every night before I go to sleep I invite all of my beloveds who have died to join me around my bed to sing with me when I was younger the attendance was sparse it was like a barbershop quartet of a few deceased loved ones and me squeaking out a few sweet improvised tunes about the miracles of this life and afterlife In the echo chamber of my quieting heart but now that I’m older The more crowded my bedroom is getting and the louder the singing has become lately some of my beloveds are even bringing their instruments to play around my bed it’s not a seance it’s a symphony there are so many beloveds showing up to help me compose that I’ve had to ask them to stand close to each other now, at bedtime my packed bedroom has become a bustling concert hall some nights we play the rock and roll of gratitude and some nights we all hold classical violins and play songs about the energy of love that radiates out of the beating heart of the universe some nights we play the jazz of how wonderfully terrifying it can be to give our hearts to each other some nights we sing acapella some nights we just hum it doesn’t really matter what style we choose to play because with every chord this community of beloved ghosts and I create together the less afraid of death I become as it turns out this adventure we are on together is all music and the beat goes on and on and on and… ~ john roedel (art: Leon Zernitsky)
Come and listen to the old soul living behind your eyes! Come explore your heart and memories with me this July at the magical campus of MISA at Madeline Island!
It will be like summer camp for storytellers! Trust me you don’t want to miss this incredible experience.
Space if VERY limited for this intimate writing retreat. Register soon!
The Unafraid Storyteller
July 15-19
We exist in a world where our photos are expected to be perfectly edited and our social media posts have to be carefully crafted to prevent us from accidentally showing the “real” person inside.
Life is meant to be messy. Life is supposed to be a bit chaotic. Life is an adventure where we are always a single phone call away from heartbreak or the fulfillment of our wildest dreams. Of course, this is exactly what makes being alive the best game in the universe.
People are craving authenticity. So, let’s give it to them.
It takes courage to tell the authentic story of our lives without worrying about what people will think about us. To let people see past our Instagram filters and straight into our often-untidy hearts takes an act of bravery. Giving people a chance to witness the wildness of our own existence can give them the grace to appreciate their own miracle of their uneven adventure.
As storytellers, it’s not our job to impress people with the story of our lives—it’s more about giving the reader the opportunity to embrace the highs and lows of their own journey.
Through journaling, group interaction, creative exercises, physical movement and hands-on activities, this high-energy experience with poet, writer, and comedian John Roedel provides you with the tools to tell your own story without fear of what the world will think of you. With his trademark comedy, emotive style, and obsession with keeping his presentations interactive, John shares his own journey while offering his wisdom on how you can share yours as well.
Writers, storytellers, or humans who want to live and share their lives with more authenticity are invited to join John for this unique writing retreat.
You capture my sense of the accumulation of funerals/deaths/dead people. Also, reminds me of movie "Truly, Madly, Deeply."
I absolutely love this! Resonates deeply with me. Thank you 😊