OARS in the Water
Aug. 13th
7:00pm-8:30pm EDT
Hosted by Laura Simms & Heather Forest
Theme: The Way of Listening
Listening is one of our super powers. Through deep listening we go beyond hearing what is being said, and our own reactions. We open to sensing an entire universe of meaning and presence that nurtures intelligence and kindness. We are living in difficult times. Practicing this innate and profound skill of listening without bias, supports our lives, the natural world, and expands our storytelling. Heather and Laura will engage us in an image-full conversation about how we uncover listening ears of heart and compassion.
OARS in the Water is a facilitated Zoom gathering that meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 pm Eastern Time. The Healing Story Alliance’s OARS in the Water offers a community listening space in which to share the experiences and stories that have emerged in turbulent times.
OARS co-hosts facilitate the evening and provide participants with a warm welcome and a meaningful theme which we hope will be healing, supportive and inspiring.
Format: A typical 90-minute meeting consists of a 20-minute, theme-based opening, followed by 20 minutes in breakout rooms, and then we reassemble for a whole group conversation.
Admission is free, although donations are deeply appreciated and help support our programming. Your tax-deductible donation can be made here:
https://square.link/u/d9xbGN2I
WE HAVE A NEW ZOOM LINK TO BOOKMARK:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81580670118?pwd=kluogEmpqp8COl7mWvvDl673CCozLS.1
About our Hosts
Laura Simms is an internationally acclaimed storyteller, writer, teacher and humanitarian. She combines traditional stories with personal narrative. She is artistic Director of the Hans Christian Andersen Storytelling Center in NYC and served as a Senior Research Fellow for Rutgers University Peace Center under the auspices of UNESCO. She is a founding member of the Healing Story Alliance and serves on their programming committee. Laura saved a zoo in Romania, and won the Sesame Street SUNNY DAYS AWARD for work with children worldwide. She received the Hasbro September 11 Grant designing a manual and training for storytelling for children in crisis. Laura has worked in post conflict and climate disasters with International Medical Corps, and Mercy Corps, Inc. She is a certified dharma art teacher and a senior meditation instructor in mindfulness awareness practice. She has five books and many recordings. Recently Laura was story advisor for the Fetzer Foundation Sacred Story Project. She continues to work with The Constellation. www.laurasimms.com
Heather Forest, PhD, is an award-winning storyteller, author, musician, and organic farmer. A pioneer in the American storytelling renaissance, she has appeared in theatres, schools, literature conferences, and major storytelling festivals throughout the United States and abroad since 1975. She is the author of seventeen children’s books and recordings based on multicultural folktales. A modern-day bard, her dynamic fusion of original music, poetry, and the sung and spoken word brings multicultural folktales to life in the imagination of her listeners. She is President of the Board of Healing Story Alliance, Inc. and founder/director of Story Arts Inc. She views storytelling as both a fine art and a powerful tool for positive social change. www.heatherforest.com
For the Schedule of upcoming OARS Meetings visit: