Name: Another Place for Story and the Heart (Theme: Symbol/Object of Meaning)
Start: 2025-07-29T19:00:00+01:00
End: 2025-07-29T20:30:00+01:00

'Stories touch and awaken our hearts and souls. Stories reveal our common humanity in all its colours. Everyone has a story.'

‘Our lives are like pieces of a beautiful tapestry, but we can only recognise the beauty of the tapestry when we put all the pieces together. Each person is a story, a beautiful story, but sometimes a very sad story, and we are all enriched by hearing their story. When we listen attentively to another person’s story, our shared vulnerabilities unite us, and we form a bond which changes or strengthens our relationship to them. We look at them differently, we gaze on them in wonder.’ (Taken from Fr Peter McVerry’s piece in The Empathy Book for Ireland)

‘Most of us grow up in a story. We don’t grow up so much in a house built of bricks and mortar – we are housed in a great story.’ (Taken from Nostos: An Autobiography by John Moriarty)

'A space to tell and listen to stories, our stories.'

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Another Place for Story and the Heart is an online space hosted on Zoom. For each session, I will post a theme in advance to help us tell a piece of our story. Please take note of the theme and follow the instructions below to prepare yourself for the meeting.

THIS WEEK'S THEME:

* **SYMBOL/OBJECT OF MEANING:** Before the event, I ask participants to prepare and bring a symbol or item that holds personal significance. The object could be, for example, a book, picture, or small item that has meaning for them, represents an important aspect of their life, or connects to a story, experience, or memory. During the session, I will invite each person to present their symbol to the group. Each participant will have about five minutes to share. The exact time for sharing depends on the number of participants. After sharing, there will be an opportunity for others to ask questions or offer feedback if the person feels comfortable. When asking questions, participants will be encouraged to be led by their curiosity and to use open-ended questions (How, What, Who, Where), where possible, to promote deeper thought and richer engagement.
* **TIME:** We will meet at 7pm on Zoom. Please be on time to respect other participants. The link for Zoom can be found on this page.
* **IMPORTANT:** Please read notes 1-9 below to prepare yourself for the meeting.

**Note 1 - Safe Space**

Similar to the walking event [Wild Walks Into The Heart](https://www.meetup.com/wild-walks-into-the-heart/), in focus and spirit, I aim to provide a supportive, non-judgmental, safe space during the session where people can freely open up about their lives and experiences, as much or as little as they choose to. Anything you share is confidential and shall not be disclosed outside the space. I will go through some guidelines at the beginning of the event.

**Note 2 - Theme**

If you're unsure about this week's theme, please don't hesitate to ask me for guidance.

**Note 3 - Focus and Use of Silence**

The focus of these sessions is more on sharing individual experiences, perspectives, and life journeys, rather than fictional tales. In saying that, using metaphor, myth or poetry (and so on) to support the telling of your story is fine, of course.

To support the group's presence, at times, I would like to use silence during the sessions and bring attention to our breathing if time allows. The idea would be that this may also help with transitions.

**Note 4 - Donations**

Donations are welcome and go towards supporting the group. I suggest a donation of €2 if you wish to donate. Donations can be made using Revolut or PayPal.

Pay by Revolut - [https://revolut.me/davidtbt5](https://revolut.me/davidtbt5)

Pay by PayPal - david.mcevoy05@gmail.com (Email address to use)

**Note 5 - Structure**

I want to stay somewhat flexible on structure, but here is a sample format for the meetings:

* Welcome and Group Guidelines
* Introductions and Ice Breaker
* Time for Sharing and Engagement
* Final Check-in and Feedback

**Note 6 - Phones**

Please put your phone on silent mode for the duration of the session so we can create a space with fewer distractions.

**Note 7 - RSVPs**

Please only RSVP if you intend to come and change your RSVP to 'No' if you are not going to be able to attend.

**Note 8 - Questions/Feedback**

If you have any questions or feedback, please do let me know.

**Note 9 - Quotes**

SOME QUOTES THAT HAVE INSPIRED THIS EVENT:

‘In our century, for one reason or another, millions and millions of people have fallen out of their traditional story and that is serious because it is above all in a great story that we are housed. And if it is great, the story that houses us will house the stars. Will house our cows, our hens, our pigs, our horse, our ass. Will house leviathan, will house behemoth. Will house tyger, will house lamb.’ (Taken from What the Curlew Said: Nostos Continued by John Moriarty)

‘A story is great when, as we tell it, it tells us. It is great when we emerge from this telling with a deeper and a surer sense of ourselves. There is a sense in which our stories create us…. they aren't only great stories, they are sacred stories. Have you become a great story? Have you, in spite of the moral contagion that infests you, become a sacred story?.’ (John Moriarty - Anaconda Canoe)

‘Have you, instead of bringing home a myth, become a myth that will deepen itself and deepen us every time it is told?’ (John Moriarty)

When story finds a way - ‘But that isn’t the story I know,’ Marilyn said, breaking and yet not breaking an ancient silence in the room. ‘Nor is it the story I knew before I started telling it to you,’ I said. ‘But that’s how it is, isn’t it, with that kind of story. Tell that kind of story with a slack rein, tell it trusting your horse rather than yourself, and it will go its own way - to new insight, even possibly to new revelation.’ (Taken from Nostos: An Autobiography by John Moriarty)

Daithi Mac Giolla Bhuidhe

Another Place for Story and the Heart

Support & Coaching

Listening

Storytelling

Nature

Community

Vulnerability

Another Place for Story and the Heart (Theme: Symbol/Object of Meaning)

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Another Place for Story and the Heart

Another Place for Story and the Heart (Theme: Symbol/Object of Meaning)

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