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Storyteller ~ Writer ~
Activist
"Irresistible! A major force in the revival of storytelling in America." ~ New York Times ~  Photo Credit: Kent Miles
December
and January
PRIVATE STORYTELLING AND STORY MAKING COACHING SESSIONS Explore
the story you are living for personal healing or professional
development. Uncover the main images that transform
For more
information call 212-674-3479and expand your journey. Using the structure of fairytales and symbolic tales, Laura helps individuals or groups shape and tell tales benefit one's life, enhance business skills or expand depth of performance, teaching or healing. This is a rare chance to work with a master teacher. One or two hour sessions. Start fresh. Reframe your story or the story of your family, office or community. Come alone or with a small group. Join Laura Simms ~ February 5 - 7 , 2010 Karmê Chöling Shambhala Meditation Center in Barnet, Vermont THE STORIES WE TELL: THE ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR TRANSFORMATION The
narrative we construct
about ourselves, each other and our world shape our success or supports
repeated obstacles. Knowing how to tell a “good “
story and becoming aware of
the power of presence
in image, story
and enlivened speech is essential today.
Whether personally or in our business, teaching or
healing, what story
we tell and how we tell it makes a huge difference.
Laura Simms, world renowned storyteller,
author, teacher, and consultant will present a contemplative workshop,
penetrating and alive with insight,
that
offers practical activities that deepen our understanding of the
significance
of story as a tool for transformation.
As we develop skills in storytelling.
We will combine deep listening,
creative
contemplation, story writing and storytelling as we uncover an expanded
view LAURA SIMMS is one
of the
best known storytellers in the world today. Her work brings together
meditation
and the study of oral narrative. In addition to consulting
with
corporations, nongovernmental organizations and consumer businesses,
she has
taught storytelling as compassionate action worldwide for the past
thirty five
years. Presently she works with many humanitarian
organizations including
Search for Common Ground and Mercy Corps, Inc. A senior Shambhala
teacher, she
teaches Shambhala Arts and Buddhist studies. Her most recent book is Under the Currant Leaves: essays on
storytelling and compassion. She is the mother of Ishmael
Beah, author of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a
Boy Soldier. Program Tuition: $275 The
program begins after dinner on Friday, February 5
(please join us for dinner at 6:30) and ends on Sunday, February 7, at
time
TBA.. This
program is being held at
Karmê Chöling Shambhala Meditation Center in Barnet,
Vermont. To register
please email registration@tailofthetiger.org
with your name, address, phone number, email address, name of the
program and
choice of accommodations.
You will be contacted for deposit information and confirmation of
registration. In an effort to make our programs accessible to all, we offer an interest free payment plan. This plan allows you to pay 50% of the total prior to or at the time of registration and give post-dated check or credit card authorization for the remainder of the balance for up to six months post program. If you are interested in this payment option, please let the registration department know when you confirm your registration. Upcoming Public
Performances/Events
Five Thursdays: 7 - 9 pm, January 14, 21, 28, February 4, 11 + Weekend session: 10 am - 4 pm, January 23 Saturday PEMA CHODRON's PRACTICING PEACE IN TIMES OF WAR New York Shambhala Center with Laura Simms In these difficult times learning how meditation and contemplation can expand our capacity for inner and outer peace is deeply important. Laura brings her experience as a senior Shambhala Buddhist teacher, and work in the humanitarian field as a storyteller to these penetrating and practical teachings. Cost: $150 + source materials To register online visit: New York Shambhala Center Website February 17, 2010 "Reconciled in the Book of Secrets (Or How to Find Romania)" In London at the Barbican Theater February 22 - March 7 in India (note, Laura Simms will colead this tour in 2011) THE PATH OF A GODDESS - hosted by the International Storytelling Institute
Chennai, India with Eric Miller (not Laura this trip) the way in which a story is shaped by time, culture and history: includes visits storytellers, scholars, temples and sacred sites. Eric Miller introduces us to the power of the story of Kannagi. To read more about the details of the tour please go to storytellinginstitute.org For opportunities to study or see performances in New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, contact the Storytelling Institute. March 12 - 19, 2010 Simplicity Retreat Karme Choling center, Barnet Vermont Learn to meditate, contemplate compassion, and enjoy the beauty of a vital meditation center in northern Vermont. Participate for two to seven days. See pdf flyer. To register visit The Karme Choling website or call 802-633-2384 and ask for registration April 24, 2010. Institute for Drama Therapy Workshop The Jewel in the Lotus: Finding the Story that