Dream together - reflective practice inspired by Yoko Ono

In May 2025 there was a wonderful exhibition in Berlin on Yoko Ono’s work called “Dream Together”. It offered a rich and immersive exploration of Yoko Ono’s artistic and activist legacy spanning her entire career. Themes of peace, collaboration, healing and social participation are the hallmarks of Ono’s conceptual and performance-based work.

What I loved about the exhibition was that a lot of it was participatory and interactive. We were invited to fold paper cranes for peace or play chess without opposition and instead emphasizing equality and trust. I think you understand why this spoke to me.

The three artworks I loved the most have a clear connection to coaching and reflective practice.

“Mend Piece” from 1966 (yes, 1966!) invites us to repair broken teacups by hand using scotch tape and string. This is reminiscent of the Japanese tradition of Kintsugi, an artform that means “golden repair”. Broken pottery is repaired in such a way that the breakage is highlighted and beautified. We become aware and are invited to reflect on impermanence, imperfection and the beauty of flaws. When I was engaging with the art piece I reflected on how I have learned to be kinder and more tender with my own flaws. I am not sure that I want to highlight them, like a kintsugi cup, but I am more and more able to see the whole “piece of art” that is me. I don’t know what you might want to use this inspiration for, but feel invited to mend something.

Wish Tree (1996)

Outside the museum, visitors could write a tag with a wish and tie it to an olive tree. In Japan, you can see fortunes written on small pieces of white paper tied to trees at temples. In Solution Focus, we know the power of a well described preferred future. Once we know what we want and have described it in detail, we can recognize small instances of this future already happening. We are starting to live in a world of different possibilities when we see these small signs. (Note: I do not believe in “manifestation” or magic – however, having a clear description of what you want changes you and your world because it changes your attention, not the world as such!). Maybe you feel invited to write a description of your preferred future on a piece of paper and tie it to your favorite tree?

Cleaning Piece (1996)

Visitors are invited to take beautiful river stones and form mounds – one mount for the sadnesses in our lives and one mound for the happinesses. As I was taking each stone, reminiscing on my joys and sadnesses, I entered a reflective state of deep gratitude for both. The physical aspect of sorting the stones and creating two structures with them really helped my reflection. Somehow the mounds ended up being connected – whatever that means.

If you can catch Yoko Ono’s work somewhere in the world, do visit the exhibition. If you want to share your experience with reflective practice why not come to one of our free meetups and exchanges?

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