Poiesis
Creativity in all its manifold expressions, exploring the imaginative, artistic and transcendent facets of life
Animals
idea
Learn to tune into birdsong – respite and fascination await
Listening deeply to the sounds of birds is a powerful form of meditation and a first step towards a rewarding new hobby
by David M Logue
Communication and language
idea
I am an article about the speaking objects of ancient Greece
Talkative drinking cups and threatening oil flasks tell us how the written word asserted its authority in an oral society
by Teddy Fassberg
Stories and literature
guide
How to tell a better story
Personal stories have the power to connect, entertain, persuade. Use a pro storyteller’s tips to pick and prepare a great one
by Micaela Blei
Dance
film
Nigeria’s first ballet school brings tutus and joy to the streets of Lagos
Directed by Jacob Krupnick
Emotion regulation
idea
Solitude can be profoundly restorative. Here’s how to savour it
Time alone offers unique psychological benefits, once you learn to embrace these quiet moments rather than escape them
by Thuy-vy Nguyen
Painting and sculpture
idea
Works of urban graffiti are not vandalism, but public monuments
They might appear to have little in common with statues or obelisks, but graffiti images serve a vital public function
by Rafael Schacter
Music
guide
How to get hooked on opera
Aspects of opera can seem strange. But give it a try and you’ll soon find yourself absorbed in a truly magical experience
by Alexandra Wilson
Play
film
A cobalt mine becomes an unlikely playground for children in Congo
A film by Francis Alÿs
Stories and literature
idea
Your life is not a story: why narrative thinking holds you back
Our stories help us make sense of a chaotic world, but they can be harmful and restrictive. There’s a liberating alternative
by Karen Simecek
The self
idea
Why bad doodles can reveal more about you than good drawings
For Marion Milner, ‘not being able’ is a valuable state – one that allows for new and unexpected forms of learning
by David Russell
Spirituality and religion
guide
How to find new spiritual practices
Even if religion isn’t for you, there’s a world of rituals and tools to lift yourself up and connect to something greater
by Morgan Shipley
Artists and art history
film
A minotaur shifts shapes and sexes in this ferociously original animation
A film by Chaerin Im