Transformational Storytelling

Welcoming the Other
2020-06-20 19:00 - 21:00, 2020-07-19 09:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
This powerful and highly interactive workshop inspires appreciation of and engagement with the “Other.”
After some foundational instruction – and a story or two! – we dive into a carefully crafted, interactive experience of creating a personalized story about being “the other.” Small group dialogue and sharing are integrated into every step of the workshop.
All that is required is a sheet of paper, a pen or pencil, and an open heart.
Register here; pay what you can ($20 suggested, free is fine) at https://paypal.me/JimBrule/
Please reach out with any questions!

Facilitator's Workshop - Welcoming the Other
2020-06-24 19:00 - 20:30
A workshop designed to train individuals who would like to adapt and facilitate “Welcoming the Other” for their own communities.
We look at the origins of the workshop, the key components of preparation and design, how to fit a community-specific issue to the model, and challenges of conducting the workshop online.
You must have completed the workshop prior to taking this training.

Spiritual Storytelling Jamboree
2020-06-28 19:00 - 21:30
Join us for our semi-annual Spiritual Storytelling Jamboree, now held over Zoom!
Twice a year, students from the Transformational Storytelling program are joined by guest faculty and alumni to share stories of spirituality from a wide variety of different traditions. This year, we will have storytellers from Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Indigenous, Jewish, Muslim, and other traditions!
Scheduled storytellers include:

Jim Brulé

Erica Taraporevala
Susi Wolf
Kurt Hohmann

Fred Bower
Mohammed ElFiki
Jessie Kerr-Whitt

Hannah Benedict
Sarah Tovah Taub
Michael Leizerman

There is no fee for this event, and opportunities for discussion are provided throughout the evening. Snacks and other refreshments are available – if you bring them for yourself!
Register for the event here and be prepared for an evening of hearts opening – and great stories!

Facilitator's Training - Welcoming the Other
2020-07-26 10:00 - 11:30
A workshop designed to train individuals who would like to adapt and facilitate “Welcoming the Other” for their own communities.
We look at the origins of the workshop, the key components of preparation and design, how to fit a community-specific issue to the model, and challenges of conducting the workshop online.
You must have completed the workshop prior to taking this training.
Registration can be done here; sliding scale of $25 – $50 based on your ability to pay. Please make your payments at https://paypal.me/JimBrule/
Unconditional satisfaction guaranteed; any payments will be refunded after completion of the workshop if it does not live up to your expectations!

Introduction to Transformational Storytelling
2020-07-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom
What makes a story “transformational?” Is it the story? The way it’s told? The way it’s received?
The simple answer is yes. However, a lot goes into creating a transformational storytelling experience: understanding how people learn and grow; understanding the neuroscience of stories; opening ourselves to the deeper meanings that swirl between storyteller, audience, and story in such moments.
Join us for a free, two-hour introduction to Transformational Storytelling, and prepare to open some new doors – and your heart. Register for free at the website below.

Diving Deeply into Four Stories
2020-08-06 19:00 - 20:00 | https://transformationalstorytelling.org/event/diving-deeply-into-four-stories/2020-08-06/
Some stories have meanings swirling deep beneath the surface. As the telling shifts, so do the meanings; as the meanings shift, so do the stories. And as listeners, much can be revealed.
Join us in this highly participatory series as we dive deeply into four different spiritual stories, each with its own variety of tellings and meanings. The exploration will be meaningful for everyone, independent of your spiritual tradition.
Participants will receive each story at least a week in advance, along with a worksheet to help prepare for the “deep dive.” Stories will be The Ocean of Tears, The Incompetent Thief (aka The Imposter Rabbi), The Dead Fiancee, and The Forgotten Story.

The total fee for all four sessions is $50; scholarships are available to those in need, and complete satisfaction is guaranteed. Register here; you can pay by credit card here or via PayPal.
Don’t miss this unique adventure!

