Rules of the Stone Game

by Leslie Schwing

Identifying the Question

Collecting the Objects

Formal Playing of the Game

Defining the Rules

Setting the Table

Playing the Game

Closing the Game

Divination of the Field

Variations on the Game

IDENTIFYING THE QUESTION:

Players agree upon a question. This can be a specific question or a theme for inquiry.

COLLECTING THE OBJECTS:

The group sets out to collect the stones. You can, depending on the number of players, suggest a number of stones to be collected (say 20 each for 4 players). Or you can leave it up to chance. Again, depending on the size of the playing field, you may want to limit size.

We suggest that the collection process be somewhat of a ritual. In variations of the game developed by Bob Gerber we used a Zen-like “walking” exercise during the collection. Most important, no matter how you structure this part of the game; remember that it is supposed to be fun. Don’t do anything that takes the pleasure away.

DEFINING THE RULES

Players should determine the format of the game. Most players begin with a clockwise rotation, each player taking a turn. One turn would involve either placing, moving or removing an object or making a mark. You may wish to experiment with non-sequential playing or simultaneous playing as you get more fluent with the game.

Marks and moves are slightly different in nature. A mark is permanent; a move is open to adjustment.

SETTING THE TABLE:

You can play on a table or on the floor. You will need a surface that is defined and that will take a mark. We generally use a black or brown piece of charcoal paper. You can also use a board sprayed with blackboard paint, or a large piece of slate. You can use white paper but we found that darker backgrounds were more pleasing.

The Pieces:

STONES that have been collected.

CHALK. We suggest conte crayon in earth tones, black and white. Color is not recommended, as it can have too many associations.

JUICY BITS. Collections of minerals, or other random bits of fun stuff that doesn’t have specific meaning attached. We have used bowls of dry cereal, salt and pepper, miscellaneous mineral specimens, steel shavings etc. The juicy bits provide an element of creative embellishment and surprise. The game can be played without them.

ADHESIVE: Either sticky wax or modeling clay is useful as a crutch for building. Do not, however, use this substance for mark making (unless you have officially made that part of your game).

PLAYING THE GAME

Then, proceed as you have agreed. The game is complete when you feel it is complete.

The players can agree upon talking or silence.

CLOSING THE GAME

After the game is officially complete the group should spend some time studying what the have created. When the group feels satisfied with this they can begin removing the pieces, one by one, in the same manner that they played the game. When all objects are removed the paper will stand alone with the marks.

DIVINATION OF THE FIELD

The paper should be placed on the wall and the group uses it as a focus for a dialogue. This part of the process is optional to the playing of the game. It can be very rewarding, however, in increasing the depth of understanding. Theoretically, all of the information acquired during the Game is encoded in the traces left on the paper. This part of the process can include a recapitulation of the entire game and can be done at a later time.