Somewhere in Tucson, Arizona, I stumbled upon a used bookstore. It was February of 1998; three teenage members of my student storytelling troupe had asked me if I would offer a story as part of their induction ceremony for the National Honor Society. Deeply honored by their request, I became determined to find ‘the perfect story’ for this special occasion. I made my way to the children’s section, and my eyes began to scan through the rows of titles before me.
Two fortuitous finds grabbed my attention that afternoon. One ended up being the story I would share during their ceremony. Unbeknownst to me, the second became an integral part of my inner healing journey. It was a beautiful children’s story entitled, The Mountain that Loved a Bird, by Alice McLerran. While it is too long to share in its entirety, here is a brief synopsis. (I invite you to obtain a copy of the book and explore it further should you find it intriguing.)
Once there was a mountain made of bare stone. The mountain’s life was limited and lonely until an unexpected visitor appeared. The mountain, enthralled by the warmth of its tiny, feathered body, asks her to stay, for it had never experienced anything like her before. The bird in turn, is delighted by the mountain’s care and request. This encounter leads to a relationship that spans many decades and generations, with each descendant returning to the mountain to sing and greet the mountain as part of her annual search for the perfect place to build her nest and have her family. These short and fleeting visits break open the heart of the mountain, initiating its transformation and the fulfillment of its greatest desire.
This story is but one example of those that have found me at a propitious moment. The imagery contained within, including its descriptive language, deeply mirrored aspects of my own life experience, complex trauma and grief, and various coping mechanisms. I worked with this story, and it worked within me, fostering a significant cathartic release, new understandings, and a deeper appreciation of the healing process.
With the permission of the author’s family, I continue to share this story within different settings to assist individuals in recovery from substance use disorders, as well as those who are living with complicated grief, or have experienced complex trauma. Within each session or program, I weave together a variety of creative, reflective techniques that support exploration and enhance connection with the symbolic content that speaks to them. Together, we identify and honor the heartbreak, hope, healing, and transformation that is taking place. With intention, each participant identifies the ways in which they cultivate joy in their life.
There are countless examples and endless possibilities for transformational stories abound. They present themselves in many different formats and genres. It has been my experience that when a story finds you and aids your healing journey, it remains a part of you that will resurface to re-mind you of its gift or medicine should the need arise again.
One such story that I look forward to discussing as part of the supplemental video for this article is called La Loba. It is one of many powerful stories contained within the classic book, Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype, by the highly acclaimed Mexican American writer and Jungian psychoanalyst Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D.
Each story is followed by an in-depth psychoanalytic exploration that invites reflection and enhances self-awareness. Dr. Pinkola Estés has numerous published and recorded works to explore, contemplate, and enjoy.
To hear more about how La Loba and how it has played a significant role in my journey, please click here.
If you have any additional questions or would like to have a conversation, please feel free to contact me at storywizdomworks@gmail.com.
References
- Estés, C. P. (1992). Women who run with the wolves: Myths and stories of the wild woman archetype. Ballantine Books.
- McLerran, A. (1985). The Mountain that loved a bird [Illustrated by E. Carle]. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.