The gods of weather guide the clouds in a co-created experience. 

In a nutshell

Participants take on the role of either “clouds” or “gods of weather” and co-create an embodied experience that goes deep into trust and adventure, safety and surrender. 

One of my favourite things to do with a group.

Instructions

Arrange the group in a wide circle.

Invite a small number (roughly 1 in 5 people) to step into the middle and become clouds.

Clouds close their eyes. Check their level of comfort with physical touch and establish boundaries and accommodations.

The rest become gods of weather using gentle physical impulses (touching shoulders, hands, arms) to suggest direction, flow, and emotion. 

The gods keep the clouds safe from crashing into walls, furniture and each other.

Clouds are free to respond however they like—flowing, reacting, shifting energy, taking risks, taking it slow.

Encourage the gods to offer a varied, playful, and respectful experience.

Music plays while clouds move across the open sky. End by gently guiding clouds back to a central cluster.

Sidecoach

• Encourage lightness, fluidity, constant pairing and re-pairing

• Emphasise that the goal is adventure with safety

• Suggest minimal, meaningful touch—less is more

• Model appropriate physical contact zones (shoulders, back of hand, upper arms)

Outcomes

• Deepens trust and awareness of others

• Softens control impulses, inviting flow and co-creation

• Beautiful metaphor for improvisation: leading without forcing, responding to the unknown

• Offers a rare experience of being held and guided, or of supporting and witnessing

Focus areas / things to flag up

• Safety is paramount: consent, touch zones, gentleness

• Clouds may react differently—encourage gods to adapt and attune

• Avoid lingering with one cloud—promote fluid, collaborative guiding

• Reflect on the dynamic of lead and follow, control and trust

Riffs and Variations

Change the weather tone (stormy, sunny, breezy, icy, etc.) and accompanying music.

Do a round with no touch—just sound and proximity

Pair with a poem or short reflection to deepen the mood

Debrief prompts

• What was it like to surrender to others with your eyes closed?

• What was needed to keep each other safe?

• What surprised you about your own or others’ reactions?

• What does this tell us about trust, power, and connection?

• How did you manage the balance between freedom and responsibility?

• Where might this show up in teamwork, leadership, or creative life?