LIGHTWORKER’S WAY
COLUMN 66
(As published in the Spiritual Niagara newsletter April, 2016)
~The Art of Storytelling~
By Christine Whelan
COLUMN 66
(As published in the Spiritual Niagara newsletter April, 2016)
~The Art of Storytelling~
By Christine Whelan
“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the things we need most in the world.” ~Phillip Pullman
I have many happy memories of being alone with myself as a small child. I have always loved my time with myself, all my life. As an adult, I have come to understand this as a blessing because as a counsellor, I have learned that many people have such a difficult time being by themselves, to simply be alone and not lonely, to enjoy the company of themselves. I have also learned in recent years, that to prefer to spend a lot of time alone is a common characteristic of a lightworker.
During my time alone as a child, I learned the power and magic of reading story books. It quickly became a love of mine. I loved the feel of being able to take myself away to faraway lands, and pretend to be any character I admired in each storyline. I was also blessed with a father who was a great storyteller. While some parents read their children bedtime stories from the amazing world of children’s story books and collection of fairytales, my dad sat on the side of my bed after tucking me in and filled my head with images and vivid descriptions of tales of our ancestors and other colourful legends of people in history. He had a plethora of information stored in his head and had a gift of making them come alive through the art of storytelling.
I have many happy memories of being alone with myself as a small child. I have always loved my time with myself, all my life. As an adult, I have come to understand this as a blessing because as a counsellor, I have learned that many people have such a difficult time being by themselves, to simply be alone and not lonely, to enjoy the company of themselves. I have also learned in recent years, that to prefer to spend a lot of time alone is a common characteristic of a lightworker.
During my time alone as a child, I learned the power and magic of reading story books. It quickly became a love of mine. I loved the feel of being able to take myself away to faraway lands, and pretend to be any character I admired in each storyline. I was also blessed with a father who was a great storyteller. While some parents read their children bedtime stories from the amazing world of children’s story books and collection of fairytales, my dad sat on the side of my bed after tucking me in and filled my head with images and vivid descriptions of tales of our ancestors and other colourful legends of people in history. He had a plethora of information stored in his head and had a gift of making them come alive through the art of storytelling.
Storytelling has had enduring value in many cultures and societies. Those who stand out for me are the indigenous people. Their storytellers, often elders, connect the past to the present, preserving traditions for many generations.
We are hard-wired for communicating through the learning from stories. Kids can barely sit through class but will spend hours with Harry Potter.
We are hard-wired for communicating through the learning from stories. Kids can barely sit through class but will spend hours with Harry Potter.
More Than One Way
There is more than one path to experiencing and sharing this magic. Telling a story verbally as opposed to reading a story adds inflection and emotion. A good storyteller will ignite your imagination, causing it to run away with images and colours, partnering with your heart as emotions flourish, decorating your soul with inspiration. Reading a story is a remarkable way to give yourself the opportunity to escape the stresses and pressures of life for a while. Unlike someone telling you a story, it allows you to go at your own pace, stopping to absorb and contemplate as needed, repeat in entirety or in part as intuited and is there to return to at anytime.
For me, one of the most important elements of a good story is its ending. I so love a good ending. Even if the storyline is good and is well executed, if the ending does not wow me, I’m not impressed. The best is when the ending is not expected. This will stick with me for days like a longstanding drug.
The Healing Factor
Telling your own story is healing, both for you and for others. It can give the priceless message, “No, you are not alone and no, you are not going crazy.” It can provide hope. It can provide options. It can inspire and motivate. When symbolism is used in storytelling, it can resonate with your inner world, causing the implications to burrow down, deep within your psyche and allow it to expand and provide opportunity for you to explore within.
I learned to use storytelling in my work. As a group facilitator in a women’s shelter, I encouraged women to tell their stories. This is the true healing with a support group, when the members learn from each other. Now, in my groups and workshops with Mindz ‘n Transit, I often tell my own stories as learning tools as much of what we, as lightworkers, are learning about ourselves is often not written in text books and other learning materials yet. I have learned that part of why I went through my own journey many years ago is that part of my purpose in this lifetime is to first heal from my experiences and then share them with lightworkers who are going through their journey now.
There is more than one path to experiencing and sharing this magic. Telling a story verbally as opposed to reading a story adds inflection and emotion. A good storyteller will ignite your imagination, causing it to run away with images and colours, partnering with your heart as emotions flourish, decorating your soul with inspiration. Reading a story is a remarkable way to give yourself the opportunity to escape the stresses and pressures of life for a while. Unlike someone telling you a story, it allows you to go at your own pace, stopping to absorb and contemplate as needed, repeat in entirety or in part as intuited and is there to return to at anytime.
For me, one of the most important elements of a good story is its ending. I so love a good ending. Even if the storyline is good and is well executed, if the ending does not wow me, I’m not impressed. The best is when the ending is not expected. This will stick with me for days like a longstanding drug.
