'Stories Are Medicine' is a podcast exploring the power and wisdom of story.
The Celtic traditions are alive with the power of song, story, and the strong currents of the spoken word. Inspiration - known as 'Awen' by the bards of old - was a primary focus and currency for peoples of the past...as it is for people in all times and places. 'Awen' is a Welsh word, loosely translating to 'flowing spirit'.
Spirit (from the Latin 'spiritus' - to breathe) is defined as 'the seat of a person's emotions and character'. How we feel, how we think, profoundly influences what we do - both personally and professionally. We speak daily of how our spirits rise and fall, of being in high spirits or low, of the need for lifting or keeping our spirits up. It is as vital to our lives as breath itself.
Working with the wisdom of story and song, Jeff works to nourish the spirit in all manner of realms. Since the mid nineties, he has worked in professional development environments, conferences, and retreat settings – seamlessly blending the wisdom of the past with the realities of the present.
Jeff’s training in Celtic Animism (Shamanism) began in 1997. Fully trained in traditional shamanic healing techniques, he has taught and led ceremonies at national and international conferences and retreats. He has an ongoing series of workshops called Casann Roth Mór An Tsaoil: The Great Wheel Of Life Turns. - held over the course of the seasons - in harmony with the turning of the seasons.
He has been teaching meditation since 1995, and creates experiences in mindfulness on the strings of the Celtic Harp. He has taught his workshops ‘The Art of Stillness’ since 1997.
In addition to work with large and small groups of people, Jeff works with individuals in one-on-one consultations. In the context of the Celtic traditions, the work addresses key turning points in journeys of transformation and healing.
Jeff creates a series of recordings entitled 'The Reverie Collection'. The first volume (Beneath The Boughs) was released in October 2010, featuring the exquisite voices of the Celtic Harp, Cello and Violin. Each long playing piece is woven with elegant and gentle melody lines. With the richness of real acoustic instruments, played by real live musicians, each volume is a treasure trove of beautiful music for dreaming and renewal. He is currently composing volume two.