‘Myths and Tales’ Nature Therapy Group
Online June-July 2022
The world's myths, legends, fairy tales and folk tales are deeply entwined with nature. This unique six-week eco-therapy programme combines nature therapy with storytelling, mythology, tarot and meditation. If you are drawn to traditional stories and you want to connect deeply with nature, then this might be for you. The group runs from Monday 6th June – 17th July 2022 and it is delivered mostly by forum and video; it is accessible no matter what timezone you live in. It includes a two-hour online event on 16th July 2022 (an exact time will be announced when everyone signs up, so that everyone’s timezone can be taken into account). Scroll to find out more!
Ecotherapy is based on the scientifically proven fact that paying close attention to nature improves our wellbeing. People who love the planet take better care of it too.
In this unique ecotherapy programme, some of nature’s most fascinating myths and folktales are presented to you in various formats: as storytelling videos, as mini audiobooks or as original flash fiction. Each story is accompanied by a therapeutic exercise to try in nature, inspired by the tale. You will go on a tarot pilgrimage, too.
Meet nature's myths and tales: an ecotherapy group to inspire your imagination.
Six experiential units over six weeks
16 nature tasks
Professional support
Private group forum
Get your tarot read
Original fiction and storytelling available nowhere else
Two-hour online group event on 16th July 2022 (an exact time will be announced after everyone signs up. This is decided based on everyone’s timezones)
a unique therapeutic course designed by a professional ecotherapy practitioner, writer and storyteller…..
Let mythology deepen your connection to nature.
A Two-Month Adventure.
What’s Included?
Personal feedback/support
Six units - 16 tasks
Unique meditations
Go on a nature pilgrimage
Download mini audiobooks and flash fiction available nowhere else
Online group event
Reconnect with nature.
You will learn how to make a deeper connection with nature for your happiness and wellbeing. This unique programme uses the power of storytelling to inspire your nature-connection. Each tale is accompanied by a unique nature therapy exercise. Join for your wellbeing, or simply to enjoy connecting with nature and stories!
Rediscover life’s beauty.
It doesn't matter if you live in the countryside or the city. This course shows you how to connect with nature through story—wherever you are. You will receive ongoing support from a professional ecotherapy practitioner at every step of the way, as well as being a part of a group of nature-lovers.
To sign up for 'Myths and Tales—A Nature Therapy Programme' (starting in June 2022), which includes 16 unique exercises, professional support from an ecotherapy practitioner, a two-hour online group event, and a private online group forum full of nature lovers, join now!
“Connecting the stories with my own life experiences and with the place where I now live has led me to shift to a much more embodied way of feeling and to get to know the mythic ground I stand on. This has put me on the right path to becoming a better, fuller human being.”
“It was the first time in years that I thought back to being a little girl who would climb trees and explore nature. I now realise that I'm still that same person. I found myself walking off into woodland paths I've never bothered exploring in my home area before. I felt like an adventurer, just here in my own local area."
“This has been an exhilarating, transformative experience at all levels. Each participant was gently encouraged and given plenty of scope to share their personal interpretations of the stories in their own styles while fully respecting other people's. A fine balance was achieved and the group atmosphere remained positive and courteous throughout.”
On Monday 6th June 2022, the first week's stories and exercises are unlocked. Stories are presented in various formats; storytelling videos, mini audiobooks or original flash fiction. Each story is accompanied by a therapeutic exercise to try in nature, inspired by the tale.
01
Flash Fiction: Nature's Beginnings
Terms and Conditions
Introduction Written Guide
Introduction Video
Story: The Birth of Monkey (Origin: China)
Exercise: Finding New Beginnings in Nature
Story: The Curse of the Cailleach (Origin: Scotland)
Exercise: By the Water
Story: The Comfort of Hestia (Origin: Greece)
Exercise: Hearth and Home
Bonus Article: What are Myths, Legends, Folk Tales & Fairy Tales?
02
Storytelling Videos: Nature's Challenges
Story: How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head (Origin: India)
Exercise: Finding Life in Destruction
Story: The Liver Birds of Liverpool (Origin: England)
Exercise: An Air Walk
Story: The Forest Hag (Origin: Germany)
Exercise: What is in The Woods?