The Healing Factor
Telling your own story is healing, both for you and for others. It can give the priceless message, “No, you are not alone and no, you are not going crazy.” It can provide hope. It can provide options. It can inspire and motivate. When symbolism is used in storytelling, it can resonate with your inner world, causing the implications to burrow down, deep within your psyche and allow it to expand and provide opportunity for you to explore within.
I learned to use storytelling in my work. As a group facilitator in a women’s shelter, I encouraged women to tell their stories. This is the true healing with a support group, when the members learn from each other. Now, in my groups and workshops with Mindz ‘n Transit, I often tell my own stories as learning tools as much of what we, as lightworkers, are learning about ourselves is often not written in text books and other learning materials yet. I have learned that part of why I went through my own journey many years ago is that part of my purpose in this lifetime is to first heal from my experiences and then share them with lightworkers who are going through their journey now.
The Importance of Storytelling for Lightworkers
As I mentioned above, it is common for lightworkers to be thought of as “loners”. At least it is considered essential and healthy for lightworkers to spend lots of time alone. Books have kept us company, both as children and now as adults. Storytelling when gathering with like-minds is beneficial to our individual and collective growth and evolution. The stories of each other’s experiences bring new possibilities to light and therefore new beliefs, releasing illusions and limitations, moving us all further ahead. They can be very validating to other lightworkers’ new experiences, getting rid of the “it’s all in your head” barrier.
There is another way of telling a story — through the creation of visual arts. I met Vanessa Brownbridge a few years ago at an event where she was displaying some of her paintings. I was immediately drawn to her work, and Vanessa herself, and struck up a conversation with her, asking about her paintings. She explained how her creations are channeled and collectively, they tell a very powerful story. And then she began to tell the story of her paintings. As a result, I had a strong urge to hug her and weep with moved emotion. I was in awe. Recently, we have re-connected and she came to Mindz ‘n Transit for hours of inspiring conversation and lunch. I shared with her my reaction to her storytelling during our first meeting. She replied that she wished I had allowed myself to cry and hug her. All magic.
As I mentioned above, it is common for lightworkers to be thought of as “loners”. At least it is considered essential and healthy for lightworkers to spend lots of time alone. Books have kept us company, both as children and now as adults. Storytelling when gathering with like-minds is beneficial to our individual and collective growth and evolution. The stories of each other’s experiences bring new possibilities to light and therefore new beliefs, releasing illusions and limitations, moving us all further ahead. They can be very validating to other lightworkers’ new experiences, getting rid of the “it’s all in your head” barrier.
There is another way of telling a story — through the creation of visual arts. I met Vanessa Brownbridge a few years ago at an event where she was displaying some of her paintings. I was immediately drawn to her work, and Vanessa herself, and struck up a conversation with her, asking about her paintings. She explained how her creations are channeled and collectively, they tell a very powerful story. And then she began to tell the story of her paintings. As a result, I had a strong urge to hug her and weep with moved emotion. I was in awe. Recently, we have re-connected and she came to Mindz ‘n Transit for hours of inspiring conversation and lunch. I shared with her my reaction to her storytelling during our first meeting. She replied that she wished I had allowed myself to cry and hug her. All magic.
I feel like I am carrying on my dad’s torch by using storytelling in my work. He tragically passed away in July, 2016 of ALS. During his end days journey , he lost his ability to speak, so the storytelling for him personally, was over. I had put together a scrapbook to tell his stories for him. In the long-term care facility he lived in for his last year and a half, all he has to do was turn pages and point to pictures with the captions and newspaper articles about him and the book told his stories for him. When he seemed to be his happiest was when something came up in conversation with others in the room – maybe a nurse or PSW – that would have been, before the ALS, a trigger to initiate one of his stories, he looked at me and that would be my cue – I would tell the story for him, as he grinned away proudly.
The Scrapbook: Immortalizing a Noble and Eccentric Man
So, my friends, tell your story. Listen to others’ stories. If you have young children or grandchildren, read stories to them. The experience of storytelling is food for the soul, validation for the mind, inspiration for the heart and a means of creating lasting connections with other. And this, by beautiful friends, is why I believe storytelling is not only an art – it is magic!
~Christine
(Also inspired by the movie, “Lady in the Water”, which was originally created as a father’s bedtime story for his daughters.)
The Scrapbook: Immortalizing a Noble and Eccentric Man
So, my friends, tell your story. Listen to others’ stories. If you have young children or grandchildren, read stories to them. The experience of storytelling is food for the soul, validation for the mind, inspiration for the heart and a means of creating lasting connections with other. And this, by beautiful friends, is why I believe storytelling is not only an art – it is magic!
~Christine
(Also inspired by the movie, “Lady in the Water”, which was originally created as a father’s bedtime story for his daughters.)
Would you like your story written?
Personal Interview & Ghostwriting Services by Christine Whelan
AUTHOR BIO
Personal Interview & Ghostwriting Services by Christine Whelan
AUTHOR BIO