Kurt Hahn, “The Seven Laws of Salem”, and the Founding Principals of Outward Bound. Part 5

Over 7 weeks or so I will post an exploration of each of  Kurt Hahn’s “Seven Laws of Salem”.  Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 or Part 4.

Kurt Hahn was an educator and vocal anti-Nazi in the early days of their rise to power. The principals he called “The Seven Laws of Salem” (the basis for the school he founded in Salem, Germany between the world wars) became the founding principals of the Outward Bound programs now offered at independent schools around the world.

Hahn was focused on developing social change through education of the younger generation. He placed the natural world, our earth, in a position of great importance to the heath and development of a human being at a time when industrialization and modernism was beginning to over take more traditional life styles.

The Seven Laws of Salem

1. Give the children opportunities for self-discovery.

2. Make the children meet with triumph and defeat.

3. Give the children the opportunity of self-effacement in the common cause.

4. Provide periods of silence.

5. Train the imagination.

6. Make games important but not predominant.

7. Free the sons of the wealthy and powerful from the enervating sense of privilege.

"Train the imagination."

"The power to resist the pressing stimulus of the hour and the moment can not be acquired later in life; it often depends on the ability to visualize what you plan and hope and fear for the future"

I do disagree that these skills can not be acquired later in life. Few of us though are willing to put in the effort to do so. (I'll get to that in a minute).

What I think is interesting here that Hahn is specifically talking about the imagination put to practice use.  Our ability to visualize our future - to recognize not just our plan, but our hopes and fears about it. 

I feel this is probably pretty sophisticated understanding for the time. While he focuses on the practical use of the imagination, he is also seems to be implying that it is not just the rational "plan," but also the recognition of the impact our emotional life has on these plans and our ability to carry them out.

He is not just talking about visualizing a future we want - where do I see myself in 5, 10, 15 years. He is saying imagination is important for visualizing what we desire. Not just thinking outside the box, but feeling deeply into it and embracing what we hope and fear is on the other side. That takes courage, almost a leap of faith. We do not want to be disappointed or wrong, having to face our fear.

This distinction, between want and desire, is an important one. Want, is charged with the intellect. Its often connected to how we see ourselves or how we want others to see us. It is measurable and usually concrete. What we desire is charged with emotion, with feeling, with hope and fear.  It is often immeasurable.  

Want is usually something within our control, something we can achieve and benefit from. Desire is something deeper, usually beyond our control, and taking a greater imagination to access and bring into life. 

What we want can be held onto if achieved. What we desire is fleeting.

It takes, not just imagination, but courage to step into desire.

The biggest challenge to imagination, especially later in life probably cynicism.  As we grow and our imagination, however well developed, is faced with harsh reality, it tends to shrink unless we use it. "It becomes atrophied like a muscle not in use," as Hahn puts it. 

Imagination can fall out of balance in two ways. 

First, as Hahn says, it becomes atrophied. We can't use our imaginative power even if we wanted to. We lose site of where we are headed, our plans for getting there, and our emotional connection to our future. Life becomes about tasks. We endure or suffer through. Our lives are governed by routine and responsibility. Our hopes and dreams, maybe even our entire emotional life, seems out of reach.

The second way is that imagination, though strong, is not put to practical use, leading to daydreaming and fantasizing. Instead of using our ability to vision our future and take practical steps to change our lives, the lure and mailability of our imaginations become a retreat where we can have what we want, or desire, at anytime - without having to put the work in. 

Harnessing the Imagination

As I said in the beginning, I disagree with Hahn that the imagination cannot be acquired later in life. It just takes some work.

If the imagination is weak, atrophied, making a commitment to build it up just means identifying the right practices for our specific case. Exploring our ability to visualize could take many forms - drawing, shamanic journeying, dream work, meditation techniques, spending more time in nature, or maybe all we need is vacation.

Often something as simple as stepping outside of our daily routines is enough. Though the work put in should be focused on quieting the voice driving us on the "need to do list," and give us time to open up to what we want and desire, and creating a plan to get there.

If we struggle in the other direction with lots of imagination, but no focus, we need to develop better techniques for seeing life as it really is, and taking action using our imaginations. In this case, more time spent planning and practicing putting your vision in your life is beneficial. Start small and specific. If you space out on kung fu movies, go take a martial arts class. If you dream of being rich, work with someone to build a financial plan that sets money aside.

Think of your imagination as a body of water. Cool, clear, refreshing. Water needs a structure, a path to flow or rest in, or else it floods and drowns out everything around it. How can you build a structure for its flow that is aimed at your goals and dreams.

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Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4.

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Kurt Hahn's School's and Legacy by Martin Flavin was the primary source for these posts.