By Karsten Mathiasen, Danish storyteller
I am looking forward to meeting all the participants in the symposium at Marjatta. It is a very beautiful place close to the fjord. I live close by. It is known as one of the best places for mentally retarded people, children and adults. They work a lot with creativity. I have made several circus performances there over the years.
When I started my career as a storyteller I focused on “trickster stories”. I told stories about “when I was a naughty boy”, stories from my ten years as scaffold worker in Copenhagen, stories about Till Eulenspiegel, Hodja Nashreddin and Coyote, etc.
As a peace activist, I also more and more gathered and told stories about forgiveness and reconciliation, alongside working as a circus clown in his my circus.
I believe that forgiveness is the greatest healer and that acts of forgiveness provide powerfully creative sources for stories that guide us towards a better future - both on the personal and global level. ”Let us find the stories that work like small sticks in the wheels of revenge and hate!” I am looking forward to facilitating the daily lunchtime storytelling session on this fantastic subject.
I have founded "Think Tank for Forgiveness" with the website www.tilgivelse.dk . I am sorry there is not yet an English version, but you should take a look at the menu “links”, And you will get an entry to the world wide movement for forgiveness. There are many links, and I have not yet even myself been through all of them.
Also take a look at the menu “Arbejdsgruppe og rådgivningspanel” (Advisory Board) Here you will find contact information about eleven highly qualified people, working with different aspects of forgiveness and reconciliation
Also take a look at the menu “Arbejdsgruppe og rådgivningspanel” (Advisory Board) Here you will find contact information about eleven highly qualified people, working with different aspects of forgiveness and reconciliation
4. juni 2009
20. maj 2009
Hearts ease
Hearts ease
In the old times, when time was stiller than now, there lived a young man.
Taking his sword in his hand, the young man decided that the moment had come when he must walk out into the world, and find the song which had been calling him for so many years.
The song had been whispering gently to him from time to time, in little moments recently, and it was gradually becoming stronger and louder.
The words of the song were not yet in his understanding, and he knew that if he followed the words and the voice – eventually he would reach a place where everything would become clear.
His parents were sad to see him go, and his first love cried bitterly – and she knew that where he was to go, was important for him, his purpose was heart led and he must find its ending.
Before leaving his parents handed him three things.
A large book, in which he could finally write the song that had eluded him for such a long time, a silver pen filled with unfading ink, so that the song could be recorded for ever, and a packet of seeds, that never emptied – so that he could mark his journey with flowers – hearts ease – so that any who followed might know the right way to go.
He embraced his parents, wished them love and a strong journey, then turned to his first love.“My sweet one, this is one place that I must visit, and I will not return. In time you will follow me, and remember that hearts ease will mark the footpath on the way.”“
My love, I am deeply sad to see you go, for I cannot hear the sweet song that you hear, and I know it fills you with a deep joy that cannot be denied. Please take this with you – for it has been a part of me for so much of our lives, and I would feel happy if I knew you had me with you”.
With that, she handed him a tiny gold heart on a chain which contained a lock of her own hair. She put it around his neck and kissed him gently on the lips.
The young man smiled and his heart filled with love for the family and for his first love, there was nothing more that he needed, so taking his bag filled with gifts, and wearing the heart on a chain around his neck, he set out on the road, following the sound of the beautiful voice that called onwards.
The family watched the young man as he disappeared over the hill, into the sunset, and as he dropped from view, the most beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky, as if gifting the family with a last shaft of love straight from the heart of the young man.
The journey had only just begun, and a wonderful journey it was to be. What was the song?
We may never know, for the young man reached his destination – but all along the way, he strew hearts ease seeds, which still bloom to this very day.
........
Written by Stephanie, whom I met at Emerson College in Sept. 2008.
I'm very grateful for that story in a time when my husband is very ill. Thank you!
Marianne
3. maj 2009
I see you
Last week my little group of storytellers from 'Vordingborg fortællerkreds' and I went to a day care center for elderly people who've become too weak to live by themselves. We did it for free to help a friend whose brother is at the home, handicapped with Parkinson's desease.
An old lady was sitting in her wheelchair as left by the staff facing a table but with her back to the storytellers. So we turned her around so she could see us. After the coffe break, however, she was again sitting with her back to us. I turned her chair again, she raised her hand and with the tiniest voice she whispered 'Thank you'.
I looked into her light blue eyes and saw an ocean of gratefullness and life.
While I was telling my story she kept staring at me and I enjoyed watching her laugh a quiet laughter.
Afterwards I went to say goodbye to her and asked her name. She told me. And then she whispered again. *I didn't mean to stare at you, but the spark in your eyes when you were telling just dragged me into the story. And I enjoyed your radiation. You saw me, and I'm so thankful that I got to meet you today!"
I didn't do anything special, I just saw her.
And now I can't stop thinking about what her story is. She gave me a wonderful gift that night, and I know that all I have to do is be myself, and see.
