There seems to be a deck for everything these days. What does one do with a deck of cards, whether it be a tarot, oracle or cards for a certain activity such as writing, creativity, living your values or connecting with nature? Decks can be portals to wisdom, tools for self-reflection, and guides for navigating life’s twists and turns. We will explore the myriad of decks at The Vintage Storyteller from using symbols from nature to guide and inspire, offering creative exercises and practical tools to enhance our creativity, offering a new perspective, or prompts to inspire your writing or mindfulness practice or to just plain have fun! We will be offered many examples of how to work with decks. This can be very helpful to boost your creativity, inspiration and motivation. We will learn to use our intuition, trust ourselves and be curious and playful. The class will also give participants some resources if they want to create a deck of their own or at least start thinking about it. For ages 16+ Kari Ramstrom

Why do we need fairy tales now? Author Sharon Blackie makes the claim that the original fairy tales with their darkness, symbolism and humour guide us through difficult life-journeys in perilous times. Her work has been centred around fairy tales (as well as myth) – as a psychologist, as a mythologist/ folklorist and as a writer and teacher. Fairy tale heroines are resourceful, brave and savvy and engaged with the challenges and possibilities for transformation ahead. Fairy tales are powerful because at the heart of every one of them is transformation. These old stories of the folk that have been handed down to us through so many generations show women what it might look like not just to survive, but to thrive – by moving forward through a challenging world with values shaped by relationship, respect and reciprocity. The stories of fairy tales help us find our bearings and guide us through heartbreaking times. Fairy tales insist that we dig deep for previously unimagined inner resources. They breathe life into our hopes and dreams; they illuminate who we are – and who we might possibly someday become. They show us how to live and how to express our individuality always by gratitude for the surprising and ever-shapeshifting gift of life itself. They teach us to be savvy, inspire us to grow in confidence, show us how to be bold and claim the future we dream of. They show us how to take hold of our own personal narratives and transform them into stories. How can we transform our everyday existence into a meaningful life narrative? We will discuss as the chapters go: budding, flowering, fruiting, ripening and seeding in relation to reimagining our stories across changing lives and changing times and cultivating our “inner imaginarium” through expressive arts. After registering, participants can pick up their book at The Vintage Storyteller. Books will be available a month before class begins. Registration fee includes the hardcover book Kari Ramstrom