“Stories are a communal currency of humanity.”― Tahir Shah,
“Those who tell the stories rule the world.”― Hopi American Indian proverb
“Stories are memory aids, instruction manuals and moral compasses.”― Aleks Krotoski
“The stories we tell literally make the world. If you want to change the world, you need to change your story. This truth applies both to individuals and institutions.”― Michael Margolis
“Storytelling is among the oldest forms of communication. Storytelling is the commonality of all human beings, in all places, in all times.”― Rives Collins Northwestern University Professor (with expertise in Oral Histories and Storytelling)
“Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can't remember who we are or why we're here.” ― Sue Monk Kidd, author of The Secret Life of Bees
Folktales historically have carried within their words and stories the traditions, beliefs, values as well as a culture’s customs. Stories, close-knit to and cherished by us that were passed down through the present or folktales have entertained and enlightened generations have existed for hundreds and thousands of years. Beyond bedtime stories, there is so much that we can learn from folktales.
There is the popular and almost cliché’ statement about “the power of the narrative.” Not just the narrative, but any story that is repeated to a group of people or even about a group of people has infinite power. Power because actions, facial expressions and tone of voice almost always accompany or are skillfully and purposefully woven in to emit emotions or coerce a desired outcome. The outcome could be for the purposes of entertainment or teach a desired behavior, prohibit behaviors, control results and even spark the formation of a group or a movement. We have a cursory understanding of how stories told over and over move world wide—even via people without using cell phones and computers.
We must not forget that stories, folk tales, legends and myths have the ability to take on a life of its own. As a snowball rolls, it picks up more snow, speed and any other debris or “information” in its path. Once a folktales or story leaves the lips of the sharer or an originator, it can be shaped differently.
