Greetings all,

The wheel of the year turns and we're close to the midsummer zenith...how did that happen?!

After two bone-dry months, the rain finally fell in Scotland. Lots of it, over four days, the exact four days I happened to be at Knockengorroch music festival! Surely the land is better for it, but I'll be drying out my camping gear for quite some time yet, and have renewed my appreciation for wellington boots.

I write with a couple of offerings, one online, another in person, one by me, one by some friends.

Salmon of Wisdom retreat

It's little over a month before this four day gathering on the land, dreaming into this classic Celtic myth, connecting with nature, ancestral crafts, mythopoetics and the ecology of the Salmon.

The site is beautiful, wild yet with comfort, the facilitation team is stellar, and I don't know of anyone running anything with quite this mix of mythopoetics and tangible skills.

Recognising cost is a barrier to some folk, we've opened up a few concession places, and are offering a discount to local people.

Dm me if interested, or secure a place with deposit:

Salmon of Wisdom

https://buytickets.at/dougiemackaystoryteller/1612660

Songs of Summer

For those of you for whom distance, timing, or the thought or spending 4 days in a Scottish meadow is prohibitive, you might be interested in the latest online offering via weaving remembrance.

Weaving remembrance have a knack for tracking down exceptional lore keepers, craftspeople, storytellers, song carriers and the like, and curating dynamic online programmes rooted in the Celtic Isles.

As I understand it, the project started with the Songs of Mother Europe offering, which has evolved into their latest online series.

Summer songs of Europe

As always, there is an eclectic range of guests, from Italy, to Ireland, to Ukraine, to Scotland and more.

Although I'm more steeped in the world of story, I have a sense we should all carry a song or two, and songs can offer a rich and joyful pathway into culture.

Find out more here:

https://weavingremembrance.org/summer-songs-of-mother-europe/?affiliate_code=1668e6

(Note: I receive a commission for bookings through the above link)

Also this Summer

Hearth Fire Sessions will be back in Edinburgh in July.

I'll be hosting storytelling training near Inverness through the summer.

The wolf show will be at Edfringe25 @ Scottish storytelling centre.

I'll be starting new online 'story cafes'.

I'll send updates in good time.

Wishing you many rays of sunshine, and just enough rain, through the coming months.

Dougie