Hi Marianne,
You asked us for stories that had helped us, or others in our lives.
I was working for a Rape and Sexual Abuse counselling service a couple of years ago, on the phone lines.
I was speaking to a young girl - about 14 - who was still struggling with her experience of sexual abuse by her father. She had moved away from her family, and was living with foster parents, a move she found hard, because in her eyes she was responsible for hurting her mother (by telling the truth) and her father was in prison.
She was lonely, frightened and very tired, but could not sleep because of her fears that someone might come and hurt her again.
I sat and listened on the phone for half an hour, and then we agreed that between us we would create a story - a happy one, which would bring her to a place of peace in her mind and enable her to sleep.
By talking gently to her, finding out about the things she loved, we created a wonderful story of a little girl who went walking in the fields near her home, went riding on her horse, had a picnic with her foster mother, then went home to a good meal, and snuggled down into bed with her favourite teddy bear.
At the end of the story, I spoke to her gently, and she did not reply, tried once more, but no answer, all I could hear was soft breathing. She had fallen asleep with the phone on. I gently put the phone down, knowing that, just for now, she had found a quietness in her spirit - that pleased me.
Hugs and love
Steph
onsdag den 8. april 2009
tirsdag den 7. april 2009
A local webpage in USA has written out a funny contest about storytelling in honor of The World Storytelling Day.
At their page there is a beautiful picture of a sunset somewhere in a land of palmtrees.
That made me think of a wonderful experience I had, when I was quite young.
I was 18 years old and I was travelling cross country in the States by Greyhound buses along with another Danish girl. It was in July.
Earlier that year we had met some nice guys from Tucson, Arizona, and they had told us to come and visit.
So when we arrived in Tucson, we went to the nearest phone box and called them. Luckily they were at home, so they came to pick us up. - Their house was full of youngsters who wanted to meet these two, strange Danish girls, so there was an occasion for a nice party.
We celebrated the meeting by drinking Tequila sunrises, and I learned, that it doesn't take a lot of Tequila for my legs to turn into jelly.
We had fun all evening, dancing to the latest record with Buddy Miles, and we liked being there so much, that we decided to stay for a couple of days more than planned.
The following day, the guys showed us how to fry eggs at the pavement!
And in the evening we sat at the roof watching the sun set over the desert. Truly romantic and I really fell in love with Arizona in those days!
See the picture that opened my memory for that story:
http://www.travelinlocal.com/world-storytelling-day-a-contest-and-your-neighbors/#comment-750
At their page there is a beautiful picture of a sunset somewhere in a land of palmtrees.
That made me think of a wonderful experience I had, when I was quite young.
I was 18 years old and I was travelling cross country in the States by Greyhound buses along with another Danish girl. It was in July.
Earlier that year we had met some nice guys from Tucson, Arizona, and they had told us to come and visit.
So when we arrived in Tucson, we went to the nearest phone box and called them. Luckily they were at home, so they came to pick us up. - Their house was full of youngsters who wanted to meet these two, strange Danish girls, so there was an occasion for a nice party.
We celebrated the meeting by drinking Tequila sunrises, and I learned, that it doesn't take a lot of Tequila for my legs to turn into jelly.
We had fun all evening, dancing to the latest record with Buddy Miles, and we liked being there so much, that we decided to stay for a couple of days more than planned.
The following day, the guys showed us how to fry eggs at the pavement!
And in the evening we sat at the roof watching the sun set over the desert. Truly romantic and I really fell in love with Arizona in those days!
See the picture that opened my memory for that story:
http://www.travelinlocal.com/world-storytelling-day-a-contest-and-your-neighbors/#comment-750
søndag den 5. april 2009
Attention from everywhere...
It is amazing to recieve mails from Australia and New Zealand from people whom I do not yet know.
They are offering their help to spread the good news about the storytelling symposium!
Good intentions bring good flow!!!
Today I've worked with checking addresses for the press release. I hope all newspapers will bring something about it.
They are offering their help to spread the good news about the storytelling symposium!
Good intentions bring good flow!!!
Today I've worked with checking addresses for the press release. I hope all newspapers will bring something about it.
The picture is from Järna 2007, Stories under the tree
søndag den 22. marts 2009
World Storytelling Day 2009
In the little storytelling circle in Vordingborg we've joined the World Storytelling Day since it started, and we've celebrated it almost every year.
Last year I was joining a course with Lewis Mehl-Madrona at Kripalu Center in Massachusetts, and there I just told som stories to a small group of listeners.
This year we celebrated at the small island of Bogø. We had asked to be in the old bakery, where there is now a culture house, thanks to Malene Langborg who makes concerts there during the summer. But it was too cold, so we were happy to be invited to use a community house.
People came from near and far, and the room was quite crowded! I guess we were all a little surprised to see so many participants.
Everybody were so happy. The storytellers were happy for having a wonderful audience and the audience for having the opportunity to listen to good stories.
We were really close!!
Last year I was joining a course with Lewis Mehl-Madrona at Kripalu Center in Massachusetts, and there I just told som stories to a small group of listeners.
This year we celebrated at the small island of Bogø. We had asked to be in the old bakery, where there is now a culture house, thanks to Malene Langborg who makes concerts there during the summer. But it was too cold, so we were happy to be invited to use a community house.
