“It is easy to forget how mysterious and mighty stories are. They do their work in silence, invisibly.
They work with all the internal materials of your mind and self. They become part of you while changing you.
Beware the stories you read or tell; subtly, at night, beneath the waters of consciousness, they are altering your world.”
~ Ben Okri
From time immemorial, the paths of storyteller and healer have intertwined. A storyteller uses the power of words to mend a situation, to heal, to inspire, to enlighten the soul with the ancient wisdom imbued in the stories.
Storytelling is an ancient art. From the oldest civilization on this planet till now, storytelling has had its significant place in our consciousness. Stories carry within them the richness of the past, culture, history, it gives us assurance that the world is good and in many ways prepares the child for life. It is through stories that richness of languages, power of imagination can be flourished and one can travel back and forth in time and also in different lands.
The art of storytelling in each culture has different clothing, but what binds them is the soul mood it creates within us. In modern times, the harshness or ending of a story was changed, or a fairy tale was altered, but this change hides the realities of life as we know it. Fairy tales with their metaphorical images prepare the child for the future. Altering it is similar to having a painkiller that subsides the pain but doesn’t cure the ailment.
These tales are used to guide, give courage, heal or show the path or light to face life as it kindles hope in us all – the storyteller and the one who hears it, the listener.
Through the course, we intend to build bridges to connect the ancient spiritual wisdom and today’s thirst for awareness. Although the archetypes of the fairytales are universal, we will also look at the Indian folk tales and see what the images from the Indian culture are telling us.
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Course Details
The key elements
“When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.”
~ Albert Einstein
In our adult life, it is easy for our imagination to dry up, this course will rekindle and spark that lost imagination within us. Through the course, we take you on a journey from the visible to experiencing the invisible.
- Deeper understanding of stories and the hidden metaphors, why stories and its importance.
- Age-appropriate stories – how and what stories to bring to a child
- Different ways to unfold the stories
- Puppetry
- Hands-on experience from crafting to how to plan your sessions
- Developing an eye for aesthetics
- Working on the inner connect
- Hand holding after the program is completed to practically implement what has been learned.
- Individual guidance, if required
The 3 phases of the course
Phase 1 ~ Understanding the art of storytelling
Phase 2 ~ A Journey Together
Phase 3 ~ One-on-one Guidance
Phase 1: Course Outline ~ Understanding the art of storytelling.
These are monthly sessions divided into 7 parts, part 1 is open to all.
Phase 1 encapsulates:
Part 1: Understanding the basics of storytelling (open to all)
Part 2: Bringing pictures to life
Part 3: Aligning what we observe, say and feel
Part 4: Experiencing the richness of our land and its culture
Part 5: The invisible threads – bringing heaven to earth
Part 6: Diving into the depths of one’s creativity
Part 7: The Fairyland
Phase 2: A Journey Together
We meet up every month for a duration of 5 months for an interactive online session. We will guide you to clear all your doubts, questions or queries that come up once you actually start implementing the learnings of the course and start your own storytelling session.
Each participant will receive a thoughtfully assembled resource kit that will include stories and a few elements to get you started on your own journey of Being a Storyteller.
Phase 3: One-on-one Guidance (Optional)
This will include a personal visit to observe and give suggestions for one storytelling session in Mumbai or Pune, (travel cost of faculty to be taken care by the participant).
Who can join?
- Individuals keen for a professional course on Storytelling.
- Professionals working with young children like teachers, therapists, and also parents and grandparents.
Please note – The Part 1 of the course is a 2-day program which is open for all.
Duration & Timings
Total duration: 12 months
Part 1 of the course is a 2-day program which is open for all (8 hours)
Phase 1 – 7 months
Part 1 to 6 – We meet every month for 2 to 3 consecutive days (a detailed monthly schedule will be shared on registration).
Part 7 – A 3-day residential session
Phase 2 – 5 months
Phase 3 – Optional
Timings 2:00 pm to 6 pm
Location
Navi Mumbai and Pune
We are open to conducting the course in other cities too. Those interested can get in touch with us as we can discuss the basic requirements needed for conducting such a course in a new city.
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Participants Speak
Story telling is a sacred art, which I realised only after meeting Preeti Misra and Sucheta Garud. Our journey with Rainbow Bridge started when our son joined the kindergarten there, that also marked the beginning of a new path – Waldorf philosophy – for me.
From witnessing heart-warming puppet shows put up by Preeti and other teachers at Rainbow Bridge to actually learning the art of story-telling with Preeti & Sucheta during the Foundation course. The 2-day sessions on story-telling which was a part of the foundation course have been quite profound as it shows the myriad, creative ways of doing a story using different puppets, props, musical instruments and so on, it touches the soul of a person and is healing in many ways. It helped me as a Kindergarten teacher and later as a homeschooler. It has been a truly magical experience for me to be able to share this.
When I homeschooled my 6-year-old son during the pandemic, I received guidance from Preeti with the songs and different stories that would be appropriate for my son.
The best part of any of the courses designed and planned by both Preeti and Sucheta are that you will always get something more than what you have signed up for. I am sure that the in-depth course on storytelling will be a wonderful opportunity to learn this sacred art from both – Preeti & Sucheta.
Bhavika Jhaveri
Former Waldorf Kindergarten teacher, writer, Pune
“KG foundation course by Sadhana Association was the first formal window into the world of Waldorf education for me.
Preeti and Sucheta have curated the course keeping in mind all the essential elements of early childhood which one is required to be aware of, while entering into this field.
This course provides a beautiful balance of theoretical and practical aspects of Waldorf education and anthroposophy. Preeti and Sucheta both are amazing mentors who will help you walk this path, both inwardly and outwardly.
I benefited incredibly as a parent, teacher and a psychologist. I gained confidence to be a Waldorf teacher with their warm and constant support.
During the pandemic, when parents were looking for support from educators, I could create a program for children based on my experiences. This course is called the foundation course. True to its name, it really provides a firm and strong foundation on which one can build themselves further.
This course provided a deep foundation for me, enhanced my confidence, helped me understand that striving is the most important aspect of a being and at the same time gave me courage and wings to explore the world, as well as myself. “
Dr Aparna Kapoor
Waldorf early childhood educator, Parenting Consultant – Navi Mumbai