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Archive Number 17 | ||
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Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 09:11:23 -0500
As we begin our discussion of story as a healing art the question arises = "What story?" When I share with most storytellers my first impression is that they = mean a story that is told that is healing. My understanding of what is a = healing story is: it is the story that is evoked from the life = experience of the person and is shared. My background and approach to = story is pastoral, educational, and psychlogical. I usually call it = narrative rather than story. I know the telling of a tale can touch someone but I sense creating = space for people to find and tell their story is at the core of using = story as a healing art. I know that some storytellers jump immediately = and say that I am doing therapy. I usually say in return and you are = just being entertaining. Either statement of course is too simplistic to = be taken seriously but the discussion of the role of the two approaches = to story is very important. Are they exclusive? Do they work together? = And how? These questions are the ones that I wrestle with in my practice. I tend = to be humanistic in my approach to story appreciating the mythic = dimension of a story but seeing the mythic as much in the personal tale = as I do the traditional. My approach is not Jungian in regard to the = mythic but more literary and historical. This does not mean that I do = not see the spiritual importance of story just that I sense that Jungian = approach is not grounded enough in the sciences. Mostly, I like to view = story from a psychological and therapeutic perspective and its = connection to creativity, learning theory, and multi-intelligence. I hope this give you a sense of who I am and also raises some questions = about the use of story in the healing arts. I am very interested in = hearing what you have to say about this issue. And share a little about = your work and/or interest in story in the process. Andre | ||