Storytelling, by Yvonne Aburrow
Storytelling is an ancient art. It is the original form of entertainment, as old as consciousness itself. It can take a number of different forms, from the retelling of traditional tales by an accomplished storyteller, to the game of story-in-the-round, where a group of people create a new tale.
I have developed a workshop technique which gives people the confidence to develop a story from their own imagery. It is amazing how people who claim to have no imagination and no storytelling ability suddenly access their powers of creativity.
It is also a good way of creating group cohesiveness, because the participants have created something together that is unique to them. It is also a great way of spending the time round a campfire, or when you are sitting indoors on a rainy day.
Visualisation
Make sure you are relaxed. This can take the form of breathing in, imagining light entering the body with every breath, then as you exhale, letting the tension drain out of you. If this doesn't work for you, try tensing every muscle in the body in turn for a count of three, then letting go of it. Then try the breathing technique.
After this, make sure you are grounded and centred. Imagine you are a tree putting down roots into the earth, then draw light up through those roots from the earth until you feel connected.
You are now ready to begin the visualisation. Breathe in and out, and as you breathe, begin to visualise ten steps leading down to a door. Walk down the steps, and open the door. You can unlock it with a key.
On the other side of the door is a landscape with trees and fields, gently sloping down to the sea. There is a path leading down to a bay. This might be pebbly, sandy, or rocky. When you arrive at the beach, feel the textures underfoot, smell the sea breeze, and hear the sounds of the waves and the gulls.
Now you can paddle in the water, or dive in and swim, whatever you feel like. Look on the sea floor, and see what there is. Maybe there is a pretty shell, or a pebble that attracts you. Pick it up and take it with you. When you are ready, return to the shore.
Now it is time to return back up the slope, through the fields to the door by which you entered. Retrace your steps up to the door, open it and close it behind you. You can lock it if you want. Then climb back up the steps, and return to the space in which you are sitting.
Story-in-the-round
Now you are ready to begin the storytelling session. For beginners, it is a good idea to give everyone a card with a keyword on it, and ask them to include the keyword in their part of the story. This gets their imagination going. You then start the story (or ask one of the participants to start), and when the story reaches a turning point or you run out of ideas, you hand it on to the next person to continue telling it. This continues round the circle until the story comes to an end.
You will be surprised at how many folklore motifs and archetypes spontaneously crop up in the story, and how meaningful and beautiful the stories will be.
Storytelling links: