Appetiser 1/25

@Stack of Stones

Meditation
Healthy stood pondering in front of the first exhibit. "Why do we stack stones on top of each other, Abel?"
"Let's watch the VR," suggested Abel prosaically.
The presentation explained that cairns have had multiple uses for millennia. Before the invention of lighthouses, stacks of rocks warned sailors away from Norway's jagged fjords. In Tibet, Buddhists used them in ceremonies to attract good fortune and balance out conflicting energies. Slowly and deliberately stacking rocks and getting them to balance is a way to practise mindfulness.

Appetiser 2/25

@Incense Smoke

"What's this "appetiser" about, Bop?" queried Healthy.
Bop listened on the headset briefly. "It explains how incense can make your home smell wonderful and create a relaxing atmosphere. Then it goes into a whole raft of precautions to take when burning incense at home."
"Well, that makes sense, I suppose," remarked Healthy judicially.

Appetiser 3/25

@Tibetan Singing Bowl

Healthy eyed the singing bowl interestedly. "Is that what the monks leave out for tips when they're singing in public? It's much posher than putting a hat out, isn't it?"
Falkor frowned. "Show some respect for culture! It isn't to do with Tibetan monks singing. You strike the bowl with the mallet and it resonates with a beautiful tone that aids meditation. Look, they're about to do a demonstration. Watch and learn!"

Appetiser 4/25

@Minimalist White Interior

"That was a really interesting immersion into the benefits of minimalism, wasn't it, Healthy?" remarked Po once both pets had surfaced.
"Yup! Increased productivity. Less cleaning and tidying."
"More money! An increase in happiness and satisfaction."
"Fewer lost items—the amount of time I spend looking for things!"
"Minimalism seems to have all-round benefits!" summed up Po.

Appetiser 5/25

@Ripple & Splash

"This is a good one, Healthy!" announced Mekmek. "It explained that when we need an instant mood booster and stress-reliever, splashing cold water over your face gives you an instant reset. You feel calmer and can deal with stuff so much better."
"Why did you scream at the end?" queried Healthy.
Mekmek looked abashed. "It's the virtual reality thing! They had a bucket of icy water and to finish they threw the contents right at the camera. I thought I was going to get soaked!"

Appetiser 6/25

Your pet won a great prize!

@Torchbeam in Purple Night Sky

"Wow! That was a really fascinating scientific-y immersion!" said Healthy, awestruck.
"How so?" asked Choose a name.
"Well, it asked how far up you'd need to be to be able to see the beam from the torch. Then it demon­strated that when photons leave the torch, they immediately start to spread out in a cone-shaped beam. Provided that they don't hit anything, each individual photon travels through space—forever! So it's not that the photons wouldn't reach you, however high up you are, but they'd be too diffuse to see."
There was a long pause. "What's a photon?" asked Choose a name.

Appetiser 7/25

@Balanced Pebbles

"Try this immersion, Healthy!" called Pepe. "In summary, balanc­ing rocks is seen by those who practise it as a meditat­ive and creative activity. It seems that the process of physically handling and balancing the stones provides them with mental health benefits."
"Interesting!" remarked Healthy.

Appetiser 8/25

@Glowing Candle

"This is a lovely guided meditation, Huntley," remarked Healthy. "You simply watch the candle flame as it gently flickers. Lighting the candle at the start of the meditation is a ritual that helps ground you in the moment. If you do this every day it helps you be patient, focused and more resilient and you may find you are sleeping better."
"Put the candle out before you fall asleep though, pets!" advised Huntley, into an imaginary microphone, looking into an imaginary camera.

Appetiser 9/25

@Teal Droplet

"This is another very nice experience," said Healthy. "Do try it, Trisha! The conclusions to a study about viewing water is that it's a very relaxing activity and reduces heart rate and blood pressure."
"You know, we're all going to be so relaxed on the coach home, Healthy!" remarked Trisha. "Right, let me just put the headset on."

Appetiser 10/25

@Malay Ceremonial Candles

"This is a really good immersion, Butterfly Lady!" advised Healthy. "It's a guided tour through the Batu Caves, which are a series of Hindu temples in Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia."
"Oh yes, I did that one earlier. It said 'Batu' is Malay for 'rock'. It made me think of Simon Peter, you know?"

Appetiser 11/25

@Purple and Pink Sky at Sunset

Healthy sighed happily. "Another amazing experience, Kai!" she said. "You explore this soft palette of pastel shades. It explains how colours act on your senses to calm you down. Having sooth­ing colours around you helps calm your mind, slow down your heart rate, lower your blood pressure and relieve anxiety."