THE PLACE WITHIN: THE RESIDENCY UNFOLDS

I once asked a bird,

“How is it that you fly in this gravity of darkness?” She responded, “Love lifts me.” Hafiz

Storytelling is unique among all the narrative arts. Although the word “storytelling” has become a buzzword for personal conversations, anecdotal descriptions, branding, memorized texts that are spoken, digital, written and filmic stories, songs with a through line, emotional advertising, and content driven meaning ~ engaged and reciprocal storytelling, as old as the world, has singular and beneficial qualities. To become aware of the nature of our artform gives us tremendous flexibility and depth in performance, as well as any work that we do in the world that engages through creative storytelling, personal narrative, healing and therapeutic story making, and educational uses of authentic spoken word. Perhaps, in today’s world, allured by materialism and increasingly manipulative stories, we need to become familiar with how engaged storytelling can be both antidote, inspiring entertainment, wisdom producing event, and self revelation. The residency is an experiential, theoretical personal journey into the multi -dimensions of storytelling as an artfrom that uncovers our genuine inner nature (presence, compassion and responsibility) while giving us patience and a larger viewpoint to see more clearly what is happening outside of us not colored by our projections, and opinions. It has the potential for freshness and vivid participation. At the heart of the living dynamic event, what distinguishes real storytelling from “assumed” storytelling is the access to presence and direct relationship between listeners and teller. If we uncover and become familiar with the space within ourselves we will be able to restore ourselves, as well as perform a story, or encourage others to tell stories from an unbiased and untarnished space within, so that we can function for our own well being and that of others, regardless of circumstance. The “connection” that is repaired in the moment through narrative live engagement lets us know the abiding sense of interdependence. We then awaken to experience ourselves, and encourage others to experience themselves, as part of the web of earth and spirit. We will even find solutions beyond aggression or fear. The content of a story is the first step in awakening our curiosity and longing. But what happens during the storytelling is what prepares us for being, and reflection, revelation and an uncanny discovery of resources of joy. The storytelling preparation, happening and aftermath ,excavates a sense of having a love affair with being alive, and knowing the mystery of death, the energy of image beyond understanding that enriches us and others. In this Residency Blog, which I begin three months before we begin, and throughout the six days, will be a sharing about the authentic power of engagement in a world that is addicted to opinion, stress, and thinking stories without being able to gain the distance that lets us think while being aware of thinking. The great discovery of mind – a legacy of teachings through mythic storytelling – that has been continuous for thousands of years – and although submerged, not forgotten – is that the mind is flexible and the imagination is closer to a full sense of reality than our understanding. (We will talk about the difference between imagination and fantasy) as we go along. Residency Practice:

throughout the day we practice mindfulness-awareness in various ways that strengthens our capacity to be present and to see fully.