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Archive Number 1046 | ||
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Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2002 13:14:53 +0000
Thank-you B.Z. for your question. My goal as a teller is to give story as a gift that fits the moment. I belive that the magic of Story is that it does fit and fill the context in which it is given. Like water or light that fills a container. I can to this calling through a story that was given to me in a time of need. I need more time to read what has been posted already. I think this discussion is much bigger than crafting story. It is like the difference that I see between a crafted Dreamcatcher, and a Ritual Dreamcatcher. Both are lovely, and stand on their own. However a Ritual piece is for a specific intention, and transcends the "rules of construction". As I readress my loss of 20 years ago, the story is a tailsman, a container for my grief. To all thoes beautifull souls and spirit workers who I promised Dreamcatchers,they are comming. Thanks for your patience. I am looking for a new home, and sacred space to do my work. It is a time/window of opportunity that I am leapping through. I will be in touch soon. Be Well Always. Nyanna P.S. it is my encouragement from this list and good people like you that have given me the courage to leap. THANK_YOU ALL. > I've been deeply moved by responses to the request for memorial stories. > For the rest of us reading these replies, we've had the opportunity to be > renewed, strengthened at a time of deep loss for one of our own listserv > members. In the course of this, I find myself given the chance to peel away > one more layer on that "onion" of grief. Another's loss gives me the gift of > deeper healing and understanding of my own losses. > I've been fortunate to be a part of an on-going group (6 women & a > facilitator) who are committed to personal growth work. Three years ago we > focused on preparing for our own deaths, putting our "houses" in order. > Using the works of Stephen Lavine in "A Year to Live" and the "Tibetan Book > of the Dead" we spent a year doing the work of death preparation. We also > tapped into resources provided by our local Hospice. It was intense, > emotional, EMPOWERING and practical work--the effects of which echo in the > years since. All of us range in age from 42-55. We've all agreed that this > work was timely as many of our parents are approaching death, and some of us > have lost close family & friends.We lean on our death & dying work, finding > comfort, strength and tools for LIVING. > During the days and weeks that immediately followed Sept. 11th, I was > able to work with local school children and families who were coping with > the scope of that immense loss. Then, recently a boy in my 2nd grade class > lost his dad in a tragic accident. Both the kids & I had tears & talks about > this tragedy. The discussions at HealingStory & the HSA website have been > so helpful. > A few years ago I had the honor of telling stories for the memorial > service > of a child who died in an accident. I told a story that I had learned many > years prior about how the first pine tree and the seven sisters > constellation came to be. I "re-tooled" the story a bit to bring greater > comfort to this specific family. > Here's a thought I pose for discussion: > As a folklorist, I question the "ethic" of changing traditional stories, > trying to stay close to the integrity of my sources. But, what about when > we use stories for healing? > My view: As a storyteller/healer I think sometimes we need to adapt > stories to touch closer to the immediacy of the moment. (As the alchemist > carefully blends potions to create gold, so the teller carefully blends > words.) If our intention at difficult times is to comfort & give insight, > then we tellers must use our intuitions & craft, choosing words that will > reach those in need. So. what do you all think? Are we able to change our > stories to fit the moment? If so, do you use guidelines for these changes? > > It's been a while since I've piped up here at "HealingStory," so please > indulge me & my ramblings.-- > B.Z. Smith of the Story Quilters. > www.mismaluna.com/storyquilters.htm > > > > > | ||