Embracing the extraordinary through story is inviting wonder into our lives by exploring the mysterious, the curious, the heroic and the magical found in all forms of story, in every culture throughout the world. Moving beyond the ordinary into the awaiting sacred places where dreams are born and each of us is powerful, purposeful and focused on that which makes us feel joyful and alive, story provides an extraordinary existence where the world becomes friend and all people become family. The educational experience provided through studying cultures, spiritual beliefs, and sacred land through stories from around the world opens hearts and minds to humanity and all living things. Lives are changed and personal foundations are grounded in subtle, gentle learning opportunities that support the well-being of the individual. When we are excited about our passions, learning becomes play and life becomes infused with meaning. Courses I teach foster personal growth and learning through a combination of subject disciplines including: world literature literacy involving mythology, folklore, classical and sacred texts, fairy tales cultural anthropology and archeology the role of world mythology in history and religion global religious and spiritual awareness introduction to symbolic thinking and understanding art history and recognition introduction to Jungian psychology celebrating the heroic in both women and men creative thinking and writing independent, self-directed reasoning and questioning pattern and detail recognition naturalist study and observation wildlife and environmental conservation planetary awareness and resource sustainability

Into the Wide World by John Bauer

Story denies the bounds of dogma and religion and opens our imaginations to endless, boundless possibility. Given a friendly, understanding ear to listen or a pen and paper to receive our ideas, story becomes a living component of our psyche brought forth to give the world a piece of our brilliance, our capability. Every person has a story to tell. We have all lived, lost, hurt, heralded, loved and thrilled. Story gives selflessly as an ever-available avenue for healing, bonding and entertaining. Story is vital, affirming, necessary education about the Self.

Story paves the golden path toward the door to mystery, that invisible, yet tangible threshold bridging the secular to the sacred. Sharing a vast and magical universe that continually offers gifts and blessings, ecstatic and sublime, story soothes, salves and inspires - it is the root of who we are.