Divine Play

Before human beings ever prayed, they played. In fact, a form of spirituality revolving around the notion of divine play predates all of the world's religions. According to various creation myths, the entire universe was created from a vibration of love and joy. When human beings play, we tap into this vibration in a way that brings spiritual fulfillment to ourselves and others. 

At a time when growing numbers of people are becoming disillusioned with organized religion, many are discovering the benefits of divine play. Increasingly, Americans are showing that they prefer playing to praying.  A study conducted by Dr. Victor Shamas at the University of Arizona showed that people play more often than they pray and consider playing more beneficial in improving mood and relieving stress.

“Playing and praying are more alike than one might think,” explains Shamas. “They stem from the same psychological needs and offer similar benefits.” Shamas defines play as an activity that is done purely for its own sake.  “When we are engaged in play,” he claims, “there is no goal that needs to be achieved, nowhere else we need to be, nothing else we need to do, and nobody else we need to become. Just playing is enough.” 

In his new book, The Way of Play: Reclaiming Divine Fun and Celebration, Shamas describes a spiritual path that embraces music, rhythm, movement, laughter and other forms of play. What transforms play into something divine are the following qualities to which each of us can aspire:

• Openness. We enter into the path with a sense of trust that the divine essence abides in all things--including ourselves.
• Surrender. Through our play, we seek to let go of all our concerns and preoccupations so that we can experience the world in a new way.
• Selflessness. We share whatever benefits we gain from our play with others, remembering that "the more, the merrier."
• Lineage. We learn by example from the adept teachers who have come before us and who have mastered the path of divine play.
• Inspiration. When we play, we immerse ourselves fully in the love and joy that our play generates.
• Make-believe. We imagine something; then we act as if it were real; and then we make it real.
• Consecration. Through our divine play, we can consecrate all of creation, acknowledging the divine essence that abides in all things.
• Community. Our path becomes much easier and enjoyable when we join with others who share our passion and commitment.