Workshops & Webinars

Details about upcoming webinars coming this year. Contact me if you are interested.

Jenni’s trainers at the Drama Action Centre used a very hands-on approach and Jenni teaches in a similar way, but has adapted the exercises for those without a background in drama. She uses simple, fun games, group work and pair work. Her aim it make storytelling in it’s many applications accessible and fun to the wider community. For rates, email Jenni for her flyer.

Storytelling through Southern Cross University (S.C.U.)

Storytelling Unit, School of Education, Southern Cross University, Lismore.

Jenni is a member of academic staff at SCU where she works with external students who learn storytelling online each Summer session.

Offered externally, the focus is storytelling in classroom context, but can be taken by non-education students. It is offered externally only and is open to some other universities. It was originally written by Susan Perrow, author of “Healing Stories for Challenging Behaviour”. We use Hamilton and Weir’s book “Storytelling for Children” and Collins and Cooper “The Power of Story” as texts. I have added a series of short video’s demonstrating storytelling techniques and we also embedded videos from the web- some from labx. It is a basic introduction aimed at educators though we have had psychology, marketing and law students also. Students create a digital story and then film themselves telling to a small group of children. The course runs from October to February currently (Session 3).

Storytelling from the Heart

Through the magical world of story be playfully guided on a journey within. Discover the power and beauty of your own life stories, the timeless archetypes they embody and their place within the collective well of folklore. Creative ways to re imagine yourself and enhance confidence, presentations and relationships are just some of the precious gifts you will take away from the storyteller’s toolbox. In this workshop participants will work on telling from the heart and ‘casting the golden net’ over their listeners. Some of the concrete skills touched on will be vocal sound effects, vocal variation, pauses, and character voices. The emphasis will be on how to tell a story, but there will also be provocations to help those who wish to to write their own story. The course may culminate in a small informal performance for friends and family.

“Brave Vasalissa and Baba Yaga- Finding Our Way through the Forest” Workshop for Women

Hear the tale of ‘Brave Vasalissa and Baba Yaga’, then work through what the tale means to you in pairs or small groups. Then make a doll to represent your inner Vasalissa, inner wisdom or feminine intuition. There will be lots of time for discussing and chatting as you sew in the circle. This is an old Russian and Eastern European tale of feminine initiation and intuition. Clarissa Pinkola Estes wrote about it in “Women Who Run with Wolves” and her recording is available on itunes. It is a rich mythic tale, full of mystical imagery of the feminine: the phases of nature and the phases of womanhood- crone, mother, maiden; the goddess of death and rebirth; overcoming fears; integrating the shadow; dealing with one’s own light and power and learning the skills of home and hearth that can help to nourish the self and family. This tale was apparently a template for a real life initiation- where girls were sent into the forest to meet feirce crones, who set them challenges they had to pass in order to become a marriagable woman. Pre-cut cloth for a very simple small doll (see photo’s) will be provided along with needles, embroidery cotton, stuffing and craft materials eg. beads, cloth, buttons and wool. Read more at my blog entry on the first workshop I ran.

Making up Stories with Soul

Do you love making up tales for the kids, for yourself or for the heck of it? Or do you wish you could? In this course you can get together with like-minded souls to flex the muscles of your story imagination. You will tap into ancient story patterns, try new things and sail into new uncharted realms. Drawing from Nancy Mellon’s book “Storytelling and the Art of Imagination” the tutor, a professional storyteller will lead you through writing exercises with provocations involving story rythmn and story music, storyscapes, the four elements, seasons and moods and power and protection. For those who wish to polish their story delivery, the tutor will also support you.

Telling our Stories, Healing our Hurts

Myths offer us metaphors for the powerful archetypal forces at play in our ordinary lives. We sometimes forget that our own lives have all the elements of a powerful myth: joy, suffering, triumph, failure, birth, death, love and loss. Stories help families stay connected and keep memories of absent loved ones alive. Stories build a stronger sense of identity, which can make us more resilient. In this workshop Jenni will playfully lead participants through fun exercises to mine their own family stories and then retell them. For me, writing and then retelling my own childhood stories has been immensely healing. It gave me the opportunity to reassess stuff that had been locked away in my heart since early childhood, and look at it again from an adult perspective. My mother was very good at telling family stories and they kept us connected to a sense of where and who we had come from.

Channelling Nervous Energy

Do you get butterflies, a tight jaw or feel a panic attack coming on whenever you need to speak to a group? Have you always wished you could just feel more confident? In this workshop you will be given techniques to channel nervous energy to give you extra volts, rather than heart palpitations. This will be a gentle, supportive and highly participative experience. Some of the concrete skills touched on will be grounding yourself, soothing the inner critic voice, developing an inner supportive voice and casting the ‘golden net’. In class you will develop and practice staying in your calm centre so that gradually that wild storm of nerves can become an exciting, energising breeze.

Myth, metaphor and chewing the intellectual fat

Was Jack a bully and a thief or an archetypal hero on a hero’s quest? Did the story of Red Riding Hood evolve from an ancient pagan rite or is it a coded warning about lurking pedophiles? Are the Star War movies just Hollywood pap or do they resonate with the power of the great myths? Bring your ears, your ideas and your opinions as each week we listen to intriguing tales, both ancient and contemporary. Together we will tear the flesh from them, uncover their bones and chew the fat, yet only your mind (not your behind) will expand. Some tales will be told live by the tutor, an extremely modest, award-winning, professional storyteller. Other tales you will hear from some of the worlds’ other best storytellers via CD and DVD. You will also get to hear a few choice excerpts from people like Joseph Campbell- the renowned myth expert who mentored George Lucas on the ‘Star Wars’ movies. No animals will suffer in the making of this course.