03
Wheel of Fortune: Tarot Pilgrimage
Exercise: Choose Your Cards
Notes: Go on Your Pilgrimage
04
Mini Audiobooks: Rejuvenation and Rebirth
Exercise: Guided Walk: Life Underground
Story: Persephone Returns (Origin: Greece)
Audio: Guided Walk: Life Underground
Exercise: The Lives of Wild Animals
Story: Fox and Dog (Origin: Scotland)
Exercise: Flower Meditation
Story: The Chrysanthemum Hermit (Origin: Japan)
05
Video and Audio: The Universe
Exercise: Moon and Stars Meditation
Story: The Goddess Chang'E (Origin: China)
Exercise: Return to a Special Place
Story: The Seal Woman (Origin: Iceland)
Story: The Buddha's Enlightenment (Origin: India)
Exercise: The Universe Under The Tree
06
Work With Your Special Myths/Stories
Guided Visualisation: Meet a Mythical Being
Audio: Mythical Visualisation
Exercise: Write a letter to a Mythical Figure
Exercise: Create Your Own Ecotherapy Exercise
Six Weeks of Enchantment.
Explore Powerful Spiritual Myths.
The nature-based stories in this course all come from Asia and Europe. Prepare to be touched, shocked, and inspired by the power of myth.
Get Your Tarot Read.
Stephen has been reading tarot professionally for over 15 years and he has a creative approach to reading the cards. In Unit Three, you will receive a personalised tarot reading that will send you on a unique nature pilgrimage.
Lose Yourself in Story.
Stephen McCabe is a storyteller and a published writer, as well as being an eco-therapist. His charming story videos, mini audiobooks and written stories are only available as part of this course; they are not published anywhere else.
Try Nature Meditations.
As a trained meditation guide and a practicing Buddhist, Stephen invites you to practice mindfulness and meditation in natural settings. This includes unique exercises such as flower meditations, and a one-of-a-kind mythical visualisation.
Take a sneaky peek at one of the stories.
‘The Liver Birds of Liverpool’ is the only story from the programme which is available publicly. In the programme, it is followed by a guided outdoor audio exercise inspired by the Liver Birds. Take a peek at the video and get a feel for the course....
Meet the Course Author.
Stephen is an experienced ecotherapy practitioner who has been directly supporting people emotionally for over 15 years. He has trained over many years in ecotherapy skills, and he trains others to become ecotherapy practitioners themselves on the Ten Directions programme; an intensive nature therapy course informed by Buddhist psychology. He is the man behind Nature Therapy Online and he runs several ecotherapy projects locally in the Lothians/Scotland. He is also a storyteller, a tarot reader, and a trained meditation guide and he incorporates these skills into his ecotherapy work.
Sign up now for £160 (around 230 USD)
An experiential two-month therapeutic programme. Let classic mythical tales from Europe and Asia point to the magic of nature…
Feedback on the Programme.
“A Unique Experience”
Ten stars! I made the programme a priority and committed fully. I enjoyed Stephen’s insightful and encouraging comments on my posts; they made me reflect deeper, and gave me ideas to take further. It's valuable when the programme teacher is active in the forum and communicates via mail, too. This course is specific. That made it easy for me to say 'Yes, I'm in!'
“What I loved the most was….”
…the pilgrimage. We used a tool I know well – tarot – in a new way. I like that I chose the tarot cards at random, and Stephen drew the theme card and suggested a myth based on that. It's interactive, and serendipitous - love that. In combination with the exercises for each card, it made for an active, mindful, and reflective nature pilgrimage.
Frequently asked questions
(answered by the course author)
Is this course only for people who have access to wild outdoor spaces?
No! Nature is everywhere. You can do these ecotherapy exercises in small city park areas, or even walking through streets looking for nature. Of course, people from rural locations engage really well with online nature therapy too. In short: it doesn't matter where you live!
How is the course structured and when does it start?
During the first week, the first three stories and exercises are unlocked. You can do your exercises on any days of the week that suit you. There are six units in this course, spread over six weeks. You will receive email access to each unit weekly. The course content ends after Unit Six when you are assigned your final exercises. We will then have an online group event together on 16th July 2022 when all of the Units are finished. There are 16 exercises in total.
How exactly are the stories presented, and how are they linked to the exercises?
The stories are presented in different formats. Some units present stories to you in video format, where you are offered stories in a charming, meditation-influenced storytelling style. In other units, you are given mini audiobook stories to listen to out within nature. The audiobooks will offer you exercises to try directly after the stories finish. In unit one, you are given three pieces of (very) short fiction to read, all based on nature and mythology. None of the fiction, videos or mini audiobooks are available anywhere else; they are unique to the course.
The exercises are inspired by a theme from each story. For example, the story about the mythical Liver Birds of Liverpool is followed by a guided walk focusing on the element of air, inviting you to experience the wind and breeze in the way that the Liver Birds themselves might.
