How stories can heal the wounded places
Native American storyteller (Smithsonian Institute)
Everything is held together with stories. That is all that is holding us together, stories and compassion ~ Barry Lopez
Perhaps it is because I come from an Irish tradition of the seanachai, the story-teller, that I hold the art of storytelling in such high-esteem. In times past, neighbours gathered around the fire to listen to the seanachai tell his stories. In America, you have the story telling tradition of the Native American people – stories which impart ancient wisdom to the listener.
Stories are how we orient ourselves in our world and make sense of what is going on in it. Telling our story is a way of discovering ourselves and what is deepest in our hearts. The very act of sharing our story with others counteracts the isolation we so often feel. It also carries within it the seeds of community and connection which is lacking in so many of our lives.
In his book, The Healing Art of Storytelling, a Sacred Journey of Personal Discovery, author Richard Stone is passionate about storytelling and its possibilities for human healing. He argues that storytelling is a lifeline to understanding, both between persons and within an individual psyche.
I was reminded of this once again, as I read the comments after Anna’s guest post earlier this week. Anna’s story evoked a response in many of you which illustrates the innate power of stories to touch us deeply.
Our stories help us access the hidden places within your soul that are well springs of healing. We tell our stories in order to heal; in listening to the stories of how others have walked their path, our own journey of discovery and healing can be enriched.
Our stories are immensely valuable. We have so much compassion and wisdom to share. So please continue to share your stories here. “These stories and compassion” have the power to unite us and hold us together in a profound and healing way.
Now read The Story of the Cracked Pot
You might also like:
How To Stay Sane: The Art of Revising Your Inner Storytelling
What a beautiful post.
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so true. the power of story is something ive been researching and studying and talking with people about for the past 6-7 months. in America, we’re losing touch with the power of story because we’re living too fast. when our lives have stories to tell with an audience to listen, it brings more meaning.
a good book to go along with: Don Miller’s A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, What I Learned While Editing My Life
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Great comment Katy. In his book, The Healing Ar of Storytelling, author Richard Stone argues our culture, currently suffers from “destorification,” a process parallel to desertification (the slow drying up of previously fertile land), in which our lives are slowly losing vividness and meaning, while banal or vulgar sit-coms and worse stand in for the stories we have lost. Would you agree?
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Very interesting and Katy’s comment is right on the money too.
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definitely would agree, i like that term and imagery of destorification/desertification.
we all desire an epic story, that’s why epic movies sell out so quickly…we watch a story and find ourselves wishing our lives were like that. i’ve written a blog or two similar to the idea of living a good story. i pasted them below. but we need to be careful. we can run ourselves ragged looking for the ‘best’ story or a ‘successful’ story to live out. we need to realize relationships define our stories. without them, there wouldn’t be anything to tell and worst of all, no audience.
http://kniles.blogspot.com/2010/06/street-called-glory-april-30.html
http://kniles.blogspot.com/2010/08/august-28th-glory-of-better-story.html
peter rollins is also a good one. He is on a podcast for Mars Hill Bible Church 8/29/10 The Power of Story. and have you seen starbucks’s new logo?? “Stories are gifts. Share” classic. way to go Starbucks.
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I have found the Linda Meyers book, “The Power of Memoir: Writing Your Healing Story” helpful.
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Thanks so much Katherine – this is really helpful.
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I totally agree with the premise of this. It seems as if our world values only what we can measure, but the truth is that we live our life in stories, not in numbers.
Thanks for this,
Katie
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Very true – storytelling not only helps us examine ourselves, our world, but public storytelling has this remarkable way of building community. When sharing our stories, we are reaching out to others as well as to ourselves . . . the proof is here and on other blogs online. We each share our individual journeys and in doing so are tied together.
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