The Healing Stories are very special Women Circles that bring archetypal images from fairy tales, myths and legends through artistic experiences, sharing and guidance.
The art of storytelling is accompanied by the experience of a unique Women Circle, in which the stories serve as a motto for each woman to draw parallels between the stories narrated and their own life experiences - providing insights, recovering forgotten desires, rediscovering skills, unlocking dreams, breaking new ground, recovering or finding themselves for the first time. There is always a special focus on Feminine Ancestry, collective and individual.
In each circle, activities are carried out exclusively for the topic addressed, using story therapy, art therapy, dance, and other techniques aimed at individual needs. Usually lasting approximately six hours - it may seem long, but it goes by in the blink of an eye - it's an experience for five to ten women.
Some of the main themes of the Circles: Intuition, Recognizing Inner Predators, Creativity, Ancestry, Anger and Forgiveness, Listening to the Inner Mother, Emotional Dependence, Inner Wild Woman - and many others.
Circles open to men also happen periodically.
This is an initiative that has Marianna Portela's life mission at its center: above all, promoting a safe space for women to hear each other's stories. Through this exchange they have the opportunity to reveal themselves. Deep transformations take place from what Marianna calls Mirror Therapy, the mutual identification that takes place in the egregore of this circle.
The basis for this work is primarily the therapeutic tales from the book “Women Who Run With the Wolves” by Jungian psychoanalyst Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés. However, Marianna's work also takes from a variety of fairy tales, legends and myths, as well as Oracles and self-knowledge tools linked to the Mythical Female Journey.
Founded in 2015, the Healing Stories Circles have already brought together more than 300 women in three countries, strengthening and fostering female partnerships, creating bonds and deep friendships.
Find out about the next events.