Magic Ball
Adapted by Joan Stockbridge
The Magic Ball is adapted from a story from the Chubut Province in southern Argentina. This version is meant to focus on the addiction and recovery themes useful in recovery settings.
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Kings Wisdom
A tale created by Susi Wolf
Susi is a therapeutic storyteller using healing tales in drug/alcohol recovery programs, domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, crisis situations, as well as the penal system. Read tale and commentary

Monkey Mind prepared by Laura Simms
One evening I told my son a story that I had read from the Lemba tribe of Sierra Leone, West Africa. The story that I told him was a difficult and complicated story about a mother and a son, about revenge, and the rebalancing of energy after a disaster. Read Story

Brave Little Parrot
Adapted by Rafe Martin, Essay by Cristy West
Brave Little Parrot is from an ancient Jataka tale from India. When a forest fire breaks out and threaten forest animals, a little parrot tries to put it out alone by carrying drops of water on its back from the lake. Read Story

Outwitting Death
A Hungarian folktale retold By Gail Rosen
I have told this story in many settings. Its humor is delightful and the story allows thinking and conversation about death, in a way that feels safer for people than direct questions about their personal feelings and experiences. Read Story

The Cracked Pot
A tale from India retold by Mary Dessein
Story is a natural tool for use in addiction treatment and offers a safe way to examine some very difficult issues, ones that can be frightening or shameful to have to admit too soon in the recovery process. Read Story

Dance with Both Hands Free
A parable from Sri Ramakrishna
Retold by Liz Mangual
I loved this story when I first heard it told. I thought it would be a perfect story to share with incarcerated teens. It served a twofold purpose. I could use it to share a personal story, always a good way to start, and also to generate a discussion on a theme relevant for the students. Read Story

Bundles
A German folktale adapted by Allison Cox
I have told this story to women's substance abuse recovery groups, parenting support classes, caregivers retreats, and for various women's issues.
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The Snake and the Holy Man
Adapted by Andre Heuer
There are multiple practical applications of The Snake and the Holy Man. I have primarily explored the issues of violence, dealing with difficult people and situations, and assertiveness. I can see this story being used with young people in an education setting or with groups that are concerned about the ethical issues of violence.
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How Old Woman Kytna Brought Her Daugher Home
A Koryak Story from Kamchatka Peninsula Retold
By Kira Van Deusen
Kytna's story is one of the most moving tales I know. People of all ages (or from about 8 up) sit entranced, travelling with Kytna as she goes to rescue her daughter. I feel that one of the most inspiring things about the story is Kytna's tremendous energy - the lengths she will go to for her daughter
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Raven and the Whale
An Inuit story retold by Laura Simms
At the end of the story, the old woman took my hand and wished me good luck. May made me tell the story at every dinner party we went to. "People have to hear about death if they want to live," she said.
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Just Enough
A folktale from Russia adapted by Elisa Pearmain
I share this tale in several venues. One is in my Family Storytelling workshops. I also share it in the inpatient psychiatric and addictions unit where I work. The tailor story also has value for people who are anticipating the anniversary of the loss of a loved one.
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Shingebiss and the North Wind
Retold by Fran Stallings
From a 19th century literary tale attributed to Chippewa sources.
"Shingebiss and the North Wind" is a soothing story which seems to work with all ages. Shingebiss helps us distinguish precaution from paranoia. She makes practical preparations against real physical dangers but refuses to be intimidated.
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The Stolen Child
Adapted by Joan Stockridge
This story has deep power and significance for me. I have told it maybe two dozen times, mostly in shelters for homeless and abused women. It is a powerful tale for those women, many of whom have had custody issues, and many of whom feel deeply conflicted and ashamed about their ability to protect and care for their children.
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Trojan War - Book 6
Tale from the Iliad, Book 6
Ttranslated by Joan Sutton
Joan's translation from the Greek of Homer, and retelling for the Forum, offers us an example of how a storyteller used storytelling in the middle of a long epic to engage us in the power of story. Here in the middle of a battle two warriors meet.
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The Snake of Dreams
Rewritten from a Georgian Tale by Hugh Lupton
Essay by Laura Simms
The kindness and the starkness of the story renders the listener the one who has undergone the entire journey of the heard story: becoming all the characters within their own inner conjuring; and uses humor to lead the listener incident by incident to a piercing realization.
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The Three Companions
Indonesian Legends and Folk Tales
Told by Adele de Leeuw, 1961
In these troubled times, fear is epidemic. The story "The Three Companions" illustrates that the true enemy is psychological fear in our lives.
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