly addressed by philosopher Rosalie de Wildt. The illustrations, watercolours by Greg Suffanti, add a humorous, colourful and intercultural layer to Rosalie’s philosophical outings. (NL, 2024, ISBN 978 94 92 127 181)
    • E-book 9, Het duurde maar even … – Gedichten die mij raakten by Fred de Haas contains about 60 poems with translations and adaptations by about 40 poets in Creole, German, French, Galician, Papiamento, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian…. (NL, multilingual, 2024, ISBN 978 94 92 127 242)
    • E-book10, 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)

    QfWf-Wisdom Collection — Wild Hair 

    Purchase of educational materials

    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.

    Update 2024-12

    Wisdom Collection (e-)books Read More »