“Such a beautiful journey”
Thank you, Hannah, for such a wonderful mythic experience. It was such a beautiful journey to go through this process of learning and unfolding.
I feel that this myth has very much captured my past predicament, and now I’m ready to work on who I am and what I may become.
Regarding Private sessions: these were helpful to dive deep into reflecting about various parts of my life. It was an important excavating process, so that I could know what to focus on for my myth.
-Past participant Shiyu Huang
“All lives are tremendously valuable”
In March 2020, Hannah and I began working on a puppet show about my biography, which was very hard work for both of us. Hannah would visit me once a week and I shared my life story in detail. She made notes and gave me homework to be completed. These projects included finding a favourite fairy tale (Grimm’s “The Goose Girl by the Well”), creating collage pieces from art books and magazines, recalling a dream (a tall task for someone who almost never dreams, and if so, does not remember it!) and more.
Our work revealed connections in my life to the power of human blood, the Holy Grail, and the image of the swan and the horse. Well, now that our 6 shows are over (thanks to many wonderful puppeteers, musicians and more), Hannah and I can take a rest, breathe out and ask ourselves, “How was it? What does a human biography mean for other humans and what for the one who tries to come to grasp with the meaning of their life?” I think every person should have the chance to look at their own life. For all lives are tremendously valuable.
When we do a child study, for instance, the child’s higher self feels recognized. The advantage of going through this process in old age is that all segments of life are present, so it becomes a larger overview and a sure means of getting to know oneself. The sharing is an important part of this and everyone ought to do this in some form or other. One does not need to live a so-called fascinating life, for all lives are interesting and important, full of expression.
I am grateful to Hannah who took me through this process, and grateful to all my many friends who were willing to learn how to perform it. I am also grateful to all those who came to watch it and share it with me. And I say thank you to the Glenora Community who had to put up with a constant invasion of people during this COVID time. One more thing remains to be done by me: I still have to finish a needle felted horse that I started as one of the many homework project.
-Past participant Adola McWilliam
“The warmth I yearn for in my heart”
When I was 40, I suddenly thought of looking for my true self. I was drawn to Hannah’s “Storyfire” course. I combed my past comprehensively and repaired the long-standing symptoms in my heart. The teacher vividly deduced the story in the form of dramatic performance, arousing many things that have been buried for a long time and
removing my defenses.
Why does the story have such a powerful healing effect?
I think human nature is similar. The similar scenes in the story touched me and made me look at myself more clearly. I found the problem and the answer to the problem at the same time.
The artistic creation and expression homework in the course is like a gift to one’s life. After the heart is rebuilt, the inner state is expressed in an artistic way. Sometimes painting has more impact than words.
my paintings
In the course, I saw that when I was a child, I tried my best to please others for fear of not being worthwhile. Unable to really integrate, the heart was lonely and dared not speak with its own real voice.
Later, I realized that the ugly duckling is not “ugly”, but special. She simply must listen to her inner voice and becomes herself. It turned out that the real self was very good, and all the wriggles were stretched out and became the heart of who she is, because they dared to make their own voice heard, and attracted like-minded companions.
At the end of the course, making up a story is a comprehensive combing of yourself. Under Hannah’s leadership, I also wrote a story for myself for the first time in my life. Writing my own story gave me strength.
I took the initiative to repair the relationship with my mother. After my grandmother and my father died, when my mother became the only important elder, she felt a great responsibility. She had been working hard for the family. I realized my mother didn’t love me.
I formerly wanted to fight for my mother’s love, but it just backfired and went wrong unhappily every time.
In the stories deduced in the course and in the group practice, I saw those similar life plays being performed repeatedly, and felt that my problems were not unsolvable. I had to express my heart and voice, and I didn’t want to talk about who was right or wrong.
I saw that parents’ love is an amulet. After class, I expressed to my mother that I care about her very much. Every child wants the love of his parents.
After talking with my mother, she fell asleep soundly. I looked at her calm appearance and drew a sketch for her to keep the memory. This time, my mother and I understood each other.
I also actively repaired the relationship with my husband. My husband and I hadn’t been communicating positively. We were in a cold state.
I told my husband the most moving story in the course, and the story told my heart: I also want to have my own value. I’m struggling hard. I hope he can understand me, just as I supported him in those years.
I took the initiative to make efforts to express my true thoughts. I don’t care about the results. Love can’t be forced, but I’m relieved when I try.
“the warmth I yearn for in my heart”
In the course, I drew this picture and used a lot of warm colors. I want to express: “The warmth I yearn for in my heart is pouring in. In fact, the warmth and stability in my heart is the foundation of a person. After I took the initiative to repair the relationship with my mother and husband, I felt the energy flowing. I no longer just blame others, but communicate more, and care about and understand others much more deeply.
This course has helped me make amazing changes.
-Past student Li Sen 李森
“The vastness of personal experience”
Hannah’s vast personal knowledge and experience, combined with her soft gentle, humorous, and supportive manner, made for a course that I see an incredible opportunity for people of all ages and stages.
She is able to be the guide or the beacon that leads each person to the vastness of their own personal experience.
-Past participant Lynn Petrie, M.S.W., Vancouver Island, Canada
Group workshop in China.
Story Medicine for Modern Times 