Throughout the week of March 16th, 2020 I told the story of the Odyssey, that wild tale in which clever-minded Odysseus is forced to learn the limits of cleverness-- discovering that he can move forward only through sorrow, sleep, and his changing relationship to the feminine.
These performances occurred live online; recordings that I made each day are below. Given the unusual times we are in, I was inspired to tell "The Odyssey" in particular because difficult times require stories of difficulty; because we are learning every day the limits of our own cleverness; and because every problem may have an opportunity hiding beneath it, like Odysseus clinging to the fleecy belly of the ram. Be well!
These performances occurred live online; recordings that I made each day are below. Given the unusual times we are in, I was inspired to tell "The Odyssey" in particular because difficult times require stories of difficulty; because we are learning every day the limits of our own cleverness; and because every problem may have an opportunity hiding beneath it, like Odysseus clinging to the fleecy belly of the ram. Be well!
Note: the Odyssey is a full-spectrum story, meaning that it includes not only the sweetness of life but also much difficulty: death, marital infidelity, angry gods and ravenous monsters. I feel that these elements are a crucial part of the story, like dark colors in a painting. That said, I do downplay some of these elements so as to make the story accessible to all ages. I have told this story to six-year-olds and to adults and feel that it works well for all ages, as it speaks on many levels. If you are a parent and have specific questions or concerns, please get in touch.
Support the Art of Storytelling!
A story can be a journey, a medicine, and a map to territories of the soul. If you are able to support the crucial work of getting stories out into the world, please do so! You can contribute by making a one-time donation, or by becoming a member of the podcast. Members of the podcast not only help the podcast to happen, but they also receive:
- One bonus story per month
- Access to exclusive content, including stories such as "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell," "The Four Magic Bowls" and "The Three Wishes," as well as a short film of a Celtic earthouse from JL's recent storytelling trip to the UK
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Join the Crane Bag email list to receive word of future storytelling podcasts and events
|
|
LeemingJay@gmail.com
Ithaca, NY 14850 |
|