Banyan is a card game for connecting with family and community members on deeper levels through conversation and mutual vulnerability. It’s designed to cover topics that are otherwise hard to talk about or bring up organically. It is our hope that people can use this game to learn, heal, and grow with each other.
<aside> 💙 The game consists of four rounds of question-asking given by the four decks of cards with themes of Perception, Reflection, Kinship, and Mending.
Perception questions show players how they view each other.
Reflection questions allow players to open up about their thoughts, feelings, and past experiences.
Kinship questions help players connect to each other through shared values and experiences.
Mending questions provide space for players to be more vulnerable with each other and strengthen bonds.
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Have you ever been curious to ask your parents or siblings deep questions but are too shy or overwhelmed to conjure up the questions to ask?
We know that we have, and our peers, too. This game creates an opportunity for people to be vulnerable, explore how their experiences have shaped them, and connect to other members in the magic circle through these experiences. We refer to the space that people sit in as the "magic circle" as this space supports reciprocity, mutual trust, and a continuum of relationship-building questions. The expected emotional outcome after this experience is mutual understanding and deeper kinship.
To begin our project, we brainstormed ideas separately and selected some of the more promising ones. When we met to discuss the ideas, two more solid concepts formed:
The simulation game would be mostly card-based, with players drawing event cards to progress the story and cooperatively aid each other in reducing trauma collectively. This was a strong choice because it relied on our established narrative, and would help players better understand how generational trauma arises from an outside perspective.
