Sedona is a magical place. Its breathtaking beauty and artistic expression are evident at every turn. On September 20, I attended the Celtic Harvest Festival as a storyteller – my first outing as a teller that didn't involve a classroom, school activity or assignment. The festival was filled with Celtic fun: from bagpipes to Irish dancing, singing, red-haired lasses dressed in green, and of course, storytelling. It was magical.
One of my favorite pastimes is to observe people. I find them endlessly fascinating and I learn about them; not only by listening to their words, but in watching their expressions and body language. Sharing with talented storytellers helps me to discover where I belong as a teller, and reaffirms that I have chosen the right avocation. I watched people walk by who stopped for a moment to see what was happening – and then were drawn to a seat as the words of story took them to places unknown. I watched faces light up with delight, or look confused with a wrinkled brow. I saw young children clinging to parents as a story frightened them; then the grin of relief at a happy ending. Magic was happening. It happened because stories transport people to wondrous places that ignite imagination and inspire a sense of community with listeners and tellers.
The most delightful experience was observing my peers. I saw transformation take place before my eyes as the power of the story, the audience and excellent telling became wondrous to behold. I saw my friends “taken” by story as never before. They came alive with the words and the visual pictures they painted, and the delighted response let them know what they had done was magical. I reveled in their success as they were transported to the worlds they created. Their success inspired my own telling. I was eager to share as I too, get lost in story – allowing it to take me to different places and times. I sense the listeners journeying with me, and their energy fuels my own. It leaves me craving more – more stories, more telling, and more communion with magic.
Tellers in Sedona for the Celtic Harvest Festival from left: Dixie Walljasper, Chrissy Dart, Laura Rutherford, Seferino Ruiz, Eva Valdez, Liz Warren, Marian Giannatti, and Ben Johnson.
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