TIAMAT: no-nonsense framework for meaningful life changes

Why attend?

Have you heard about the benefits of meditation or yoga, but struggle to develop the habit? Perhaps you’re curious about terms like “shadow work” or “inner child” that are commonly used in therapy.

It all sounds appealing, but you might be wondering if these terms are actually useful or if it’s all just nonsense… Maybe you know a colleague who practices meditation and appears calm and peaceful, but can’t handle real-life problems when they arise. Or perhaps you have a yogi friend who talks endlessly about chakra alignment, completely oblivious to the vibe of the room. Or maybe you have a relative who always claims to be “speaking their truth,” but uses it as an excuse for saying things that lead to awkward silences.

So, is there any value to these practices after all?

No meditation will bring you enlightenment overnight, just as no yoga pose will instantly transform you into a spiritual guru. Practices like these help refine specific aspects of our lives by nurturing different faculties of our body and mind. However, relying too heavily on one practice can create an imbalance. These practices work best when used together, addressing their potential limitations and harmonizing our overall being like a well-tuned musical instrument.

What is TIAMAT?

The Integrative Approach and Methodology of Active Transformation (TIAMAT) is a no-nonsense framework for cultivating meaningful and impactful changes across different aspects of your life that integrates dance theater, Eastern traditions, modern psychological techniques, and applied philosophy. It is a synergistic set of practices aimed at developing a skillful connection between mind and body and self and group.

What will we do?

In this TIAMAT Tier 1 workshop, you will be learning technical skills supported by rigorous academic study to balance personal experience with rational self-reflection. We will explore structures of consciousness through a series of exercises involving movement, somatic awareness, improvisation, dialogue, and attentional frame-games.

At the end of the workshop, you’ll be offered a workbook with resources and guidance to continue independent practice. An integration call after the workshop for follow-up and aftercare and a certificate of completion are also included.

As a participant, you will be learning to cultivate:

• Metacognition (Mind-Mind): Monitor and self-regulate emotion and behavior in a context-sensitive manner that affords rationality.
• Somatic Awareness (Mind-Body): Notice and identify causal patterns between subjective experiences e.g., thought, sensation, and emotion.
• Transjective Rationality (Mind-World): Promote cognitive flexibility between perspectives in concert with a social environment.
• Enactive Imaginality (Mind-Self): Consciously restructure cognition through deliberate engagement with the imaginal.

We will cover topics including:

• Meaning in life
• Communication
• Transcendence
• Collective intelligence
• Movement and Improvisation
• Perspective shifts

What makes TIAMAT different?

TIAMAT is a set of self-development practices that aims to overcome the common pitfalls that give self-development its bad name. You will be given tools to live skillfully and poetically without falling into self-obsession, self-tyranny, or guru-worship. It’s a no-nonsense framework that integrates theater, Eastern traditions, and modern cognitive science.

Who is this event for?

This event is open and accessible to performers and non-performers alike. It’s for anyone curious about their relationship to their mind, body, and other people. TIAMAT will train those muscles for graceful living that help you take other perspectives, know what you’re feeling, communicate effectively, listen deeply, and generate insight into knotty problems.

TIAMAT testimonials

“During those two days, Ethan presented us with the tools to better integrate body, mind, and soul. It was a huge dose of useful information and practices that I intended to incorporate into my life when I returned from camp. However, I had no idea that the change would start happening so quickly. All of these exercises we did together opened something in me, something I had not been able to notice before.”
– Monika, participant in a TIAMAT Tier 1 camp.

“In speaking about my subjective experiences from an objective point of view, a safe distance is created for me to heal, rest, plan, and execute life. […] By listening to these objectified thoughts and feelings we are able to latch on to them subjectively and are once again freed to emote, react, and respond to the individuals on a subjective level, creating a space for empathy and authentic connection in a group.”
– Jireh, arts educator, participant in a TIAMAT Tier 1 camp

When?

• Friday, May 3, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Saturday, May 4, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Sunday, May 5. 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Where?

Atelier 0.11 @ Quartier am Hafen

Additional information

• Dancefloor with 100 sqmt  wood sprung floor
• Food and accommodation are not included

Learn more about TIAMAT

• Interview: Theatre-ritual-movement ecology of practices with John Vervaeke
• Podcast: Practicing TIAMAT and Meaning with Brain We Are

Other upcoming TIAMAT workshops

• Chalupa Podhora, Czech Republic:19th-26th of April (Tier 1 + 2)
• London, UK: 8th-10th of May (Tier 1)

About the trainer

Ethan Hsieh is the Artistic Director of 5ToMidnight International and a practice researcher working at the intersection of actor training and 4E cognitive science. He holds a Master of Arts in Professional Practice: Theatre and Drama Facilitation from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Ethan offers an interdisciplinary ecology of practices known as TIAMAT and has conducted workshops across Asia, Europe, and North America. He frequently appears as a guest on podcasts, where he discusses the importance of ritual, performance, and theatre techniques in enhancing well-being, psychological development, and finding meaning in life. Additionally, he serves as the Director of Community Development and Partnerships at The Vervaeke Foundation.