The following Spring and Summer Retreat/Workshops have space available:

1). Personal Narrative, Culture and Myth Retreat/Workshop (Oaxaca, Mexico-March 13th-17th)

Oaxaca is at 17th century Spanish Colonial City and is considered to be The clearing house for indigenous art in Mexico with its many markets, galleries and museums.  Workshop participants will examine their own  life journeys in light of cultural influences and mythical symbols and archetypes. The juxtaposition of time for reflection, writing, sketching, discussion, listening to and telling stories, against the rich cultural mosaic of Oaxaca provides a potential for creative insight including the intersection of one’s own life stories with the great myths, rituals, and artwork of antiquity.

The tour includes room and meals at the Casa Colonial, a charming one hundred year-old mansion which has been converted to a B+B, . It is located in the heart of the church and market section and contains a lush garden court yard and extensive English Language library.

The workshop will meet from 9am-1pm each day (Mon, March 13th-Friday, March 17th). The rest of the day is free for rest, writing/sketching,touring, Spanish or cooking classes, etc.

Workshop cost is $395. Room rates are $55 per person for a private room with private bath and large, multi-course breakfast.

Add air travel: there are two  direct Continental Airlines flights through Houston each day and numerous connections through Mexico City to Oaxaca’s modern jet airport.
 For more info contact Jim May at 815-648-2039 or maystory@earthlink.net
(see complete workshop description below)
2) Personal Narrative, Culture and Myth Retreat/Workshop(June 23-25) Alden, Illinois

This workshop will be held at Jim’s home in a completely restored 1840’s circa barn-house on 15 wooded acres.

Cost: $375 plus room ($20--$65) and meals.

contact: Jim May 815-648-2039

Complete Retreat/Workshop Description


 

3) Week of June 12th East Tennessee State University (call Jim for details)
 

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> RETREAT/WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION--Personal Narrative, Culture and Myth
>
>
> This workshop will encourage participants to examine their own individual
> and family experiences as sources for stories. As these memories are
> recounted, stories emerge that tend to instill a profound sense of
> integration, understanding, and pride in family and culture, despite past
> personal histories that may range from imperfect to tragic. The telling of these
> stories within the group process can foster healing, provide new perspectives on
> one*s own family and culture, and instill an increased willingness and openness to
> appreciate and celebrate the cultures and family/life histories of others.
>
Our own life stories can also be seen in relationship to world mythology and religion. The great traditional stories from a variety of cultures can be viewed as a compendia of the life experiences, dreams, and imaginings of millions of people who have lived through the ages and who were able to artistically transmit their reality, wisdom, and spiritual experience and longings down through the ages via the oral tradition.

 Our own life stories, then, when seen through the prism of these myths and spiritual traditions, take on new meaning and provide grounding and guidance.

We see our lives and our journeys ahead in mythological terms. This new viewpoint can provide spiritual depth, strength, and vision for our own journeys.

Using a flower as a metaphor for the act of storytelling, as well as for the
act of living, this workshop will not so much address "performance
technique" or "behavior", what might be considered the pruning and arranging
of the flower display, but rather we will explore the flower's roots, and the
soil which feeds them--the black earth of our souls, the humus and perhaps the
decay that give life to the organism and determines the health, vigor and
beauty of the bloom. STORIES RETRIEVED AND CRAFTED THROUGH THIS PROCESS, CAN HAVE AN ORIGINALITY AND POWER THAT REPRESENTS THE VERY BEST OF EXPRESSION.

--
Jim May
Storyteller, Author
815-648-2039

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