A KAWA on the Splendor of Colors

We plant the seed, or as Ms. Birkenbihl used to say - we tie threads into our knowledge network. How these threads can be tied particularly quickly and durably. To secure the results, I summarize the most important criteria for associations once again. The role model for this was Tony Buzan, the inventor of Mind Maps®. His magic word is COLORSPLENDOR. Each letter of this word stands for a principle to make associations or mnemonics particularly memorable. By the way, this form of presentation is a KAGA® according to Vera F. Birkenbihl. Enjoy reading. How about this Kawa on a postcard? Now also available as a package in color and with a black and white template.

What do KAWA and KAGA actually mean?

KAWA according to Birkenbihl is an acronym and stands for: Kreative Ausbeute von Wort-Assoziationen (Creative Exploitation of Word Associations). But KAWA is easier to remember. Hence the name. KAWAs can be made on all topics that interest you.

How does a KAWA work and why does this technique work so well?

First, you write the topic in large letters in the middle. By the way, I always use the sheet horizontally for this. In our Mindmap template ring binder, KAWAs are drawn on the white left page. Now you let your thoughts wander and consider what comes to mind about the term and what is important to write down. The difficulty here: what is written down must begin with one of the letters in the middle. The smaller the term, the fewer letters you have available and the more you have to think. Here, it is the lack of letters that makes you think more intensely about a topic than an ABC list would. The goal should be to find a suitable term for each letter. Suppose you want to create a KAWA about your best friend Eva, then you only have three letters available. But you can use them multiple times. Perhaps E stands for elegant, successful, eloquent, for V you find her trustworthy, crazy, and in love, and for A you have associated silly and single. If your best friend had been named Hannelore, you would have had more letters available, of course. I often write in KAWA form during meetings. That keeps me awake, no matter how unimportant or boring a meeting is. And you catch everything.