Walking with Goddesses

Nourish the garden of your soul with goddess stories. Dust off the tales lurking within you that have healing powers. In a fun, creative and respectful environment we will come together in a circle of women to explore the energies and tales of the juiciest goddesses. We will walk in their footsteps. We will listen to tales of Goddesses from many traditions in all her phases: maiden, ripe woman and crone. We will unravel and explore the divine wisdom encoded in these myths. We will write short pieces from our own lives and we will make a talisman or a soul doll. A women only workshop.

Workshops in your home

If you live in Northern NSW or South East Queensland and you’d like to do a course with Jenni, ask Jenni about holding a course in your home or local hall! Just gather together a group of friends and Jenni can come to you! Workshops can be negotiated further afield for large groups. Phone Jenni on 02 6684 6548 or email jenni@storytree.com.au for more details.

Reviews:

“After attending three sessions of ‘The Armchair Storyteller’, my memory, imagination and confidence have grown to the point where it is now imperative that I begin crafting my own stories.”– Mariam Makinson, Jungian Therapist, The Channon.

“The course has been a lovely introduction into storytelling and has given me lots of ideas and built my confidence. I have gained a valuable introduction to folktale genre and have learnt quite a lot on themes, characters and story lines related to this genre. It has been fun and very non-threatening. Thank you Jenni for your hard work.” Making Up Stories with Soul, Jenny Gregor

“This is the first Community Adult Education course that I have ever been totally sad that it has finished. I hope a second course can be created. What am I going to do on a Monday night now? Though I have written for a paper once, I was still petrified of anyone picking up anything I’ve written, but in this course my hand goes wild (writing) when I have a provocation.” Making Up Stories with Soul, Karen Hinrichsen

“I enjoyed this course more than any other ACE course I have done. Jenni was wonderful. She conducted the sessions with enthusiasm, humour and joy. She held the class together and kept it moving with gentle hands. I really appreciated the preparation that she put into each class. My imagination, writing and storytelling ability have grown heaps thanks to this course.” Making Up Stories with Soul, Janine Ferris.

“The workshop met my expectations about the feminine. It was perfect. I liked the idea of telling stories and then sharing feedback and interpretations in the group. The visit to the Crystal Castle was great!” Walking with Goddesses workshop, Marina Orpen, Broadbeach

“I liked all the stories, loved the telling and singing and really enjoyed the writing. For me this has been a little time out from mothering- to percolate and dip into the space of “Women who Run with Wolves” and to connect to archetypes in my life. I enjoyed the free flow of your teaching style.” Walking with Goddesses workshop, Susie Dove, Mullumbimby

“Jenni Cargill possesses a natural instinct for the power of language. Whilst discovering and sharing our own personal stories and myths, it has become evident to me that every individual has something worthwhile to say or do and can make a ‘GIANT’ difference to the wellbeing of all. Jenni is an experience not to miss.” Marina Orpen (Co Director of ‘Imagine What’s Next’; Business Development and Trainer), Gold Coast.

‘I loved the whole workshop. I have never been trained to story read or storytell but this has given me a push to go out and do it. I loved the simplicity of the mime which can add so much to the telling. It’s been a great day for me. I loved it.’ Margo Styles, Librarian Assistant, Byron, YWCA Workshop Murwillumbah.

‘It’s good to know you can be silly, how to engage listeners more and that it’s OK to boss them a bit into a good arrangement for listening.’ Brielle Hallett, Librarian Assistant, Ballina, YWCA Workshop Murwillumbah.

“You led the workshop with consummate artistry and skill. I greatly enjoyed myself… You were very spontaneous and went with what the group wanted. I also loved playing Mr Wolf, which I haven’t played since I was six years old!” Anne Di Lauro, President, Qld Jung Society.

“I feel like this workshop has given me a lot of good tales from my life to work with.” Ganya, Qld Jung Society. “This was my first time story writing. Your personality, your spontaneity, passion and enjoyment helped hold my interest.” Jenny, Qld Jung Society.

“I am in a place of just absorbing things and not wanting to share much personal stuff, so I really liked soaking up all the stories and I also appreciated that I wasn’t forced to share if I didn’t want to.” Rebecca, Ocean Shores

“A delightful day! A great mix of story, personal narrative and creative exercises. Well done. I have really enjoyed reconnecting with your energies again this year and look forward to more play next year.  Blessings and Appreciation.”  Thali Bower-Willaims, Uki

“It was a magical day. You are a wonderful facilitator and storyteller and it was a perfect circle of beautiful women. I so enjoyed hearing everyone else’s stories and feel that I know these women, most of whom are friends, even more deeply than I did before. I loved all the movement and I particularly loved the way it wasn’t rushed or crammed too. I really enjoyed the writing and everyone else’s writings. And the highlight was watching you perform the stories”. Sue Collins, Uki

“I loved the way you presented your knowledge! Wow this was such an amazing workshop. Food for my soul. Love the inner critic and coach and identifying these characters. I didn’t feel thrown in the deep end, you were very supportive. I love anything that gets me back in my body and the work we did that for me. It wasn’t really hard, it felt just right.” Tahlia, Suffolk Park.