Welcoming the Other
2020-08-23 10:00 - 12:00 | https://transformationalstorytelling.org/event/welcoming-the-other-3/
This powerful and highly interactive workshop inspires appreciation of and engagement with the “Other.”
After some foundational instruction – and a story or two! – we dive into a carefully crafted, interactive experience of creating a personalized story about being “the other.” Small group dialogue and sharing are integrated into every step of the workshop.
All that is required is a sheet of paper, a pen or pencil, and an open heart.
Register here – pay what you can ($20 suggested, free is fine).
Please reach out with any questions!

Stories of Forgiveness
2020-08-26 15:00 - 16:00 | https://transformationalstorytelling.org/event/stories-of-forgiveness/2020-08-26/
Once again, dive deeply into spiritual stories! We will examine several stories specially selected for the month of Elul – the month of preparation for the High Holy Days of Judaism. These stories will focus on themes of forgiveness and compassion, drawing from Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist traditions. While particularly relevant to Jewish students, all participants will find meaning in this in-depth spiritual journey.
Among the stories we will study will be Blood Brothers, the Forgotten Story, the Lost Sabbath, the Murderer, and the Grey Parrot. Stories will be distributed well in advance of each class.
This is a pay-what-you-can event; the suggested donation is $36, but no fee is required to attend.

Diving Deeply into Stories - v2
2020-09-09 12:00 - 13:00 | https://transformationalstorytelling.org/event/diving-deeply-into-stories/2020-09-09/
Join us in this highly participatory series as we dive deeply into four different spiritual stories, each allowing a variety of tellings and meanings. The exploration will be meaningful for everyone, independent of your spiritual tradition.
Participants will receive each story at least a week in advance, along with a worksheet to help prepare for the “deep dive.” The stories in this series are Abraham and the Idols (Jewish & Muslim), The Woodcutter’s Daughter (Kazhakstan), The Clever Midwife (Jewish), and Drawing the Wind (Jewish + worldwide).
The total fee for all four sessions is $50; scholarships are available to those in need, and complete satisfaction is guaranteed. Register here.
Don’t miss this unique adventure!

Joseph the Dreamer
2020-10-07 12:00 - 13:00 | https://transformationalstorytelling.org/event/joseph-the-dreamer/2020-10-07/
The story of Joseph the Dreamer – a stunning character in both the Bible and the Qu’ran – reveals unexpected riches when read across both texts simultaneously. In this exciting dive into the several stories – there are, in fact, more than two! – people of every tradition will find new meaning and delight in this tale that crosses millennia and traditions.
Four weekly classes will walk through the luxurious pathways and dreams of Joseph with an English rendering of the Jewish and Muslim texts. Open to all traditions – or no tradition at all! – this experience explores honors the faiths that hold these stories dear, while relishing the deeper riches of this complex story independent of any tradition.
The fee for all four classes is $50; scholarships are available. Please register and pay at this site.

Welcoming the Other
2020-10-27 19:00 - 21:00 | https://transformationalstorytelling.org/event/welcoming-the-other-4/
This powerful and highly interactive workshop inspires appreciation of and engagement with the “Other.”
After some foundational instruction – and a story or two! – we dive into a carefully crafted, interactive experience of creating a personalized story about being “the other.” Small group dialogue and sharing are integrated into every step of the workshop.
All that is required is a sheet of paper, a pen or pencil, and an open heart.
Register here – pay what you can ($20 suggested).
Please reach out with any questions!

Diving Deeply into African Stories
2020-11-10 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
This special edition of Diving Deeply into Stories is being co-taught with Laura Simms, who teaches and performs worldwide, and is known for her expertise with myth, along with Nigerian storyteller, Titi Ogunnaike, who will be live from Lagos. We will examine two stories in this series: The Starwoman and The River Olu.
Some may be familiar with The Starwoman. Most will be unfamiliar with The River Olu, which is from the Yoruba people. Each has deep mysteries within them. The River Olu will be told by Yoruban storyteller Titi Ogunnaike in a special engagement with Transformational Storytelling, as well as by the priest of the river, interviewed by Mrs. Ogunnaike (in Yoruban with subtitles).
A limited number of scholarship tickets are available. Those who can afford more may select the Pay as you wish option.
This is truly a unique experience to dive deeply into these mystical stories.

