Warm Greetings,

The first signs of Spring are here with crocuses blooming and the birdsong carrying a more hopeful lilt.

Some momentum is picking up with my storytelling projects too, as I head to the recording studio this weekend and launch a new storytelling night in Edinburgh next week. I've also released my first podcast episode of the year.

I'm advancing with Vancouver plans, and almost ready to unveil the Herbs and Hearth online programme, which will run from Beltane until equinox 2025. It'll be quite a journey.

That's the way with Winter, it looks like nothings happening then everything springs forth at once!

If you are in Scotland on the 21st March, you might enjoy the inaugural Hearth Fire Session at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.

I'll be joined in this session by one of my favourite emerging storytellers David Hughes, plus gifted singer songwriter Jemima Thewes and fantastical physical theatre artist Jusztina Herman. We'll be playing with the open hearth, ceilidh style of performance, with some subtle curation to help the stories really sing.

I spent yesterday rehearsing an old Celtic myth with Jemima's sound effects and vocals and it is sounding mighty! Spine tingling stuff.

It's going to be special.

Get Tickets!

If you happen to live on the other side of the world, specifically Washington State or BC (US & Canada), you might be more interested in my May-June tour around Vancouver Island. Even if you live further away, you might want to travel for the Myth as Medicine retreat that will cap the tour!

The logistics are falling into place, and although bookings aren't yet live and dates might shuffle by degrees, the rough plan looks something like this:

Tell your Turtle Island friends!

...............

Digitally there is plenty coming up too.

The Herbs and Hearth programme is at an advanced stage and will be ready to promote in the next week or so. Message to register early interest...I have a few interested folk noted already, it seems like it'll be popular!

I'll be hitting the studio this weekend to record Scottish Tales for Telling. It's a home studio, with old stone walls and a fireplace. It's overlooking the river and I'll stay over night in a Yurt. It feels like the perfect place to be recording gnarly old tales!

If you missed the kickstarter deadline, I'll keep you posted when the stories are available elsewhere.

And finally, if you won't be in Edinburgh or Vancouver Island any time soon, and can't wait for the online course or story recordings, you might enjoy my latest podcast episode.

I caught up with community storyteller and wise fool Dan Serridge. You can hear us talk of the trials and tribulations of storytelling in Glasgow, journey to the otherworld with 'True' Thomas the Rhymer, puzzle over riddles, and hear Dan tell the salty story of the magpies tail. It's a cracker.

Listen Here

Well, that's plenty for this pre-equinox window.

I hope you're also feeling ready for the brighter months to come, with creative seeds beginning to sprout.

May we catch up further down the road.

Dougie