Do I need to tell stories as part of the course?
No. This is not a course teaching you storytelling skills. It is a course teaching you new ways of bonding with nature for your own wellbeing. The stories provide the inspiration!
I see that many of the tales included are shared via video and audio. Is there access to written versions of these stories?
Yes. For every story that is told via video or audio there is a link to an online written version.
How much time will I need to dedicate to this course?
That's up to you, but I would recommend putting aside around 2 hours per week for the tasks. Sometimes it may require a bit more time, sometimes a bit less.
Is this course best done in warmer seasons/climates?
Not necessarily. People from the Northern and Southern hemispheres have done the course at the same time, in different seasons, and it has been wonderful. Ecotherapy can teach us how to appreciate being outdoors and finding the beauty in nature in colder seasons or even rainy weather. Unless you live somewhere where it may be dangerously cold/hot at certain times of the year, ecotherapy is generally suitable for all seasons and climates.
What about the online forum and support?
I ask you to post a paragraph or so about your experiences with each exercise in the private group comments section. I will reply to all of your comments, offering you personal guidance, advice and reflection on your experiences. This course also includes a two-hour video group meeting via Zoom at the end of the course. During this session, we explore your highlights from the course and share group experiences. I will offer you tips and advice on how you can take ecotherapy forward in your life.
Who is nature therapy for?
Everyone! Some people are drawn to nature therapy when they are experiencing emotional troubles and are looking for something therapeutic and positive. Some people join simply because they love nature but are struggling to connect with it, and want to learn new tools to engage with it more deeply.
Do I need any materials to do this course?
You will need:
a pair of headphones (a small cheap set is fine) and a mobile device that can play audio files (such as a smartphone).
A candle and a lighter/match
You might like to buy yourself a journal for your notes, but it's not essential. Some people prefer to keep electronic notes or to use the group forum as a shared diary instead.
What is the difference between this course and the other courses on your website?
The ‘Introduction to Nature Therapy’ course invites you to practice ecotherapy through a variety of different approaches, such as mindfulness, and there is little personal support on offer with that programme (hence its much cheaper price). This course specifically focuses on mythology, traditional stories, fairy tales and storytelling as the inspiration for nature-connection. There is also a ‘solo’ version of this storytelling programme, for people who want to start at any time in the year and who prefer to work alone (rather than with a group).
Do I need to live in a particular time zone to take part?
No. The exercises are introduced by pre-recorded videos, and we share our experiences via a private group forum. You can watch the videos and post in the forum at any time of the day/week that suits you, and then catch up with other people’s comments at your leisure. The only set time/date you are asked to attend is one final group get-together at the end of the course, which is over Zoom. However, although I set the date for this meeting in advance, I do not set the time until everybody has booked onto the course. That way, I can look at everyone’s time zones and make sure that the event will happen at the fairest time to suit everyone.
I do my absolute best to ensure that this meeting doesn't happen in the middle of the night in anyone's timezone (although it may often be early morning or approaching midnight, depending on where you live and who books on the course!). However, very occasionally I have people from such diverse time zones on the course (eg someone in California alongside someone in New Zealand) that it may be impossible to accommodate everyone at a decent time. If this is the case, I will approach the group with creative ways around this, such as having two smaller events at different times on the same day instead of one longer event, or other solutions.
I want to become an ecotherapist. Is this the right course for me?
No. If you are interested in introducing a few basic ecotherapy ideas to your work in a casual way, then doing this course might give you some ideas which you are welcome to use. However, this course is not a training course for ecotherapists; it is a personal wellbeing programme and the focus is on you—not working with others. If you are interested in ecotherapy training, I recommend the Ten Directions course, which I am a tutor for.
What can I expect to get out of this course?
This course is designed to make your life feel more peaceful, simple and joyful, and to connect you with the magical (spiritual, even) world of myths and legends. The exercises learned in these units are designed so that you can easily incorporate them into your life once the course is over. The aim is to create a deep connection to nature and myth that lasts long after the course has finished.
To sign up to 'Myths and Tales—A Nature Therapy Programme' in June 2022, which includes 16 unique nature therapy exercises, professional support from an ecotherapy practitioner and a personal tarot pilgrimage adventure, join now!
Money-Back Guarantee.
If you reach the end of the first week and you feel that the course is not for you, simply ask for a refund and you will get it.
Why? Because this course is designed to support your wellbeing and to inspire you. If you don't connect with it, then we would rather you spend your money on another programme that is a better fit for you.