Most of us know Spirit of Place for it is simply this…

Most of us know Spirit of Place

for it is simply this…

I am fortunate enough to be a writer and teller of stories. It is a total contrast to my work as a child protection trainer, although in child protection, each child and family has their own story to tell too. 

I take people on walks to what I consider to be ‘special’ places and I tell the story of each special place as though I am a character from its past. The walks are usually in Wales and to sites of historical or spiritual interest or sometimes to just stunningly beautiful places.

I love nature, walking, writing and storytelling, which all combine together in my Strolls ‘n’ Stories activities, but I am far from the first to enjoy such a privilege.

Itinerant story tellers have an ancient lineage from indigenous cultures to the Bards of Wales and the travelling story tellers of Ireland. Before the written word, oral histories were passed from one generation to another. It is an old craft which has not yet died out and dare I say a valuable craft with much to offer in this technological age.

Special places vary for me, from standing stones to old pubs, from holy wells and springs to castles and monasteries, from mountains and ancient trees, to the most stunning or the most barren of landscapes. All have their stories and what I call Spirit of Place.

Most of us know Spirit of Place for it is simply this… some places have a voice and they ‘speak’ to us. They may not speak in words or hold a verbal conversation, but communicate they do. It may be a feeling that arises, joy or fear, an unease or comfortableness, awe or just aroused curiosity but through our senses we can listen. We can hear what the place has to say and we can imbibe of its spirit and listen to its message.