Mythsinger Legacy Project StoryNight! - September 2024, 6pm PST session

Myths are made for challenging times. They hold wisdom distilled over millennia that help humans navigate the foibles of life: love, empire, desire, treachery, poverty, oppression, loss, heroism, grief. Myths and mythic tricksters teach us to live in connection with the Living World, with kindness, humor, cunning, and grace. Daniel Deardorff brought these ancient tales to life like no other mythteller of his time. Join us Wednesday, Odin’s Day, September 25th around the virtual (Zoom) hearth to hear and share in one of the great old stories told by this master teller, mythsinger, and beloved teacher (via video) with live music and more from your hosts Judith-Kate Friedman (songwriter, story-carrier, and Daniel's partner for many years) and Audrey di Mola (storyteller, space-holder, and creative facilitator) of the Mythsinger Legacy Project.

Offered at two times:

11-1pm Pacific and again at 6-8pm Pacific

What is this experience like? Zoom is our magical living room, cozy den, and generous global crossroads. Like pollinators and sleepy bears we come – mythtellers, song-lovers, listeners, writers, dreamers, young ones, and elders.

What will be revealed as we dip into the great crane bag of possibilities and a choice tale is gifted us to chew, ruminate on, and ponder?

As we gather together round the virtual hearth thirsty for a story from around the world, we follow Daniel into the storyhut (via video) and mingle as we would in the shadowy space. We witness as he calls fire in the old way, with flint and steel, and sings about carrying fire. And we honor this sacred space and each other, and bask in the glow of the storyfire, as we become ready to receive the wisdom of one of the ancient myths he so lovingly carries.

Afterward, we feed the story - and each other - in hearth-side conversation, exploring how the tale has transported us while opening our hearts, minds, and souls. Through this experience we discover, explore and reflect on the generative paradoxes of loss and sacrifice, tradition and uncertainty, belonging and otherness. And close with gratitude for our deep conversation and connection. Everyone in need of a story is welcome.

Author of Wisdom of the Mythtellers, Sean Kane says: “the heart of the hearer impacts the heart of the teller and vice versa.” We’ve found this to be true even through the media of mixing archival footage with live connection.

“Deardorff was the greatest storyteller I ever saw… a Taliesin moving between hawk, salmon, and grain of wheat. It’s breathlessly exciting, what he is pointing towards” – Martin Shaw.

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Who was Daniel Deardorff?

Daniel Deardorff was a "Singer" in the old sense: musician, storyteller, mythologist and maker of ritual, a composer, performing artist, independent scholar of myth, author, and survivor of paralytic polio. In his mythtelling, he accompanies himself on conga drum and invites us to find our own lives in the old stories.

If you knew Danny’s songs, his mythtelling or his classic book, (3rd edition, Inner Traditions), you know his way with a story. If you’ve not yet experienced him, it’s truly not too late. StoryNight participants who knew him well, and those meeting him for the first time through these recordings, attest to the power of his presence as an ongoing gift.

When Daniel flew “out of this story and into the next” in 2019, he left us a great many recordings, teachings, and ways for us to continue to access his guidance, love and wisdom. The Mythsinger Legacy Project is honored and grateful to carry on his legacy.

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Suggested donation:

$5-$45 pay as you wish, pay as you can.

Your donation in any amount supports the creation of more events like this one.

Thank you!

Things to note:

* The same story is offered at two different times to accommodate StoryNight friends in different time zones. Select the 11am-1pm PST session, or 6-8pm PST session.

* Daniel’s archival stories are rarely heard or distributed on the internet. This live experience is only offered 4x a year (usually on the last Wednesday of the quarter).

* The Zoom link will be sent after registering on Eventbrite. If you don't receive it, email mythsingerlegacy [at] gmail [dot] com and we'd be happy to help.

* While StoryNights are not recorded for replay, we are working on a listening room and member’s space at mythsingerlegacy.org – Subscribe to our e-list for updates on when it’s ready!

Thank you for being a part of our community.

For a taste of StoryNight and Daniel Deardorff's work, watch the 'Mythsinger Voices- Feeding the Storyteller' video on YouTube featuring reflections from StoryNight attendees, Martin Shaw, Quanita Roberson and Laurence Cole. For info about Judith-Kate Friedman's music and multi-modal projects, and forthcoming book group on Deardorff’s The Other Within, visit her website at alivenessthrougharts.net, or schedule a time to discuss joining a cohort.

Host or Publisher Mythsinger Legacy Project