each chamber – secrets form,
And leave their nest when they are grown.
Seasons carve their own distinctions—
Some take flight, while some find roots,
In the search for meaning’s essence,
Each cell dives in its pursuit.
Misty myths weave through our readings,
Chirps now filled with archetypes,
And we have waited for Elizaveta,
Returning from her touring rites.
Book Club / Roxana Ruinskaya:
The story of Theseus is astonishing.
His feats are breathtaking – he was not just a brave and handsome hero, but a symbol of Athenian statehood.
The more I learn about him, the greater his cult appears.
His actions, from defeating the Minotaur to descending into the Underworld, are impressive.
Yet I find his Underworld journey reckless and foolhardy.
The tragedy of his father, Aegeus, who leapt into the sea after hearing false news of his son’s death, shows how deeply Theseus’ fate was intertwined with grand deeds and symbols.
His ritual purification after shedding blood carries deep symbolism.
Book Club / Victoria Kurbanova:
Honestly, I didn’t know that Heracles acted under the orders of the cowardly Eurystheus.
I’ve read up to his ninth labor, and the story that struck me most was the one about Admetus.
Though Admetus was meant to die, he sent his wife to the Underworld instead.
Then, consumed by grief, he was ready to follow her.
This situation feels strange – Admetus comes off as a coward, unwilling to accept his fate.
Meanwhile, Heracles proved himself a true warrior, defeating Thanatos and bringing Alcestis back.
However, it saddens me that despite all his strength, Heracles was forced to serve Eurystheus.
Eurystheus seemed like a man who had no idea what he truly wanted.
Heracles’ labors were merely a tool for Eurystheus to destroy him.
And yet, I kept wondering:
Why did Heracles so obediently carry out his commands, never defying them even once?
JULY
July 1, 2024: Guild of Plastics and Dance
Elizaveta Yuryevna Matvievich:
Today, we officially began working with material.
There were many debates, though not everyone participated.
For the first time, I had the thought that some might not make it to the end with us.
However, there were more positive moments, and about eight learners pleased me with their thoughts and ambitions.
The main difficulties arose from linear thinking and the rejection of alternative perspectives.
I am trying to understand the nature of this process.
July 1, 2024: Guild of Autonics
Roman Evgenievich Akimov:
Despite the abnormal heat in Moscow, our sessions are always accompanied by storms and rain.
The beginning of the lesson was dedicated to perception, and I noted an important point:
Learners are trying to cross the threshold from “themselves” to freedom.
They must not dream but be the dream – for themselves and for their partners.
This helps them approach the structure of the unconscious and psychological phenomena.
Gradually, they are mastering this new language, learning to speak it not only with themselves but with others.
Next, we had a demonstration of associative exercises for two impulses:
• “Impulse”
• “Unfolding”
I was very pleased with their execution.
We then assigned roles for excerpts from William Shakespeare’s Macbeth:
• Angelina Puzikova – Nini Lemann
• Valentina Shulga – Sergey Bosov
• Yulia Vorobyova – Lima Rasulova
• Alina Balakina – Mikhail Russkikh
• Roxana Ruinskaya – Pavel Yuster
In the second part of the session, learners read their short stories.
This was a profound experience, so much so that we decided to create a Guild book.
Each story is important to me, as they reveal the depth of learners’ immersion in the process of world-building.
All the stories created a feeling of genuine artistic “heart-stopping” moments.
Title: Shirts with Creases
Author: Yulia Vorobyova
How quickly clouds transform.
A mere moment – and everything has changed.
They live their own lives, parallel to ours.
We can watch them endlessly, yet we will never truly know the stories they live.
The house was filled with the stifling heat of a July afternoon.
Even the ice in the freezer felt hot.
The suitcase was nearly packed, except for the laundry still drying in the bathroom.
In a couple of hours, it would be ready to fold, but the train wouldn’t depart for another twelve.
Was there any point in folding it so early?
It would wrinkle, become crumpled, and develop creases that would serve as a reminder of how long it had lain there.
The smoke of a cigarette filled the room, making the air dense.
By evening, the heat had worsened, and a puddle formed beneath the fridge.
I had to take a shirt from the suitcase and toss it under the fridge.
“Dear passengers, the train from Platform One will depart in two minutes…”
He waited, but she never came.
The train slowly pulled away from the station, and out the window, shirts with creases flew.
It no longer mattered – they would never be ironed out.
July 2, 2024: Guild of the M. Chekhov Method
Guest: Anastasia Vladislavovna Xenofontova
Today, I was introduced to the learners.
At first, there was some resistance, but by the middle of the session, it melted away, transforming into interest and acceptance.
During the training, vivid and metaphorical images emerged, leading us to unexpected discoveries.
The key image that arose was “Birth.”
It felt as if we had known each other for a long time, understanding one another without