Under the words are the stones and the stones are the stories. The story stones are stories beyond words. Yes they can be constrained by limitations. One sentence can be made with each set of stones. Lay them out in a line. Make a sentence. One word can be made with each set of stones. Make a seven letter word. One could write letters or characters on them and use them instead of a book. How many words would it take to write the story of all the starstorystones? Story stones are personal and flexible and the meaning made is different for every 'reader'. A ‘set’ of story stones consists of 7 stones. One stone for each of the seven words. A round stone (pebble type) for the NOW Another round stone, or one of different colour perhaps for ‘the untold story’ Five other stones - varied which represent either a) a self contained ‘story’ or b) part of the bigger life story. (or both) In deciding what story to tell one picks up the stones, thinks about what each stone means and places them into relative positions. The ‘now’ stone is at the centre of the life/story of course The other stones may represent specific times of a life or stories within that life - moments of personal significance or memories. Things that are bigger than words. Each of these stones can be taken as the ‘key’ stone from which one builds another perspective. So that each story as stone as story can be developed through placing the set in another order - and the purpose of doing these is to think about how that element features in both ‘Now’ and with reference to its own many perspectives. The creative process involves making choices about what each stone represents/means - what part of a story it tells and this requires reflection on the non now stories. The tactile nature of the stones can present choices and inspiration and the difference between the smooth ‘now’ and the jagged ‘storystone as memory’ has significance. They can be kept in boxes for safe-keeping, but my stories have always been about opening boxes. Some personal 'stories' This version of the story is set within the YinYang stymbol. Now is set in the middle. In the dark (yang) side is set past stories: childhood and the life in London while the yin in the yang is the ABC drama story. Right next to the ‘now’ stone is the ‘untold story’ stone and in the yin side (white) are ‘books’ and Daoism. My intention is to create a story space something akin to a Zen garden - in a tray filled with sand (this example isn’t yet filled with sand because I want to put in ‘my’ Loch Enoch sand, but need to work on the container and space around as I do not want to spill any of that precious sand! But for me, placing the storystones in the sand will have a deep meaning as Loch Enoch sand becomes the bedrock for my appreciation of the NOW and my personal ‘storied’ transition. THERE IS NOW AND THERE ARE STORIESSeven words to live a life by. The (creation) story of the creation of the story stones. This is a part of a story which has been told in other narratives, told here for the first time. It fits wherever you want it to fit in those other stories - or in your own life. They walked the biggest field in the world frequently. And one day Nick noticed something he hadn't ever seen before. The ground, if you looked, was abundant in white stones. Like marble. But not round like marbles. Jagged stones. 'Hey nan,' he said as he picked one up. 'Look at this' She explained to him that there were as many white stones in the field as there are stars in the sky. 'Have you counted them?' he asked. She shook her head. 'How do you know?' he asked. 'I believe it,' she replied. 'And is believing the same as knowing?' She didn't answer that question directly. Instead she got down on her haunches, squatting at his level and looked him directly in the eye. 'One day,' she said, ' the stars all came down from the sky, right here, to the biggest field in all the world. So instead of wishing on a star, you can wish on a stone. And if you take this one home with you, you'll be able to carry a star in your pocket with you always.' 'And do stonestar wishes come true?' he asked. 'They are the best kind' she replied. 'I believe you,' he said solemnly. 'But I know something else too.' 'What's that?' she said. 'A bit of the story you missed out,' he replied. 'Tell me,' she asked. 'It's this,' he said. 'The stars come down here every morning, when the sun rises. And when the sun sets they go back up into the sky to shine down on us in the dark.' He paused. 'Do you believe me?' he asked. 'I believe you,' she said. 'It's a very good explanation for the existence of what the ancient Chinese call Heaven and Earth. The sky and the earth. Because heaven is just the sky.' And many years later, when Nick and Helen were no longer walking together in the biggest field in the world, starstones were found at the family trees - part of a bigger story. All the stars in the sky can be found in all the stones on the ground in the biggest field in the world. If you believe it. And if you take a starstone from the field, does that mean it's not in the sky at night? Or does it mean you're taking a piece of the sky with you wherever you go, in your pocket? The answer to the question is the story you tell yourself, the story you want to believe. |
RAMFind out more about the theory, process and meanings - an exercise in creating a brain in a virtual vat. Archives
February 2022
Categories
All
|