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Feature The lasting power of myth ings from m a n y cultures that reveal the p o w e r of stories. Not only do they inspire, entertain a n d inform, but they actually " h o l d up the w o r l d " -- no small feat! Over the past f e w years, storytelling has b e c o m e revalidated. It is b o t h the simplest of folk arts, a n d a p r o f o u n d t o o l of transform a t i o n r e c o g n i z e d in areas as diverse as e d u c a t i o n , palliative care a n d business m a n agement A s a storyteller, my r a w material is mythology. From this e n o r m o u s m u r a l of story t h r o u g h all times a n d places, there emerge well-worn yet p o w e r f u l images. M y t h s describe creative processes, the full range of h u m a n relationships, shared l a n d scapes for journeys. M y t h i c themes mirror a lifetime's table of contents: n e w beginnings, tests a n d quests, initiations, heroes/heroines, true love, m e e t i n g one's destiny, settling the score or 6 M a y I J u n e T he cauldron of story has a l w a y s been b o i l i n g , writes J.R.R.Tolkien in his essay On Fairy Stories. There are say- noble resolution. The challenge p o s e d by myth is no less than that of individual freed o m ; these stories are still so potent today because they recognize our soul-sized life dilemmas. Listening to a myth, a n d participating in creative exercises arising f r o m it, can offer a w a y of e x p l o r a t i o n into our o w n life stories, a n d may help us to understand o v e r w h e l m ing feelings. At certain times, a specific myth may beckon, offering a thread into self. Other times, it may be one of myth's younger siblings, a fairy/folk tale or a legend that w i l l fascinate and offer the image that may be the key to a n e w r e a l i z a t i o n . These smaller tales are like the small colourful pieces of glass that m a k e up the enormous, d y n a m i c mural of myth. Well-polished through retelling after retelling, these tales can be held up to the light, reflecting an ancient brightness, casting interesting s h a d o w s . It is in that place of i m a g i n a t i o n that the strength of story d w e l l s . Imagine sitting on the beach on a hot day; the d a z z l i n g sun slices t h r o u g h the water's surface, turning it translucent. Sun radiates water, w a t e r opens to sun. W h e r e is there light that is not water, w a t e r separate from light? W h e n is life not deeply mythic, w h e n is myth not truly reflecting life? M a n y years ago the poet Robert Bly suggested that a group of storytellers study all 2 1 0 G r i m m s fairy tales as they describe every possible life situation. Read t h e m and