Rays of Light during the Storm

In April 2023 I ran a training for Ukrainian therapists and  social workers to write therapeutic stories… They are now performing their stories in other parts of Romania for Ukrainian refugees using metaphors to depict their journeys from feeling lost and bewildered towards finding new hope. Here are some glimpses into the seven stories. The following website offers a download link. The book, Rays of Light, is available for free, in English, Ukrainian, Romanian and Russian, thanks to generous funding from CARE and its partner SERA … https://therapeutic-stories.amurtel.ro/ 

Rays of Light

Little Gnome writes a letter

To Mr Putin from Little Gnome, March 30th, 2022

Dear Mr. Putin,

Two years ago, the world was united, fighting a war against a virus that found its way into every country, every culture, every nation.

The pandemic even affected little gnomes like myself, all minding our own business, living in secret places, under tree roots and rocks, in the forests and mountains and distant valleys.

When the virus came, I was told I had to stay alone in my tree-root home. I was told to trust Mother Tree because Mother Tree was as wise as wise could be. Mother Tree would whisper to me: “Things are not as they used to be - but trust me, soon you will be free, trust me, trust me.”

So, I had to trust, and I had to wait … and Mother Tree was right! Now I am able to leave home again. Slowly slowly it seems the world is winning this battle with this pandemic.

But now there is a war too horrendous to have ever imagined in our modern time. And only you can resolve it.

In your war, you are shooting bullets to kill other humans. And in the process the trees and rocks across the land of my Ukrainian family are shaking and shuddering. And Ukrainian gnomes are very worried. They are worried for the human realm, and they are worried for the gnomic nature realm.

Dear Mr Putin – how can you sleep at night knowing you are hurting other humans? How can you sleep while across your border children are having nightmares? How can you sleep while sick people can’t even feel safe in their hospital beds? How can you sleep when so many are trembling in fear and wracked by hunger?

Dear Mr Putin – please listen to the cries of the children – they need food not bullets. They would have your guns and cannons shoot sandwiches, not bullets***.

Dear Mr Putin – I have asked Mother Tree to share her thoughts. She has replied that she would gift flowers and fruits, not bullets.

… the stars, the sun and the moon shine down equally on all of us …

(Ancient Gnomic Wisdom)

PS - My Little Gnome’s heart is unsure whether to send this letter to you but I am hoping I can soon find the courage to post it!

 

***NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Thank you to my 10-year-old grandson Sunny Perrow for inspiring me with his illustrated story on shooting sandwiches, not bullets.

Garden of Light

Conservation brochures (plus conservation park billboards) that feature my environmental fairy tale, 'Garden of Light', are now beautifully illustrated and published in Slovakian and Austrian/German - supported by E.U./Global 2000

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The Role of Bibliotherapy and Therapeutic Storytelling in Creating Inclusive Classroom Communities

2 years of collaboration with 5 other writers (3 from Croatia and 2 from Canada) has finally paid off - we have a chapter on "The Role of Bibliotherapy and Therapeutic Storytelling in Creating Inclusive Classroom Communities" included in this academic textbook (published May 2017):

Handbook of Research on Classroom Diversity and Inclusive Education Practice

https://www.amazon.com/Classroom-Diversity-Educational-Technologies-Instructional/dp/1522525203/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497403891&sr=8-1&keywords=Handbook+of+Research+on+Classroom+Diversity+and+Inclusive+Education+Practice