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Origin Story

 

 

Bears are a powerful metaphor for neurodivergence. They follow their own natural cycles, hibernating through winters and emerging when conditions suit them, much like how many ND individuals may operate on personal energy patterns rather than rigid schedules.

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They are deeply attuned to their surroundings, noticing details and changes that might escape others’ attention. Bears can appear solitary or slow to some, yet they are resourceful, resilient, and capable of profound focus and connection.

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Mother bears fiercely protect and nurture their cubs, teaching and guiding them, which mirrors the way ND individuals often thrive in close, supportive environments. And just like a big bear hug, they can offer warmth, comfort, and emotional safety — reminding us that being different is not a weakness, but a unique way of connecting with the world and those we love.

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While all this explains why the bear (scientific name: Ursidae, derived from Latin: Ursus) is the perfect mascot for this website, it is actually not where the idea came from.

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It started in the 90s, when I was a kid.

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Back then, my (highly likely to be autistic) father would gather us around the table — me, my older sister, cousins and friends — and play a game called 'Caves and Bears'.​

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It was a simple set-up. Three standard dice, an endless succession of rolling, and the designated dice-master declaring how many caves and bears existed within each roll.

We watched closely. Took notes, looked for patterns, theorised in our minds and with each other. The 'hint' that came up over and over, which was incredibly frustrating until you knew the secret of the game: 'The bears come from the caves.' 

 

You can have caves and no bears, but there can NEVER be bears with no caves.

 

Hypnotised by these seemingly non-sensical numbers and the accompanying hints that seemed to bear no rational reason (pun intended), we tried to make them make sense. 

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3 caves, no bears... 2 caves, 4 bears... No caves, no bears... 1 cave, 2 bears. 

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On and on it went. Roll after roll.

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The puzzle was intoxicating.

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When a person thought they had it all figured out, they could take The Test. Three official rolls followed. If any answer was wrong, then it was back to the unsworn tribe you would go.

 

However, if you got everything right, then you were pulled away privately and asked to reveal your method. If correct, then it was time for the honour of being formally inducted into the Caves & Bears club, and to swear an oath to never reveal the secret of the caves and the bears. 

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It was ridiculous. It was magical. It was maddening. It was ours.

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Only years later did I realise how deeply neurodivergent that game was. Pattern-based. Non-verbal. Rule-bound but cryptic. A test of intuition and logic, play and observation.

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The day I looked it up online as an adult was the moment I realised it wasn't actually a recognised game. In the eyes of the world wide web, it did not exist. It was only then that it dawned on me just how extra-super special it was.

It wasn’t just a dice game. It was a SECRET FREAKING SOCIETY. And, it offered a unique code — about how to survive in a world that rarely made sense unless you were very good at reading beneath the surface.

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That’s what Caves & Bears, this online news site, is too.​

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And like that childhood game, it’s an open invitation:

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• Come sit at the table.

• Join our beautiful community.

• Roll the dice.

• Pay attention.

• There’s something here for you.

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Shannon Britza
Founder, Caves & Bears

Follow me on socials

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