Diving Deeply - Hungarian Folktales
2020-12-08 11:00 - 12:30 | Zoom
The Diving Deeply series invites participants to explore stories with rich metaphor and mystery, seeking meanings below the surface that often affect the listener – and the storyteller – without their awareness. Participants dissect the stories, their symbols and metaphors, and uncover both the first set of meanings that seem to present themselves and then consider alternative tellings and impacts.
In this series, we will dive deeply into the world of Hungarian magic tales dating back to shamanic culture, and their unique and archetypal characters.
This special edition of Diving Deeply into Stories is being offered with Maja Bumberák, and Maggid Jim Brulé. Bumberák is a renowned storyteller and singer based in Budapest, Hungary. She is known around the world for her storytelling, and even more so for researching and reviving the artform of oral storytelling in Hungary. As a scholarship holder of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, she is training teachers and student teachers in oral storytelling.
Maggid Jim Brulé is a transformational storyteller, and the founder of the Transformational Storytelling school, of which this program is a part. Brulé also works with organizations and communities to bring the power of storytelling to healing the fractures which so often divide us around race, class, faith tradition, and culture. His two-year program has graduated students from around the world, including several ordinations of Jewish students as a Maggid – a spiritual storyteller in the Jewish tradition.
A limited number of “Pay as you wish” tickets are available.
This is truly a unique experience to dive deeply into these mystical depths.

Diving Deeply - Dream Stories
2021-01-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
The Diving Deeply series invites participants to explore stories with rich metaphor and mystery, seeking meanings below the surface that often affect the listener – and the storyteller – without their awareness. Participants dissect the stories, their symbols and metaphors, and uncover both the first set of meanings that seem to present themselves and then consider alternative tellings and impacts.
In this series, we will dive deeply into the world of Dream stories. In particular, we’ll be looking at “The Peddler of Swaffham” and “The Man who Bought a Dream.”
This special edition of Diving Deeply into Stories is being offered with Laura Deal and Maggid Jim Brulé. In addition to writing and telling stories, Laura Deal studied the deeper meanings of dreams for 18 years with dream expert Rev. Dr. Jeremy Taylor. She’s a certified Dream Work Facilitator from the Marin Institute for Projective Dream Work, and the founder of the First Church of Metaphor.
Maggid Jim Brulé is a transformational storyteller, and the founder of the Transformational Storytelling school, of which this program is a part. Brulé also works with organizations and communities to bring the power of storytelling to healing the fractures which so often divide us around race, class, faith tradition, and culture.
A limited number of “Pay as you wish” tickets are available. Likewise, those who can afford more to help subsidize those who can’t are encouraged to do so.
This is truly a unique experience to dive deeply into these mystical depths.

Diving Deeply: Fehérlófia Workshop (WhiteHorseSon)
2021-01-10 10:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
In this 3-hour workshop, we will dive deeply into the world of the Hungarian epic Fehérlófia (WhiteHorseSon), which appears in multiple forms and variations. The Fehérlófia epic dates back to shamanic culture, is filled with magic, along with unique and archetypal characters.
This is truly a unique experience to dive deeply into these mystical depths.
This is the first in a series of monthly workshops, held for 3 hours on Sundays to allow for greater depth and exploration. Foundational materials are provided; the series may be entered without having attended prior classes but will be enhanced for those who continue.
This special edition of Diving Deeply into Stories is being offered with Maja Bumberák and Maggid Jim Brulé. Bumberák is a renowned storyteller and singer based in Budapest, Hungary. She is known around the world for her storytelling, and even more so for researching and reviving the artform of oral storytelling in Hungary. As a scholarship holder of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, she is training teachers and student teachers in oral storytelling.

