Folktales and Myths
Introduction

"Folktales are the soul's nourishment...
They keep the flame of possibility alive." --- Rafe Martin

The tales presented here, taken from oral traditon, have been handed down over generations and are offered by Spirit of Trees, to be retold and shared anew. Tell them indoors and out, in classrooms, parks, community centers, hospitals. Play with them; learn from them; use them to teach others.

Every tale in this collection involves a tree or forest being in one way or another. Some are cautionary tales about the perils of cutting down forests. In others, humans become transformed into trees. Trees appear in dreams. They sing and talk. They offer consolation and convey special powers. In many of the tales, a tree serves as teacher or guardian of the truth. Characters who sit under a tree or climb up into a tree are suddenly inspired to set out on a journey or receive a decisive insight. Enchanted beings, both helpful and forbidding, emerge from forest places. The world itself is shown to emerge from a tree. And, on a lighter note, noodleheads and fools are snapped to their senses through an encounter with a tree.

Exploring this Collection

The featured collection of stories in Section I have been generously contributed by contemporary storytellers. Their accompanying essays offer insight into the deeper meaning of the stories and also suggest ways of putting the tales to use in particular settings. You may download this material for personal and educational purposes —and please keep the copyright information intact with your download. In accordance with copyright protections, you must contact the contributor for permission to record or to reprint the tales or the accompanying essays.

In section II, you will find dozens of links to even more tree tales scattered about the web. The collection is growing. If you have a story to add or a new link to suggest, please contact us. A search function has been provided to help you narrow down a particular tale as to country of origin, type of tree, thematic category.

Browse and enjoy!
Cristy West
Editor and Program Coordinator

"Breath"

by J. Daniel Beaudry

Tree, gather up my thoughts
like the clouds in your branches.
Draw up my soul
like the waters in your root.

In the arteries of your trunk
bring me together.
Through your leaves
breathe out the sky.

"Why Folktales?" by Rafe Martin, website: www.rafemartin.com

Links to sites for developing storytelling skills:

Effective Storytelling: A manual for Beginners
www.eldrbarry.net/roos/eest.htm

Telling Your Tale---The Call of Story
www.callofstory.org/en/tales