Here we are in the first workshop and what do I find – I cannot connect to the wireless network. Immediately, a window arrives that I don’t understand, “Windows is disabling your network adapter.” I’ll use Word instead.

So anyway, I’m in the first workshop with Dannie Just, an interesting woman – a physicist, a writer undergoing deep analysis, exploding taboos. The biggest taboo in the past year she tells me has been exploding the taboo about therapy and payment for therapy.

Now we are looking at the content of the workshop. She is asking the question, “What would make the workshop successful for you?” and before that, Dannie feels there is another conversation in answer to the question,
“What do we have permission to do here?”

We’ve had the introductions. And how we want to use the time. She says only that there will be a ten-minute break at 9.50am and 10.50am. And we shall reconvene on the hour sharp.

Dannie says, "My disciplines are critical thinking and action research. I am a writer, I often think out loud. I am liberal and challenging in use of words and beliefs." Later, she apologises that her language is often littered with swear words.

An exchange with a young woman,
“You look curious?”
“I am wondering what will happen now?”
“What do you want out of life?”
“I don’t know?”
“Do you mind if I use this interaction to illustrate something?”
A hesitant yes.

What is your motive for coming to a workshop about creativity?
Yes, you are curious, but what is the motivation?
What do you dream about? What do you want to do with your life?

A debate about whether LIFT08 is a Christian conference, and whether another participant is giving permission for the convenor to attack his (presumed) Christian beliefs. And whether the answers to the questions would be different in another country, with another philosophy.

Dannie asks,
“Do I have permission to interact in an intimate way, a challenging way?
What do you think about that?”

“I would like less light."
"What does the crowd think?”
“Individuals think”
“We can not make an informed decision unless we see what it is like without light.”
The lights are turned off.
“That’s better.”
“I would like more light”
“I cannot see to take notes.”
“We could try variations.”
“Maybe just the lights at the front … in the middle … shining on you, the speaker.”
“No, I cannot see.”
“Here is a place at the front, in the light.”
“No, I like it here.”
“Okay, where is the darkest place in the room, I will sit there.” He moves.
“You do have a problem with your eyes, don’t you?”
To the audience, “He is not just being a primadonna.”

Some lights have gone off, the light sensitive person has moved.

We have been asked the key question for the workshop. I have missed it. I was busy recording the interaction above. For some people (me), this will still be a compromise. I am being polite. I would like the lights off, I would like a glass of water.

We are held in thrall by Dannie and her challenging ways.

She writes on a blackboard.
“What are your dreams?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Why are you in a workshop about creativity?”
“What do you want to take away?”

Silence.

“All right,” she says, “two minutes, who has some ideas? Who has an answer?”

Very (I imagine) University-style, my collaborators(?) answer the convenor.
Why is there a pre-occupation with creativity? Someone asks.
My thoughts indeed, and for some months now.

Some desires from the audience (is that the correct word?)

- use thinking to get at the core of what I want to do?
- another idea or two
- why is creativity a preoccupation in today’s society?
- what is the relationship between creativity and spirituality?
- what is Utopia for each one of us?
- what is the link between individual creativity and social utopia?
- maybe some handy recipe for avoid uncreativity? (Dannie: “I don’t like that”)
- go beyond my perception through interaction and dialogue
- I want to be a different person when I leave
- listen, learn, apply (humility and modesty)
and later, coming up lazily behind…
- laziness

Another suggestion.
“Your idea is similar to this one – do you see yourself in there?”
“Yes”
“You’re sure? Be greedy. I am not afraid of failure.”

An aside between myself and another participant:
“Are you connected to the Internet?”
“Yes, the instructions are here.”

Nick, to my right, has a conversation with Dannie in the break, while I am fiddling with my computer. They are talking about flow. He says, “Flow exists in utopia and dystopia. One is a journey and one is a destination.” Which is which? I wonder to myself.

But I have had a shot of coffee and bought some water.

“What is it you want to take home from this interaction? We have two hours minus the breaks”

Another exchange.
“I will tell you why I don’t like that”
“Did I break a taboo?”
“You and I are not emotionally involved with each other.”
“Not yet.”
“I like to keep things clean. Involvement and interaction are different. Interaction is in the present. Involvement brings history and anticipation and affects a person’s response.”
“My fault!”
“Uncreativity. Is it a word? What is something you associate with a lack of creativity?”
“I don’t know. Is it dogma?”

We have an agenda.
That’s good.
I’m at the end of the page.

Dannie washes her hands.