Mexico and its Stories
2021-02-02 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
The Diving Deeply series invites participants to explore stories with rich metaphor and mystery, seeking meanings below the surface that often affect the listener – and the storyteller – without their awareness. Participants dissect the stories, their symbols and metaphors, and uncover both the first set of meanings that seem to present themselves and then consider alternative tellings and impacts.
In this series, we dive deeply into the world of the indigenous side of Mexican stories, filled with magical realism and parallel worlds.
This special edition of Diving Deeply into Stories is being offered with Valentina Ortiz and Maggid Jim Brulé. Valentina Ortiz is a storyteller, musician, writer, recording artist, teacher, and humanitarian. She considers herself a citizen of the world, as she tells her stories in English, Spanish or French. Valentina is the magic of Mexican traditions, with their music, native languages, and stories. She is also the flavors of the Caribbean drums; she is the union of the different cultures from the tropics to the mountains. She speaks words of hope, of song and music, of strong women, of responsibility towards Mother Nature and community.
Maggid Jim Brulé is a transformational storyteller, and the founder of the Transformational Storytelling school, of which this program is a part. Brulé also works with organizations and communities to bring the power of storytelling to healing the fractures which so often divide us around race, class, faith tradition, and culture. His two-year program has graduated students from around the world, including several ordinations of Jewish students as a Maggid – a spiritual storyteller in the Jewish tradition.
A limited number of “Pay as you wish” tickets are available.
This is truly a unique experience to dive deeply into these mystical depths.

Diving Deeply into Stories - 8 weeks
2021-02-08 18:00 - 19:30 | https://transformationalstorytelling.org/event/diving-deeply-into-stories-8-weeks/2021-02-08/
This class gives storytellers and non-storytellers the tools to uncover and explore the deeper
meanings found in traditional narratives. Exploring stories from Hungary, Nigeria, South
Africa, Egypt, Eastern Europe, and India, students begin by dissecting stories, their symbols
and metaphors. After uncovering the first “obvious” set of meanings, they then consider
alternative storylines and impacts. Students will find meanings below the surface that often
affect the listener – and the storyteller – without their awareness.
Co-taught with Jim Brulé & Sara Armstrong
Note: Students who wish will be able to present one of the class’ stories in a Showcase
event.

The Sky High Tree
2021-02-14 10:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
In this 3-hour workshop, we will dive deeply into the world of the Hungarian magic tale „Az égig érő fa” (Sky High Tree), which appears in multiple forms and variations. The tale of Égig Érő Fa has elements dating back to shamanic culture, is filled with the supernatural, along with unique and archetypal characters.
Besides searching for meanings and connections for ourselves in the rich world of this story, we will also examine how the language of traditional oral narration paints images with words and how does it evoke inner images in the listeners and make the story compelling.
IF YOU DID NOT ATTEND EARLIER EVENTS, YOU WILL BE GIVEN ACCESS TO A CONDENSED RECORDING AND ALL BACKGROUND MATERIALS. THIS WILL NOT BE AN IMPEDIMENT TO YOUR PARTICIPATION!
This is the fourth in a series of recurring classes workshops, held for 3 hours on Sundays to allow for greater depth and exploration. Foundational materials are provided; the series may be entered without having attended prior classes but will be enhanced for those who continue.
This special edition of Diving Deeply into Stories is being offered with Maja Bumberák and Maggid Jim Brulé. Maja Bumberák is a renowned storyteller and singer based in Budapest, Hungary. She is known around the world for her storytelling, and even more so for researching and reviving the artform of oral storytelling in Hungary. As a scholarship holder of the Hungarian Academy of Arts, she is training teachers and student teachers in oral storytelling.
Maggid Jim Brulé is a transformational storyteller, and the founder of the Transformational Storytelling school, of which this program is a part. Jim Brulé also works with organizations and communities to bring the power of storytelling to healing the fractures which so often divide us around race, class, faith tradition, and culture. His two-year program has graduated students from around the world, including several ordinations of Jewish students as a Maggid – a spiritual storyteller in the Jewish tradition.
This is truly a unique experience to dive deeply into these mystical depths.

