Category Archives: LifeWorks

Myth & Music

Posted on July 7, 2020 by Jane Bailey Bain LifeWorks

Ever since the first people sat around their campfires, we have told stories. People tell tales to explain events and to justify their actions. We see how one thing led to another, and wonder what might happen next. We learn … Continue reading →

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Telling Your Story

Posted on January 13, 2019 by Jane Bailey Bain LifeWorks

“So what do you do?” It’s a question that most of us answer badly. We fall back behind a label (‘I’m a doctor / lawyer / accountant’). Or we relate what we’ve done in the past, a list of tasks … Continue reading →

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The Power of Story

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Jane Bailey Bain LifeWorks

Tell me your story. Let’s start at the very beginning. Where in the world were you born? What name did your parents give you? Do you have brothers and sisters? Where did you go to school? In other words, Who … Continue reading →

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Archetypal Figures

Posted on April 13, 2013 by Jane Bailey Bain LifeWorks

Are you a clever girl or a wise woman? A hero or a trickster? There’s more to you than meets the eye, but you have a certain personality. And this persona tends to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Your self-image affects … Continue reading →

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Labyrinths

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Jane Bailey Bain LifeWorks

Labyrinths are often seen as a metaphor for confusion. Theseus chases the Minotaur through a labyrinth; Jung talks of the labyrinth of the unconscious mind. Actually these are examples of mazes, not labyrinths. A maze is a web of tracks … Continue reading →

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Hiawatha

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Jane Bailey Bain LifeWorks

In the old days, the braves were always fighting. Summertime, and the living was easy: what else was there for a boy to do? Quite a lot, actually. The Iroquois tribes who controlled lands along the Atlantic coast were renowned … Continue reading →

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Lughnasa

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Jane Bailey Bain LifeWorks

Lughnasa (1st August) marks the beginning of harvest-time and the ripening of the first crops. In Irish mythology, the festival takes its name from Lugh, the god of light. According to the Book of Invasions, Lugh was a boy hero … Continue reading →

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The Hero’s Journey

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Jane Bailey Bain LifeWorks

Do you know about the hero’s journey? The one where you set out on a journey, and meet a wise man, and fight a dragon to gain treasure? Of course you do, because you’ve done it. The monster you fought … Continue reading →

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Mermaids: A Fishy Tale

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Jane Bailey Bain LifeWorks

Do you believe in mermaids? A beautiful woman with a fish’s tail. Sometimes they come out of the water and sit on the rocks combing their hair. Sweet-voiced and slippery, they are hard to catch. In Shakespeare’s time, the term … Continue reading →

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The Story of Writing

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Jane Bailey Bain LifeWorks

Ever since the first men sat around their camp fire, people have wondered about the meaning of life. Who am I? Why am I here? One of the ways we answer these questions is to tell stories… ‘LifeWorks’ In the … Continue reading →

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Thanksgiving Traditions

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Jane Bailey Bain LifeWorks

Thanksgiving is a time of praise and plenty. Surrounded by friends and family, we celebrate the fruits of the past year. But what did this feast mean to the first inhabitants of America? The Pilgrim Fathers landed at Cape Cod … Continue reading →

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LifeWorks: Welcome

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Jane Bailey Bain LifeWorks

Welcome to LifeWorks: an alternative, ad hoc and occasionally aspirational look at using stories in everyday life. ‘LifeWorks: Using myth and archetype to compose your life script‘ (2012) Published by John Hunt (O-Books) ‘StoryWorks: A handbook for leaders, writers and … Continue reading →

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