An old lady was sitting in her wheelchair as left by the staff facing a table but with her back to the storytellers. So we turned her around so she could see us. After the coffe break, however, she was again sitting with her back to us. I turned her chair again, she raised her hand and with the tiniest voice she whispered 'Thank you'.
I looked into her light blue eyes and saw an ocean of gratefullness and life.
While I was telling my story she kept staring at me and I enjoyed watching her laugh a quiet laughter.
Afterwards I went to say goodbye to her and asked her name. She told me. And then she whispered again. *I didn't mean to stare at you, but the spark in your eyes when you were telling just dragged me into the story. And I enjoyed your radiation. You saw me, and I'm so thankful that I got to meet you today!"
I didn't do anything special, I just saw her.
And now I can't stop thinking about what her story is. She gave me a wonderful gift that night, and I know that all I have to do is be myself, and see.
12. april 2009
What is the opposite of¨'healing'?
Healing doesn't have to be the opposite of 'illness'.
Recently I told an old love story about a woman who waited more than 40 years for her loved one, while he was travelling around, having children with other woman. They finally got together, and she was very happy.
After the storytelling a woman came to me and told me, that the story had felt healing for her, because she had lost her husband a year ago. Listening to the story had made her become aware of her deep feelings of sorrow and grief, and now she could finally deal with her feelings.
She cried - but now it was tears of relief.
I've told the story many times, and I always get very warm feedback but from different viewpoints.
You never know when and from what the story is healing.
Recently I told an old love story about a woman who waited more than 40 years for her loved one, while he was travelling around, having children with other woman. They finally got together, and she was very happy.
After the storytelling a woman came to me and told me, that the story had felt healing for her, because she had lost her husband a year ago. Listening to the story had made her become aware of her deep feelings of sorrow and grief, and now she could finally deal with her feelings.
She cried - but now it was tears of relief.
I've told the story many times, and I always get very warm feedback but from different viewpoints.
You never know when and from what the story is healing.
10. april 2009
Flyer
Please send an e-mail to mach@oncable.dk if you want me to send the flyer for the symposium.
You can get as a pdf-file.
9. april 2009
The symposium at local tv
Even if you don't understand Danish, you can see the pictures of where we are going to have the big night of storytelling as part of the International symposium for storytelling as a healing art.
It's in the center of Vordingborg, at the foot of the Goosetower.
See the little video here: Storytelling symposium
Read about the history of the Goose Tower.
It's in the center of Vordingborg, at the foot of the Goosetower.
See the little video here: Storytelling symposium
Read about the history of the Goose Tower.
8. april 2009
From Steph
Hi Marianne,
You asked us for stories that had helped us, or others in our lives.
I was working for a Rape and Sexual Abuse counselling service a couple of years ago, on the phone lines.
I was speaking to a young girl - about 14 - who was still struggling with her experience of sexual abuse by her father. She had moved away from her family, and was living with foster parents, a move she found hard, because in her eyes she was responsible for hurting her mother (by telling the truth) and her father was in prison.
She was lonely, frightened and very tired, but could not sleep because of her fears that someone might come and hurt her again.
I sat and listened on the phone for half an hour, and then we agreed that between us we would create a story - a happy one, which would bring her to a place of peace in her mind and enable her to sleep.
By talking gently to her, finding out about the things she loved, we created a wonderful story of a little girl who went walking in the fields near her home, went riding on her horse, had a picnic with her foster mother, then went home to a good meal, and snuggled down into bed with her favourite teddy bear.
At the end of the story, I spoke to her gently, and she did not reply, tried once more, but no answer, all I could hear was soft breathing. She had fallen asleep with the phone on. I gently put the phone down, knowing that, just for now, she had found a quietness in her spirit - that pleased me.
Hugs and love
Steph
You asked us for stories that had helped us, or others in our lives.
I was working for a Rape and Sexual Abuse counselling service a couple of years ago, on the phone lines.
I was speaking to a young girl - about 14 - who was still struggling with her experience of sexual abuse by her father. She had moved away from her family, and was living with foster parents, a move she found hard, because in her eyes she was responsible for hurting her mother (by telling the truth) and her father was in prison.
She was lonely, frightened and very tired, but could not sleep because of her fears that someone might come and hurt her again.
I sat and listened on the phone for half an hour, and then we agreed that between us we would create a story - a happy one, which would bring her to a place of peace in her mind and enable her to sleep.
By talking gently to her, finding out about the things she loved, we created a wonderful story of a little girl who went walking in the fields near her home, went riding on her horse, had a picnic with her foster mother, then went home to a good meal, and snuggled down into bed with her favourite teddy bear.
At the end of the story, I spoke to her gently, and she did not reply, tried once more, but no answer, all I could hear was soft breathing. She had fallen asleep with the phone on. I gently put the phone down, knowing that, just for now, she had found a quietness in her spirit - that pleased me.
Hugs and love
Steph
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