ABSTRACT
Storytelling has been a part of human existence since we developed the capacity to communicate; our ability to tell a story contributes to making us human. Stories reflect the wisdom of time, from the first early drawings on the cave wall, to the writings of the Egyptians, to the retelling of myths and legends. Stories have been used to recollect heroic events and to understand tragedy. Campfire stories are told to calm fears and doubts. There are stories in all cultures to explain creation, to account for the trickster, to recount epic journeys and the overcoming of obstacles. Stories have been told to share values and traditions, to teach and share insights and to entertain. They can be factual or fanciful, personal or cultural. In many traditions, the storyteller has a special place, as the wise man, the person who provides spiritual guidance or the healer.
