drL is a Consciousness Amplification Instrument. It is a way of getting some of one's fundamental needs met with minimal material costs. It consists materially of a mirror, a stick, a ball of strands, two stones/rocks, a handkerchief or tissues, and stone bases for each of the other elements to sit on. Substitutions can be made for any of these elements (a bowl of water for the mirror, a ball of moss, grass, or hair for the ball of strands, a can or gourd for the bell).
At least 4 players, and up to 20, play the instrument.
Full list of elements: 1. a ball of strands 2. a mirror 3. a bowl-style bell 4. a stick to ring the bell with 5. two "trophies"/pawns/stones 6. a flat heart-shaped stone for the ball to sit on 7. a triangle stone for the bell to sit on 8. a square stone for the trophies to sit on 9. and something to wipe away tears with (a box of tissues, for most Americans, or, more sustainably, a pile of handkerchiefs--it indicates that all emotions are welcome).
The mirror sits in the middle, it is the base of the instrument. The other elements (ball, bell, and trophies) sit on their bases around the mirror, with the bases touching the mirror:
(bell) (mirror) (ball of strands)
(trophies)
Gestures/moves:
1 The main move is speech; to speak, one player picks up and holds the ball of strands.
1a. The other main move is mirroring back of what the person with the voice says. The gesture to offer mirroring is a flat hand pointing toward the speaker. If the speaker accepts mirroring, you say back to them what you heard them say, in your own words, while watching the speaker. The speaker continues to hold the ball of strands throughout.
2 While that one player holds the ball of strands, any other player can request to interject a short, supportive, or clarifying-question interjection, by pointing two fingers (crossing your fingers) at the ball. The player holding the ball can either accept or decline the request for an interjection.
3 If you are emotionally overwhelmed or triggered, you can pick up one of the trophies, and hand the voice ball to someone to be your "trusted voice" to facilitate you through your feelings. Or if your inner thoughts are too loud to allow you to stay present with hearing the words of the others in the group.
The person you have asked to be your "trusted voice" to facilitate you through your feelings asks: a. What does your breathing feel like? And echo back what they hear; b. What are you sensing in your body? and echo back c. What are you feeling? and echo back. Then repeat the cycle of questions over again until you put the trophy back down or say you are done.
When you feel complete with the emotion, you either a) put the trophy back or b) make a request of the group or of an individual in the group and then put the trophy back.
(The second trophy is for a second person's need while a first person is using the first trophy)
4 The bell is rung to indicate strong emotional resonance with or relating to something another player has said. It can be held up or for artistic expression/nonverbal expression.
5. The ringer/stick is for silence (hold it up to pause the speech; as long as it is held up, silence is requested).
6 Lastly, the mirror sits in the middle of the instrument, a constant and visceral reminder that the outside is a reflection of the inside, and that the other is a reflection of the self and vice versa. The bases for the other elements--the flat rocks--should ideally touch the mirror.
Again, this is by no means a definitive explanation. This is more of an oral transmission, and coinventor Saras Cee has said it usually requires in-person teaching to learn it initially.
This makes transmission of the instrument challenging. And it points to the fact that the value of the experience may be far beyond what has been put in words here, or what has entered the public sphere so fa
See also
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