Diving Deeply - Dancing with Death
2021-03-09 12:30 - 14:00 | Zoom

Diving Deeply: The Power of Names
2021-04-06 12:30 - 13:00 | Zoom
Fred Mindlin and Maggid Jim Brulé explore personal and traditional stories about the power of names: names that are hidden, proclaimed, and changed. Come prepared to learn about the power of names – including your own! – and how that power is shared through storytelling. Tickets range from $15 – $70; more info and registration at https://transformationalstorytell.simpletix.com/e/65563

Diving Deeply: The Mabinogion
2021-05-04 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
In this class, we will enter the flourishing forest of the Mabinogion, that Welsh story cycle of transformation, wandering, and repair of the relations between ourselves and the Otherworld. We will encounter a cauldron of re-birth, women who transform themselves into animals, a wandering king, and a horse-goddess who cannot be caught. The classes will be led by Jay Leeming and Maggid Jim Brulé. Come prepared to relate to these beings through our hearts and bodies as well as our minds, learning to find them both in the world and in ourselves and perhaps to catch a glimmer of the wild transformations they offer us.
Jay Leeming is a poet and storyteller who in response to Covid-19 told fifty stories online over ten weeks during the spring of 2020. He enjoys connecting the wild river of poetry to the earth-based stories humans have carried in their voices for the last ten thousand years, bringing these stories alive through the Crane Bag Storytelling podcast. He is the author of Miracle Atlas (Writers and Books, 2011) and Dynamite on a China Plate (Backwaters Press, 2006), and the recipient of a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Recordings and more information about his work can be found at www.JayLeeming.com.
Maggid Jim Brulé is a transformational storyteller, and the founder of the Transformational Storytelling school, of which this program is a part. Jim also works with organizations and communities to bring the power of storytelling to healing the fractures which so often divide us around race, class, faith tradition, and culture.

Using Stories to Build Connections – and Community
2021-05-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Please join me as I host Congregation Beit Simchat Torah’s Lunch and Learn on 26 May at noon Eastern. My topic is “Using Stories to Build Connections – and Community”, and you can learn more here: https://cbst.org/content/lunch-learn

***

Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST) is a vibrant spiritual community and a progressive voice within Judaism. Founded in 1973, CBST attracts and welcomes gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, queer and straight individuals and families who share common values. Passionate, provocative, and deeply Jewish, CBST champions a Judaism that rejoices in diversity, denounces social injustice wherever it exists, and strives for human rights for all people.

Three Wishes - A Concert of Stories
2021-06-13 12:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
We would like to invite you to join us for a concert of stories with Maja Bumberák and Jim Brulé. At this storytelling event we will share stories and songs from different cultures and religions.

There will also be space to reflect on the stories, to play and connect with each other. We would also like to introduce you to the Multifaith Transformational Storytelling School, which reopens in October 2021. Come, listen to the stories and join us in the explorations.

See our trailer to the event at: https://vimeo.com/548371066

Register at https://tinyurl.com/XformConcert

Admission $0-$15.

Diving Deeply: “We Are All Related”
2021-07-06 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom
In this class, we will begin by sharing an overview of the multitude of Native American cultures that existed before the European colonization. Stories were and still are at the core of our lives. We will work with stories from different traditions, and then look at the “bones” of the stories and their evolution.
The classes will be led by Hears Crow and Maggid Jim Brulé. Come prepared to relate to these beings through our hearts and bodies as well as our minds, learning to find them both in the world and in ourselves and perhaps to catch a glimpse of the deeper journeys they offer us.
You can register and get more information here: https://www.simpletix.com/e/we-are-all-related-four-classes-tickets-71102
The Diving Deeply series invites participants to explore stories rich in metaphor and mystery, seeking meanings below the surface that often elude the listener. Participants will delve deeply into the stories, discovering in their images both surface meanings as well as deeper patterns; we will also consider alternative tellings and pathways, seeking there a key to our relationship with the unseen forces at work both in stories and in our lives.
Hears Crow Nootauau Kaukontuoh, “she hears the crow”, is a woman of the Eastern Woodlands. She lives her life in the tradition of the Nanhigganêuck, the people known today as the Narragansett. She is a Storyteller of Longhouse Tales, told in many different ways including Native Sign Language, call and response, as well as other traditional styles. As a ‘kuhkootomwehteâen’ (one who shares knowledge) with thirty-five plus years of telling in these different styles, she brings forth the culture of the Longhouse People through their stories.
Maggid Jim Brulé is a transformational storyteller, and the founder of the Transformational Storytelling school, of which this program is a part. Jim also works with organizations and communities to bring the power of storytelling to healing the fractures which so often divide us around race, class, faith tradition, and culture.

