Mark, Ilke and Jesse up in the Pooh Tree

Welcome to my reflections on my time at Emerson College, Forrest Row, Sussex, England. I am often asked where I learned about storytelling. Well, here is the place. I began my journey as a storyteller on friday the 13th of September in the of 1996.

I found the Emerson Campus, 250 acres of wooded farmland, to be a refreshing change from the big city lifestyle. Their founder, Rudolf Steiner, has instilled a holistic approach to living that is reflected in the everyday life on campus. From the organic farming, vegetable gardens, community duties and vegetarian diet, I was immersed into a wonderful rustic English lifestyle.

Emerson Campus

I joined a group of 20 would be storytellers gathered from all over the world. The course was led by Ashley Ramsden, Duncan MacIntosh, Paul Matthews and Victoria and other visiting lecturers. The comprehensive course work covered everything from telling in groups to individuals, from history, psychology of stories, age appropiratnes, and finished with a groung telling of the Sumarian myth Inanna. Truly a great place to be educated and entertained at the same time.

Several of my favorite stories I tell to this day I learned there.

Emerson Sunset

Foggy Mornings