Transforms facilitated by Laura Simms and Emily Nash, LSCAT Judson Church, 239 Thompson Street, New York City All training workshops $120, full time students eligible for fee discount.. Sponsored by the Drama Therapy Institute. Study Storytelling with Laura Simms Story Mentorship Program with Laura Simms begins in December 20, 2009 and runs through July 1, 2010 Limited to ten participants. Full details here! Laura Simms is an internationally renowned storyteller, writer, teacher and activist committed to excellent performances and compassionate action in the world. Her groundbreaking work combines ancient myth and fairytale with personal narrative. Presently, Laura is telling stories throughout the world as well as creating projects through her humanitarian organization GAINDEH PROJECTS (translates as the first rays of sun in the morning from the Mende language), consulting on TV pilots, working with people in crisis, and saving a zoo (or relocating animals to more appropriate zoos) as a community renewal initiative in Romania. Read the latest March ZOONEWZ. Now her work expands further as she includes her adopted son Ishmael Beah in her work. See Laura's new page about her life with this remarkable young man, author of the New York Times bestseller "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier." Please read about Laura's shows, mentoring and study opportunities and the fabulous books, CDs and tapes available in our marketplace. Recent Articles, interviews, etc. "Wise Words: Laura Simms" interview with Jacqueline Kaufman begins on page 10 of "Reflective Voices." View PDF of the Spring 2009 issue. Read Laura Simms's "Being in the Story: Achieving the Impossible" Download the essay here (costs $.20) Laura Simms recounts two weeks spent with Gypsy children in Romania, using invented storytelling to achieve the seemingly impossible. This essay is part of a series on creative applications of story in peacemaking, healing, bridge building and reconciliation processes in groups and communities around the world. Laura's essay was selected as one of two essays to be published in the online service, "The Storyteller and the Listener Online (Blog)" Four Laura Simms Storytelling Albums are now available for download on iTunes! Four Legged Tales: Animal Stories*; Making Peace: Heart Uprising*; Women and Wild Animals**; & Dance Without End**. Individual Stories are $.99 each, albums are $9.99-$11.99. Simply search for Laura Simms in the store section. *These two albums are also avail on www.amazon.com as mp3 downloads. For info on these two ** albums, see Better Listen.  Recent Books Under the Current Leaves by Laura Simms, a new book of essays on storytelling. From Codhill Press, NY. The Inner Journey: Myth, Psyche, and Spirit, edited by Martha Heyneman. Morning Light Press, 2008, part of the Parabola Anthology Series. Two of Laura's essays are included.  AN OCEAN OF STORIES.
Laura completed a 31-story, 29-country assembly of
international stories. An
Ocean of Stories is part of the SEED Water Project where you can explore
folktales about water from around the world and find activities that
will help you create stories—from your own imagination or by
working with others. These stories are offered to inform, inspire and
delight. But mostly they are offered to be shared and to remind us of
our common human history and our dependence on water to keep us alive.BEING
IN THE STORY:
Achieving the Impossible by
Laura Simms. Laura recounts two weeks spent with Gypsy children in
Romania, using invented storytelling for peace and
empowerment.
 Books you'll enjoy by Storyteller Laura Simms List of all products. The Robe of Love: Secret Instructions for the Heart. "Readers will savor every step of the journey that Simms creates in this work.... As she transports us, she also leads us to sense that the union we most long for is with our own innermost being." -Publishers Weekly Becoming the World is a powerful workbook developed for storytellers, teachers, child psychologists, social workers, and caregivers of all sorts and ages to use storytelling as a inner guide to uncovering tolerance and wisdom. Published by Mercy Corp. Read about it here. A Key to the Heart and Other Afghan Tales. Afghan tales in both Dari and English. A 66-page full color book illustrated by schoolchildren in NYC and in Afghanistan created as a partnership between Laura and Chocolate Sauce to benefit the education of Afghani children. Book is featured at ABC Carpets as part of their new social action mission; sold at the UN bookstore, and Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation is sending books to Afghanistan to soldiers for them to personally give to a family. Winner, Storytelling World's Best Story of 2004 Award. Read more about it here. Stories to Nourish the Hearts of Our Children in a Time of Crisis. Story booklet created response to the WTC Tragedy, given to schools and families. Generously printed by Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation. Read about it here. |
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Stories, Essays, Discussions, and Teachings
  Above left, Laura Simms tells stories at a Tsunami Benefit sponsored at New York University in February of 2005.
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