Welcoming the Other
2021-12-12 12:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
This powerful and highly interactive workshop inspires appreciation of and engagement with the “Other.”
After some foundational instruction – and a story or two! – we dive into a carefully crafted, interactive experience of creating a personalized story about being “the other.” Small group dialogue and sharing are integrated into every step of the workshop.
All that is required is a sheet of paper, a pen or pencil, and an open heart.
Limited reduced price tickets available.
Register here: https://www.simpletix.com/e/welcoming-the-other-tickets-81908

Stories from Jewish Culture
2022-02-06 10:30 - 12:30 | Zoom
Join eight accomplished Jewish storytellers from around the world for this free program! This is part of the Chennai Storytelling Festival 2022. Register via email at info@storytellinginstitute.org

Stories of the Baal Shem Tov
2022-02-13 09:30 - 22:30 | Zoom
Join Maggid Jim Brulé as he recounts some of the stories of this amazing Jewish mystic – the Baal Shem Tov. Controversial in his day, he is now studied and admired by people from many faiths and traditions. Please join us for this free program! This is part of the Chennai Storytelling Festival 2022. Register via email at info@storytellinginstitute.org

Exploring Death and Grief Through Storytelling
2022-02-13 10:30 - 12:00 | Zoom
Part of the Chennai Storytelling Festival 2022
Led by Rebecca Lemaire and Jim Brulé
Register via email at info@storytellinginstitute.org

Grief and Loss
2022-03-08 12:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Join us on this six-week program focusing on grief and loss. We will look at stories that explore ways in which we may move between the living and the dead, embrace grief, and transform loss. Participants will engage with the stories through creative writing, meditations, sharing, and exercises, in groups and individually. The final week will provide an opportunity for participants to share their own creations with the group.
The six-week session meets at Noon Eastern US / 6 pm European time for two hours. Adjustments will be made for Daylight Savings Time.
Class size is limited to 15 to ensure the best experience. The fee is $120 USD, with a limited number of reduced spots at $60 USD. Supporters can pay $150 USD to help fund the reduced spots; in gratitude, Rebecca and Jim will schedule a special hour for supporters following the conclusion of the program.
Part of the “Journey into Dying and Living” series, where we explore Dying and Living through storytelling, creative exercises, and meditations.
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Rebecca Lemaire is a versatile Belgian-British storyteller and is currently based in the South of Spain. She has performed and given workshops at international festivals, in a prison, yoga schools, Tibetan monasteries, theatres, and libraries. She tells stories about grief and death to open the conversation and help with healing. She is a Reiki healer and is an active participant in the group ‘Vivir y Morir’ in Spain, in which the taboo about death is overcome through discussions, practical and spiritual preparation, movies, poetry, and stories. In Spain, she gives introductory courses in storytelling skills for teenagers and adults in person and online. She often uses sound (Indian flute, kalimba, voice and frame drum) to give depth to the stories she tells.
www.rebeccalemaire.com www.holisticwellbeinginternational.com
Maggid Jim Brulé is a transformational storyteller, death doula, Reiki healer, and the founder of Transformational Storytelling, of which this series is a part. He also works with organizations and communities to bring the power of storytelling to healing the fractures which so often divide us around race, class, faith tradition, and culture. Jim believes that the right story told in the right way with an open heart can heal wounds and change lives.
