pshaw_raven: (Buddha)
P'shaw (she/they) ([personal profile] pshaw_raven) wrote2022-12-31 07:35 am
Entry tags:

A Quiet Place - Playne

Throwing this out to you all in case someone finds it useful.

I know some folks may make a resolution to meditate, or meditate more, and there's a veritable mountain of apps and stuff you can pick from. Calm seems to work pretty well, but I found it can get "in my face" a lot and get pushy. I've also used Insight Timer for ages, because if you just need a meditation timer, you can't really go wrong with it.

Today I also picked up a Steam/Windows game called "Playne," pronounced "plain," which is basically meditation gamified. You begin by meeting a talking fox (yay!) who gives you a short rundown on how meditation works. You can then meditate for ten minutes.

During that time you've got some options. When distracting thoughts arise, you can click the mouse button or space bar - it's a simple physical way to acknowledge the thought. An ancient way to do this was to have a pile of pebbles you moved from your right side to your left side - same difference. You also have the option to time your breathing to an animated circle on the screen, but I find those animations are almost always too fast for my breathing and it feels like I'm panting. While you're meditating, the game plays nature sounds - wind, waves, and crackling fire.

I know silence is supposed to be supreme for meditation but it can be incredibly hard. My Covid Brain makes meditating in silence almost impossible right now, but listening to natural sounds helps immensely. This is where the game is really helpful - I have a very good gaming headset (except for the mic) so I'm completely immersed in the sounds of the island you're on. No engine noises, no barking dogs, none of that.

The "game" part comes in as you progress, and by coming back each day to meditate you start growing plants, making the sun rise and set, and stuff like that. If you miss a day you'll reset your streak, but nothing bad happens to your island. Plus, I may have mentioned the game has a talking fox.

So if you're having trouble with your practice, this might be worth your $10.49 USD. Namaste, y'all.
we_are_spc: (Default)

[personal profile] we_are_spc 2023-01-01 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
....

Now you're making me want to find the accessiblity tools for steam. Mainly for the spacebar thing alone. I'd yet to figure a blind friendly way to acknowledge a thought outside pulling out the brailer and making marks, or even doing it on the PC.

I'm like you, though, silence makes some of us twitchy. (I'm pretty sure you know of one of us...the other is Jay. who've you've probably not met. :d)

Tyhank you for this.

(Also, Ugg, round two of Covid, keep us in your thought rotation that the affects from this one don't stack with our first round back in January of this year.

-T^SPC~
cdayzee: (tried relaxing more comfy tense)

[personal profile] cdayzee 2023-01-01 05:36 pm (UTC)(link)
What an interesting meditation tool! I've never been able to get into meditation & I quickly become annoyed. I like that there is another version available instead of all the traditional stuff out there.
cdayzee: (woman looking out window)

[personal profile] cdayzee 2023-01-04 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
That is pretty cool re the meditation app! Sounds tranquil :)

That sounds like my experience when I'm attempting to fall asleep. I'll manage to finally drift off then my body will suddenly snap awake. My heart will be racing, I'll be out of breath & disorientated.