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Story Seekers: Visiting with the Fair Folk (Online via Zoom, Mar 2022)
March 1, 2022 @ 6:00 pm - March 15, 2022 @ 7:30 pm
Story Seekers: Visiting with the Fair Folk (Online)
Online via Zoom on Tuesdays for 3 weeks. Tuesdays, starting on 1 March 2022.
18h00-19h30 CET / 17h00-18h30 GMT / 12h00-13h30 EST
Uncovering the hidden meanings of traditional tales
In Story Seekers, we explore the vibrant world of traditional tales, mythology and folk tales to uncover layers of meaning that might otherwise be missed, and revealing as much about the story listener and storyteller as the story itself.
This month’s 3-part series will focus on tales of Ireland’s fair folk, sometimes known as the “good people”. Although often simply referred to as “fairies”, the fair folk from Irish folklore and Celtic Mythology bear no resemblance to the “Disneyfied” versions on screen. Beautiful, prideful, wicked, benevolent, and at times both terrifying and glorious in equal measure, the fair folk are much more complex than we sometimes realise.
Join us as we take a deep dive into three stories that will delight, mystify, perplex, and perhaps even illuminate.
How it works
Each week, we’ll focus on a different story. The story will be sent to you several days in advance to give you time to read through it before we meet, and during our session together, you’ll experience a live retelling of a tale. We’ll then explore the story’s meaning, metaphors and mysteries through facilitated conversations, individual exercises, small group conversations, and rich discussions. You’ll receive additional material each week with sources, further links, and different tellings, as well as a number of creative prompts so that you can explore the story further if you wish. Although no “homework” is required, we’ll invite you to share any “ah hah” moments or creative outputs at the start of each future session.
What does it cost?
This workshop includes 4.5 hours of live, online Story Seeker sessions including three stories performed orally by a professional storyteller, and facilitated discussions and activities. Participants will also receive handouts and resources for each session, as well as additional creative prompts that can be used for reflection or to kick-start creative projects.
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“The Fair Folk don’t give back what they take..”
― Lady Midnight
Meet your facilitator
Story Seekers is being offered by oral storyteller and story scholar, Suzanne Whitby. Suzanne performs stories across the globe as Ziyadliwa, collects and shares stories through her two podcasts, Tiny Mindful and Stories and Supernovas, and is currently involved in a research project that uses stories to reconnect people to natural spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the dates of the sessions?
We meet for 3 consecutive Tuesdays from 18h00-19h30. Our first session is on 1 March 2022.
What if I can't make every session?
You will still receive the story, any handouts, and references, as well as a recording of the story told orally by a professional storyteller. Unfortunately we don’t record sessions to ensure that participants feel safe sharing ideas and reflections.
How much time do I need to commit to the Story Seekers workshops outside of the live sessions?
We suggest that you spend 10 minutes reading the story for the week. If you like, you can also get creative with the prompts we give you and do a bit more work researching the story and exploring how you connect with it – but that’s up to you! So essentially, you could just show up at each session and enjoy.
Do you offer a payment plan?
Unfortunately not. Full payment is due at enrolment. Your place will only be confirmed once payment has been received.
Do you have a refund policy?
Our refund policy is simple:
- If you cancel 30 days or more before the start date, we provide 100% refund, minus any fees charged by Eventbrite (if relevant).
- If you cancel 14-29 days before the start date, we provide a 75% refund, minus any fees charged by Eventbrite (if relevant).
- If you can cancel 5-13 days before the start date, we provide a 25% refund, minus any fees charged by Eventbrite (if relevant).
- If you cancel any nearer the time, we provide no refunds.
We are nice people, however, so if you have a problem, get in touch with us and we’ll see if there is any way that we can help.
When does registration close?
Registration closes 3 days before the start date or when all spaces have been filled. Please note that we need at least four people registered for the workshop in order to run it, and if we don’t have the numbers, we may have to cancel the workshop.
What happens if a workshop is cancelled for some reason?
You will receive a full refund and will be notified 3 days before the start date.
I don’t like groups. Is this for me?
Creating a safe space for participants is an essential part of everything that I do. With that in mind, I do my best to make sure that these sessions are “introvert-friendly” as well as fun spaces for extraverts, as well as everyone in between. There is never any pressure for you to do or say anything in the sessions and you are welcome to simply listen, if that gives you the experience that you want.
About Story Seekers
Story Seekers sessions offer you the opportunity to plunge into the wonderful, wise, and oft-times rather weird world of traditional stories to explore their many-layered meanings and unpick their metaphors and mysteries that affect the listener – and the teller – often without their conscious awareness.
In each three-part series, you will be invited to:
- explore stories rich in metaphor and mystery
- uncover the deeper meanings of apparently simple stories and consider both superficial imagery and deeper patterns
- consider alternative tellings and versions, and discover additional meanings that might be relevant to the group or to yourself
- identify where you connect with or fail to connect with the meanings in stories that you and other participants
- reflect on stories from different perspectives. If desired, you are welcome to create your own versions from the eyes of other characters
What to expect
If you want to work out how to use the outcomes and discussions in Story Seekers sessions in your own life, here are a few ways that participants use stories:
- as creative prompts to spark writing, art, and performance projects
- as personal development tools to explore any insights or issues that come up for them in the sessions. Some use these insights as they work on themselves, others take their learnings to family gatherings and even therapy sessions.
- as inspiration for developing a storytelling practice. This is useful for both aspiring and experienced oral storytellers.
- as “me time”
- as a way to connect with like-minded people (on the story front) who may have vastly different cultural backgrounds and perspectives on the world
- as pure enjoyment
There is no wrong or right way to use these sessions. Why not come along with an open mind and see what happens?
“In truth we do not go to Faery, we become Fairy, and in the beating of a pulse we may live for a year or a thousand years.”
― Irish Fairy Tales