Welcome to the other side of the lake.
You received a small origami swan with your order — folded by the artist himself.
It’s not just packaging flair.
It’s an invitation.
Your swan is part of something slightly absurd, mildly competitive, and — if the wind is kind — potentially rewarding.
It was made to take part in The Great Swan Race.
Why a Swan?
It began, as most strange ideas do, with ink stains and coffee.
My signature had started to resemble a happy little swan, and over time that bird refused to stay still — appearing on paintings, packaging, even the backs of receipts.
One day, while folding a piece of paper, I thought:
“What if these swans could move?”
That’s when the idea of a race took flight.
What this is really about
The Great Swan Race is a thank-you ritual disguised as absurdity.
Each swan represents someone who chose to go a little deeper into the MindShafts.
Not every order receives a swan.
These are reserved for those who ventured a little further — which means the races stay smaller, stranger, and a little more exclusive by design.
Somewhere in the studio, your swan has a small flock waiting.
And when the time comes…
We’ll see which one the wind favours.
What you can win
The winner’s name will be immortalised — and they’ll receive something rare:
A limited edition print of the Swan Painting
A piece that will not be available for sale.
And that’s only the beginning.
Once enough champions have been crowned, the final race will take place…
Where the stakes become considerably more ridiculous.
How It Works
Once a month (give or take a gust), the studio swans are lined up on the official MindShafts raceway — sometimes a table, sometimes a fan-blown corridor, sometimes something far less sensible.
The swans are released.
A fan hums.
Paper shifts.
And fate takes over.
The first swan to cross the finish line — or tumble there with the most enthusiasm — is crowned:
Champion of the Lake
The rules are flexible.
The wind is not.
How to Unlock Swans
At this very moment, your lake is still.
But you can awaken up to three additional swans by completing the simple actions below — each one tied to a different MindShafts lake:
Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok
Each action adds another name to your flock…
and another chance when race day arrives.
When you’ve completed them, return to the bottom of this page and let me know.
I’ll fold the rest of your flock, add them to the waiting pond, and email you when the first race day approaches.
Each social channel will have its own qualifying heat, with the strongest few from each going on to compete in The Great Swan Race itself.
The Rules (subject to frequent reinterpretation)
Each swan races for the person whose name it bears
There will be three qualifying heats — one for each social channel
The strongest swans from each heat will move on to The Great Swan Race
Races are decided by fate and airflow, not logic
In the event of a beak-to-beak tie, the swans will race again until a victor emerges
Winners receive that month’s exclusive prize
Winning swans retire to the Cabinet of Champions
Non-winning swans return to race again another day
Once all champion prints have been claimed, the final swans will compete for the ultimate prize
And in the unlikely event of confusion, controversy, or suspicious swan behaviour…
I get the final say.
When It Begins
The races haven’t begun just yet.
This page is a glimpse of what’s coming once the MindShafts engines are fully in motion.
For now, your task is simple:
Keep your swan safe.
It’s your invitation back when the winds rise.
The swans are stretching their wings… want to know when they fly?
I know I already have your email, but just so I can officially mark you as a Swan Racer, pop your details in below and I’ll let you know when race day approaches.
Please only submit once you’ve completed any actions you’d like to use to unlock more swans.
Image AI generated - Your swans will look nowhere close to being this elegant!
Copyright Dan Lee | MindShafts 2026