People came from near and far, and the room was quite crowded! I guess we were all a little surprised to see so many participants.
Everybody were so happy. The storytellers were happy for having a wonderful audience and the audience for having the opportunity to listen to good stories.
We were really close!!
torsdag den 19. marts 2009
Ann Mari Urwald's story
We continue to give space for all who want to express their experiences about 'storytelling as a healing art'.
At the storytelling festival in Lejre some years ago I was telling stories for deaf children in the large tent. It requires some breaks to give time for interpretation. But there were not only deaf children. There were also other children and adults.
I told an African story about Ntikuma, who happens to buy a drum instead of black eyed beans for the family. He can’t make himself return the drum, It has become part of him, his legs will not move. So he has to go on home with a long line of happy people following because his drumming has made them dance. And what does his mother say?
‘Well, how could we know that you had a talent for drumming’, she says. ‘We had never thought of that ourselves. Thank God for that.’ Ntikuma was forgiven right away, and they just ate corn porridge instead.
When I had told the story, which of course is much longer than this short summary, an old man with tears in his eyes came me to me and thanked me. The story had moved him deeply and unburdened his heart, he said.
His gratitude and emotion made a deep impression on me. A possible reason is that he through the story got the forgiveness he had subconsciously longed for for years. And that is what stories can do. We can mirror ourselves in them, and when the right story passes our ears, it unburdens the soul, or confirms it.
Ann Mari Urwald, author and storyteller
www.amurwald.dk
At the storytelling festival in Lejre some years ago I was telling stories for deaf children in the large tent. It requires some breaks to give time for interpretation. But there were not only deaf children. There were also other children and adults.
I told an African story about Ntikuma, who happens to buy a drum instead of black eyed beans for the family. He can’t make himself return the drum, It has become part of him, his legs will not move. So he has to go on home with a long line of happy people following because his drumming has made them dance. And what does his mother say?
‘Well, how could we know that you had a talent for drumming’, she says. ‘We had never thought of that ourselves. Thank God for that.’ Ntikuma was forgiven right away, and they just ate corn porridge instead.
When I had told the story, which of course is much longer than this short summary, an old man with tears in his eyes came me to me and thanked me. The story had moved him deeply and unburdened his heart, he said.
His gratitude and emotion made a deep impression on me. A possible reason is that he through the story got the forgiveness he had subconsciously longed for for years. And that is what stories can do. We can mirror ourselves in them, and when the right story passes our ears, it unburdens the soul, or confirms it.
Ann Mari Urwald, author and storyteller
www.amurwald.dk
fredag den 13. marts 2009
Touching the heart
As a storyteller I wish to touch people's hearts and move their feelings through the stories I tell.
We all have experiences and wounds that are invisible to others and storytelling may be like putting a little ointment on these wounds.
In my work as a storyteller I have experienced again and again that I get so much in return from my listeners.
This makes me grateful.
I have just finished a half year project with groups of people in an "Old Peoples Home" and the stories they shared with me made me remember many things from my own life.
Fom Berit Godager,Norway
www.berito.no
We all have experiences and wounds that are invisible to others and storytelling may be like putting a little ointment on these wounds.
In my work as a storyteller I have experienced again and again that I get so much in return from my listeners.
This makes me grateful.
I have just finished a half year project with groups of people in an "Old Peoples Home" and the stories they shared with me made me remember many things from my own life.
Fom Berit Godager,Norway
www.berito.no
onsdag den 11. marts 2009
A story which made me smile
It was a time when I was totally stressed. I felt I had too many responsibilities, too much work, too many worries about my relationship and just too many worries in life. I felt that I couldn't breathe properly anymore and soon I would just break down.
One day I took an hour break from a work and took a dog for a walk on the beach. And while I was walking there came an old song to my mind. A song I had heard in some storytelling workshop years before. I started silently to sing the simple words of the song and the song just kept going.
After some time I was walking on a forest road back to the greenhouse where I was working and suddenly those words of the song started to create a story, I wasn't singing anymore, I was chanting the story aloud. I was telling a story for my self and for the forest around me. And a story went on and on. It was a simple story about life and paths and it felt like every single tree, every stone, every bird I saw added some new words and sentences to the story.
When I finally arrived to the greenhouse the story was finished.
I breathed the fresh air and inhaled the smell of herbs
And I smiled tears on my eyes: Life is good!
Markus luukkonen
markus_luukkonen@hotmail.com
www.helsinki-uluru.blogspot.com
One day I took an hour break from a work and took a dog for a walk on the beach. And while I was walking there came an old song to my mind. A song I had heard in some storytelling workshop years before. I started silently to sing the simple words of the song and the song just kept going.
After some time I was walking on a forest road back to the greenhouse where I was working and suddenly those words of the song started to create a story, I wasn't singing anymore, I was chanting the story aloud. I was telling a story for my self and for the forest around me. And a story went on and on. It was a simple story about life and paths and it felt like every single tree, every stone, every bird I saw added some new words and sentences to the story.
When I finally arrived to the greenhouse the story was finished.
I breathed the fresh air and inhaled the smell of herbs
And I smiled tears on my eyes: Life is good!
Markus luukkonen
markus_luukkonen@hotmail.com
www.helsinki-uluru.blogspot.com
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