To include or not to include…That is the question.
At one of the sandplay consultation group meetings I belonged to, I posed the question regarding whether or not to include figures from animation, comics, and pop culture in a sandplay collection. Before meeting with the group, I reviewed books about sandplay and the STA Journal of Sandplay Therapy for pictures of trays and the criteria for a sandplay collection. Some of the issues of the STA journal revealed the following miniatures used in trays: Gumby, Star Wars figures (good and evil), Smurfs, Snow White, The Seven Dwarves, Wicked Queen (beautiful and crone image), Barbie, Skipper, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Lone Ranger, Spiderman, the genii from Aladdin, Dorothy (Wizard of Oz), Glenda (good witch of the West) the wicked witch of the East, Cruella DeVille, Goofy, and Spock from Star Trek.
As part of my query to the group I brought miniatures representing archetypal images, both ancient and modern. To represent compassion, I placed Kwan-yin and Counselor Troy from Star Trek before the group. For wisdom and sage advice, I brought a male Chinese figure representing wisdom and Yoda from Star Wars. Plastic figures of William Wallace from the movie Braveheart, a medieval knight, and a Ninja warrior were among the miniatures presented to the group (all in similar combat position with long staffs for fighting).
We did not agree on the issue of incorporating or banning popular figures from a collection, yet we did clarify and discuss our thoughts and feelings regarding this interesting question. Some of the points and additional questions were:
Our own sandplay process and experience was a deciding factor in whether we would include these types of characters in our collection.
If these types of images are not included and they are part of a client's "language", is it limiting if they are not available?
Given that many children are more often on their own, do figures of this type help represent an "extended family" that is part of their experience? And if these items represent an extended family and are part of a children symbolic language, is it limiting to exclude them?
Young boys who may have issues with their fathers often use Star Wars figures. Do these characters allow the problem to be once removed so there is less resistance to playing out issues?
Is there a relationship between one's eclectic collection and how one approaches the work with clients?
Is it important to have items clients can feel comfortable with and can relate to. These types of miniatures may represent a stepping stone to the archetypal.
What do you think?