Story Wise Men

Online Monthly Storytelling Nights

First Tuesday of the month - Aug, Sept, Oct, and Nov2020

7.30 - 9.30pm 

on Zoom

Story Wise Men is a place for men to speak their stories, emotions and all; to be heard and bear witness, be moved and connected, make meaning and laugh. 

PLEASE NOTE This is a MENS ONLY event (apart from the host). 

Melbourne's Only Storytelling Event for Men

“Men’s need safe, supportive places to share their meaningful and emotional experiences, spaces where they can practise and strengthen their ability to reveal themselves, where their hearts can be held and nourished by other men; men’s souls need places to laugh and connect. ”

Men's Stories Need to Be Told

Storytelling enables us to make sense of our lives in a way that brings peace and hope to the events that have shaped us, as we then shape the events into a story. When we share a story, as part gift, part message, we learn and affirm who we are and what we believe, and we come know ourselves in a deeper way. 

This is an open opportunity for 6-8 men to tell a 5 - 10 minute true story - no notes, it happened to you, and for the rest of us to listen.  There is no obligation to tell a story, listeners are needed just as much as tellers.

Stories may be funny and light hearted, painful and sad, uplifting and moving. The atmosphere is affirming, encouraging, accepting and warm.

We leave full to the brim with the knowledge that we have participated in an ancient ritual that is modern and timeless. We leave knowing in our bones that we are not alone. 

First Tuesday of the Month

7.30pm

This is a pilot of four nights:

4 August, 2020

1 Sept, 2020

6 Oct, 2020

3 Nov, 2020 (Melbourne Cup Day)

Story Wise Men Themes:

Each storytelling event has a theme. Themes are meant as prompts, guides, helpful for those of us stuck, but not to restrict or stump you. Feel free to be creative and think outside the box, feel free to wander to a story that you feel drawn to tell. The themes are also very broad and most stories can be made to fit a theme if you want it to, but if you have a story knocking inside you that needs to be told and you think it has no connection to the theme, that is fine too.   Here are the themes for this pilot in 2020:

4 August, 2020 Theme: Gratitude

Share a story about the clouds and their silver lining, about the time it all went to shit, but you found the seam of gold in the grist. Tell us a story about the someone, or the something that saved you, from misery, madness or death.  Or tell us how the shit made the shine, when your appreciation surged because you nearly lost something more precious to you than the world; when you realised simple is all you need and all you have, when the everyday dramas faded away in the presence of something much bigger. Share with us a story that forged your thankful heart. 

1 September, 2020 Theme: Growth

Craft a story and grow as you do. Make sense again, of those times of struggle, those points of pain that spurred you, challenged you and pushed you into a new understanding of being human. Tell us about the kids, the babies, the animals, and the plants - planning and planting, tending and watching, as right before your very eyes they swell and grow, change, flourish and fruit. Tell us a story about growth and fixed mindsets - your own or others. Tell us a story of stagnation and frustration, of ceilings and barriers, being held back and held down and how you grew anyway, anywhere, the unstoppable force of life, to unfold and move forward, to change and grow.  

6 October, 2020  Theme: Generosity

Tell us a story about the generosity of strangers or the kindness of neighbours.  Tell us a story about the largesse of giving, the endorphins of being able to help, the satisfaction of making a difference.  Tell us about the difficulty, or not, of receiving, of asking, of needing. Tell us a story about the free lunch that was not, of the gift with strings attached, the gift that was not a gift. Share a time when what you gave was not wanted, or what you received was all wrong, tell us the story and help us make sense. Give us a story, food for our soul, from the heart of your life.

3 November 2020 Theme: Gender

Tell us a story about the boxes, the ill-fitting boxes of gender that we are all assigned to at birth, about the mis-match, the mix-ups the mistakes we make, that are made about us and that direct our lives, for better or worse, and those around us, from day one. Tell us a story about a time your gender made a difference, gave you an advantage, or more likely, in this world, was a disadvantage. Tell us about shifting genders, being trans, gender diverse or non binary, or the struggles of loved ones who challenge the boxes, and the support you gave or should have given. Tell us a story about loving and relating through, around and over gender, bridging the divide, or not. Tell us how you live in a gendered world.

See the Story Wise Men webpage for more information, including Frequently Asked Question.