The Bellingen Story Circle is a gathering for those who long to sit together in community and hear a story well told. Rooted in ancient traditions, these evenings weave together myth, fairytale, poetry, song, and conversation to help us remember what it means to be human.

We begin each night by welcoming attendees with food, drinks, and snacks. They meet each other, chat, and connect before they take a seat and Nathan opens the space with an introduction before diving into the story.

Then you will be guided through the twists and turns of an ancient story, fairytale, myth, or legend. Accompanied by talented local musicians, this is an opportunity for you to sit back, settle in, and receive this potent medicine delivered directly to the marrow of your bones.

This month we will be exploring the theme "Be Careful What You Wish For". These words are worth remembering next time you cry out to the heavens in desperation, write out a list of your desires and throw it into the fire, or repeat a mantra of your hope and dreams. Often what you receive will contain not just that which you want, but also all the unspoken fears, and longings that will send you on an unexpected journey to your edges and beyond.

After the story Nathan will host a discussion where participants “feed the story” by offering the images, feelings, and insights that came alive in them while listening.

Stories are medicine. They open doors into the mythic imagination, offering us a chance to slow down, listen deeply, and reconnect with ourselves, each other, and our ancestors.

Location:
Alternatives Bookshop
105 Hyde Street, Bellingen

Date and Time:
Thursday 23rd October
Doors open at 6pm
Story starts at 6:30pm
Circle closes at 8pm

Cost:
$15 (Includes snacks and drinks)

About Your Host:
Nathan Charles Meola is a storyteller, intuitive bodyworker, and master of ceremonies from Sydney, now calling Bellingen home. He has studied with and been influenced by a lineage of renowned storytellers and teachers including Martin Shaw, Robert Bly, Michael Meade, James Hillman, Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Marion Woodman, and Stephen Jenkinson.

Nathan began telling stories through the mythopoetic men’s movement, using myth, fairytale, and ceremony to help men and boys navigate grief, descent, and renewal. He has hosted many story circles and community gatherings, always with reverence for the old stories and their power to awaken the imagination, heal wounds of the soul, and repair culture.