1The ancient art of storytelling revealed in Storytelling and the Art of Imagination shines as a powerful antidote to today's passive, solitary world of electronic entertainment. As a true path of self-development, storytelling awakens and nourishes the timeless and archetypal experiences, symbols, and forces of our inner lives. In this classic in the field of storytelling as a healing art, Nancy Mellon offers the tools for story-making and story-telling through examples and exercises. Her deep sense of mission and her commitment to creativity inspire this step-by-step guide on how to tap into vast creative wisdom within the archetypal characters, landscapes and plots found in tales throughout the world. Many teachers, students, community leaders, parents, therapists and other professionals have carried this inspirational book with them, dog-eared and worn, in backpacks and purses to help them meet daily challenges. People of all ages are learning to creatively find healing perspectives and artistic courage in the midst of even the most dire stresses of daily life. Some of the many tools Mellon discusses and demonstrates include employing the rhythms of voice and speech, movement and direction, visualization, and the imaginative wealth of symbolism both in the natural world and in the external forces that can inform the healing imagination.