Storytelling

The Magic of Storytelling.

Storytelling is one of the most ancient arts. It began as the only means of keeping the history and values of a culture alive and has evolved as humankind has. The oral tradition of telling has been making a comeback in America since the 1970's. Organizations such as Houston Storytellers Guild and the Tejas Storytelling Association have contributed to keeping storytelling alive in Texas.

Storytelling entertains, educations, and inspires. Today storytellers perform and lead residencies in schools teaching students critical listening and reading skills. In corporations, storytellers help explore and identify the values of organizations. In hospital settings, tellers keep alive the personal stories of illness and healing. In festivals throughout the world, tellers entertain children of all ages. In religious institutions, tellers strengthen the integrity of our communities by keeping people in touch with what they value.

The Houston Storytellers Guild meets the third Wednesday of every month. These meetings are free and open to the public. Anyone may share a story.

The Guild sponsors and coordinates the Houston Storytelling Festival every year. It presents nationally and locally know tellers. It also offers workshops to hone attendee's storytelling skills.

The Guild also offers storytelling events and workshops throughout the year to develop storytelling within the Guild and the larger community of Houston. Every march in honor of St. Patrick's Day, a Night of Celtic Stories storytelling performance celebrates the wit and wisdom of the Celtic people. April Fool's Day brings the World's Greatest Liars' Contest where tellers compete for the 'wink' solid-gold trophy. In October, Skyline Screamers scares Houstonians into acting nicely for the rest of the year. Along with sites all over the world, the Houston Storytellers Guild participates in Tellabration!, a night of storytelling celebrated the Saturday before Thanksgiving in America.

I play my part in keeping this joyous tradition alive. I tell in many places : retirement centers, daycares, churches, book clubs, juvenile detention centers, anywhere people gather and want to experience the wonder of storytelling. I envision returning storytelling as a part of everyone's daily life. Storytelling connects people. A good story shares so much of the teller as well as the listener. It draws people closer together. In this technologic age, many people find themselves more disconnected than closer to the people around them. They find themselves lost rather than in the center of family and friends. I believe that by sharing stories, we can retrieve that connection of community.

"We are lonesome animals. We spend all our life trying to be less
lonesome. One of our ancient methods is to tell a story begging the
listener to say -- and to feel -- 'Yes, that's the way it is, or at least
that's the way I feel it. You're not as alone as you thought.'"
John Steinbeck

E-mail me at myth@compassnet.com

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