The Mythweavers: A Storyband
How could I have forgotten to mention this? Some geographically diverse friends (Jason, Guili, Matt, Fen) and I have all connected up to storyjam over the internet, using skype audio. We’ve named our band “The Mythweavers”, and have chosen to record the jams so that other folks can get a good idea of how a storyjam works and sounds.
Currently we have two episodes up of our ongoing jam, “Howl of the People”, where we use the story-game Primetime Adventures to create an episodic storyline about a dysfunctional family of wolves in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of NE Oregon.
We have completed 3 episodes of our storyline, not including the first podcast which contains casting and setting creation. So far we only have one episode of the storyline up (”episode two” of the podcast, if that doesn’t confuse you too much).
For those who still don’t understand the power and potential of storyjamming, and resuscitating our own oral/spoken traditions, the Mythweavers offer up our humble effort at taken those first baby steps to telling stories about things we care about, and having a good time doing it.
July 10th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Willem,
Again, I haven’t listened to the whole episodes yet, but I am seriously inspired by the story-jamming practice. A few months ago I discovered a paper about a lineage of story-telling healers in Nothern China; that is, the story is the treatment. The response to the story is often vomiting, diarrhea, sweating,and trembling. Because of the work that I do with Chinese Pulse Diagnosis, I have a tactile mode of listening that generally gives me insight into the kinds of trauma that are often responsible for symptoms even much later. The visceral responses to the stories that I am describing is, of course, an autonomic response that can re-establish a more balanced activity within the nervous system. Bear in mind that these responses, with the exception of the trembling, are much less subtle than the typical responses to acupuncture that are equally effective. At any rate, I was naturally very inspired and interested in exploring this lineage. How else than to write a short play about it? Well, I think now I will try to explore it through a story-jamming approach, and I am enlisting a few like-minded folks. Once again, I have to say that the work you are doing is incredibly inspiring. It has struck a chord with me, and I am so keen on exploring ways to use these “invisible technologies” in my teaching, work,and life.
July 11th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Fascinating! Thanks for telling me about the story-telling healers of Northern China; that reminds me of the Hindu healer-bards I’ve posted about before here somewhere. The power of story to heal simply amazes and affirms so much for me.
And Good luck with your Storyjamming!
July 12th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Oh, here is a link to the article itself. The author is right there in Portland at National College of Naturopathic Medicine. Heiner Fruehauf has been working for years to map the significance of symbolism in Chinese medicine, and to preserve the classical depth of the medicine. In fact, you might really appreciate the material on his website that details specifically the “mythic cartography” of the body that illuminates classical Chinese physiology.
http://www.aaom.info/ameracu/vol43.pdf
http://www.classicalchinesemedicine.org/scienceofsymbols/index.htm
I’ve got more than a few reasons to want to move to Portland!
I’ll keep you posted on the storyjamming.