Storytelling Cohort 2025

 

“Sometimes reality is too complex. Stories give it form.”

– Jean Luc Goddard

Go on a nine moon journey of storytelling with us…

This year, we will begin our storytelling journey with the Pink Moon in April and end with the Cold Moon in December. We follow moon cycles in order to connect our journey with the natural rhythms and circular stories of life. Mother Moon is a great character that has inspired so many stories through time. She beckons us to connect to the memories and mysteries of our deeper curiosities.

Whether you have been telling stories for years or new to the art of storytelling, this cohort is for you! We all have stories to tell. We connect with them not by head learning alone, but by diving into the true heart and opening up our wild, beautiful and imaginative selves.

Meeting once a moon for ten moons, we will travel through many forms of storytelling and hone our craft through telling stories and being offered feedback in a no pressure, playful environment. Throughout the year together, we will practice seasonal awareness and explore the natural rhythms all around us. The coming of Spring, the play of summer, the celebration of Fall and the reflection of Winter—they all have different stories to tell.

“Stories tell us of what we already knew and forgot and remind us of what we haven’t yet imagined.”

– Anne L. Watson

We combine valuable information from the world of storytelling, offer a myriad of resources to take with you, provide examples of kinetic play and practice embodiment awareness exercises that drop us into the natural world and open up our deep inner ecology. In this way, our own stories are unlocked and discovered. Within the cohort, our stories are given shape and form. They are encouraged, discovered and healed.

“You are the perfect person to tell your story.”

– Lin-Manuel Miranda

Whether you are a parent wanting to hone those storytelling skills for your children, a teacher desiring to bring the power of storytelling to your class, a professional wanting to boost your presentation abilities at work, or just a curious soul wanting to connect with others and yourself through the practice of honing the story craft, this cohort is for you.

2025 Storytelling Dates and Themes:

  • Pink Moon: The Power of Personal Narrative

    • April 26 (9:00 to 2:00)

  • Flower Moon: Fables and Folktales

    • May 24 (9:00 to 2:00)

  • Strawberry Moon: Myths and Legends

    • Overnight Retreat on June 20th-22nd

  • Buck Moon: Comedic Storytelling

    • July 26th (9:00 to 2:00)

  • Sturgeon Moon: Stories Through Movement

    • August 23rd (9:00 to 2:00)

  • Corn Moon: Stories Through Song

    • September 20th (9:00 to 2:00)

  • Harvest Moon: Stories About Nature

    • Camping together at the Jonesborough Storytelling Festival!

    • October 3rd-5th

  • Beaver Moon: Historical Storytelling

    • November 8th (9:00 to 2:00)

  • Cold Moon: Your Story, Your Voice

    • Celebration of our Journey on December 6th (9:00 to 4:00)

What Resources will you come away with?

  • A huge compilation of stories with a wide range of tellers from around the world

  • A packet of helpful tools for telling good stories

  • A wide array of resources, including books and research about the craft and power of telling impactful stories, and stories of healing for certain problem areas, especially for those who work with young people.

  • A huge collection of songs and games for working with young people. This is especially helpful for those working with children or young adults or those working or guiding groups of all ages.

  • A collection of embodiment exercises designed to drop us deeper into the world of imagination. And Wonder.

  • Confidence and Connection with your own power of storytelling

  • A deeper awareness of and healing within your own life story

  • Connection to our Cohort and a lifetime of memories!

"Tell me the facts and I'll learn. Tell me the truth and I'll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever."

- Native American Proverb

How does each month work?

  • We meet once a month.

  • You are given resources and “assignments” throughout the month in order to be prepared for deep conversation and to tell a certain form of story.

  • Each month has a different theme based on the moon cycle of the season we are meeting in. You are given resources and stories to practice, memorize and tell.

  • Some months, you will create an original story to bring to the group.

  • All stories are roughly around five to ten minutes long.

  • After we tell our stories, we offer feedback to each other in order to learn and grow with each others’ specific strengths.

  • In July, we will take a the summer for a storytelling intensive.

  • In the Fall, we will travel to the International Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough together. Camping is included, but the ticket price is not.

What is the Cost?

The cost for the whole year is on a sliding scale:

Pay what you can: from $399 to $799

(This price includes a weekend retreat together in July)

(Please let us know if the price is keeping you away from being a part of this amazing journey together. We can definitely work with you. It takes a village!)

  • At the end of the year, you will have a huge collection of resources that will aid you in a lifetime of finding, developing and telling impactful stories.

  • This will add a tremendous power to whatever field of work you find yourself in. It will empower you and connect you to your deeper self and open up your world of imagination, play, confidence and a deeper connection to your inner healing and integration.

  • This is not merely a class, but a way of being that connects us to the rhythms and cycles of stories weaving throughout our world.

  • Stephen and Ashley will be available throughout each month for conversation, resource, reflection and connection.