Last Contributions – Part 1

Michael Berman, UK

Michael Berman’s published work includes The Power of Metaphor by Crown House, The Nature of Shamanism and The Shamanic Story by Cambridge Scholars Publishing, as well as Shamanic Journeys through the Caucasus and Shamanic Journeys Shamanic Stories by O-Books. Journeys outside Time can be obtained from Pendraig Publishing, and Tales of Power from Lear Books, A Bridge to the Other Side and Georgia through Earth, Fire, Air and Water were published by Moon Books in 2012, and Sacred Mountains in 2013 by Mandrake. Michael's ELT publications include A Multiple Intelligences Road to an ELT Classroom, In a Faraway Land (a resource book for teachers on storytelling), On Business and for Pleasure (a self-study workbook), and English Language Teaching Matters, written with Mojca Belak and Wayne Rimmer.

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Learning from animals
a. Struggle
b. The three bees
c. Deer and tiger
Fears
Personalising
Aunt

Learning from animals

Working individually, in pairs or small groups (the choice is yours), fit the eight sentence parts into the correct gaps in the text so that it makes sense, and then decide what the lesson of the parable is:

1. and it could go no farther
2. as the moth struggled to force the body through that little hole
3. as we could have been.
4. because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body
5. but it had a swollen body and small, shrivelled wings
6. so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon
7. so that he could watch the moth come out of the cocoon
8. so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon

A man found a cocoon of an emperor moth. He took it home 1 ___. On that day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the moth for several hours 2 ___. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotas far as it could 3 ___. It just seemed to be stuck. Then the man, in his kindness, decided to help the moth, 4 ___. The moth then emerged easily, 5 ___. The man continued to watch the moth 6 ___ , which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the little moth spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body, shrivelled body and shrivelled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the moth to get through the tiny opening was the way of forcing fluid from the body of the moth into its wings 7 ___. Freedom and flight would only come after the struggle. By depriving the moth of a struggle, he deprived the moth of health. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were to go through our life without any obstacles, we would be crippled. We would not be as strong 8 ___.

Answers: 1-g / 2-b / 3-a / 4-f / 5-e / 6-d / 7-h / 8-c

a. Struggle

Now for the story of three unfortunate bees whose curiosity got the better of them one sunny day when they fell into an open jam jar.

The first bee wasn’t particularly concerned about his predicament because his partner had always rescued him from tricky situations in the past and he trusted that she would do so again. In fact, he’d grown to depend on her. So he just sat back in the jam and waited because he knew that he’d be all right. What happened to him? He died waiting.

The second bee kept climbing the slippery glass wall until he reached the rounded rim, then fell back down again. And the more times he fell, the more determined it made him. He was a fighter and he refused to give in. What happened to him? He died of exhaustion.

The third bee was different to the others and had never really fitted into the hive. In fact, he’d become a social outcast and lived a very solitary life. The other bees had found him to be rather strange and refused to have anything to do with him. Anyway, while his colleagues were otherwise occupied with their own attempts to escape, he chose to taste the jam and what do you know – he found he really liked it. So he ate and he ate and he ate until he’d licked the jar clean. And what happened to him? Well he died too, but he died of pleasure.

A question to discuss in pairs or small groups: Which of the three bees would you have been in the same situation?

b. The three bees

Working individually, in pairs or small groups (the choice is yours), fit the ten sentence parts into the correct gaps in the text so that it makes sense, and then decide what the lesson of the parable is:

1. and he never missed
2. as he prepared
3. as she started licking her baby's wounds
4. as much as you do
5. because he heard something rustling around in the grass
6. but a tiger
7. but his pride turned to anguish when he heard a groan
8. but Wu Tang had no interest in admiring the scenery
9. but Wu Tang wasn't in the mountains to admire nature
10. so he waited

The mountains were splendid, 1 ___. He and his son spent a lot of time hunting in these mountains. Wu Tang was a dead shot with his bow and arrow, 2 ___. He was such a good shot that he barely had to aim. He just picked a target, pulled his bow, and shot it down. No animal was quick enough or agile enough to escape his arrows. Look, over there, a little fawn! A little fawn must be one of the most adorable animals in nature, 3 ___. As soon as he spotted it, he whipped an arrow out of his quiver and zoom! The fawn fell over dead. Then Wu noticed its mother a few feet away in the grass. He couldn't get a good shot at her from his angle, 4 ___. She was terribly sad about her little baby! She let out a cry 5 ___ . Just as she was concentrating on that, Wu pulled off a quick shot and the mother deer died on the spot.

But that wasn't enough for Wu. He thought there might be more deer in the area, 6 ___. There was at least one more in there, maybe two. "Three deer is better than two," he thought, 7 ___. Then he located the source of the sound and shot at a shadow in the grass. He was proud to hear the sound of another dead body falling to the ground, 8 ___! Deer don't groan like that! That was a human voice! Wu rushed over and saw that his third shot had killed not a deer, but his own son, who had come out hunting with him!

Wu was stupefied. He seemed to hear a voice telling him, "Wu Tang! Now do you know what it is like to see your baby shot to death with an arrow? Animals love their young 9 ___ . How much anguish have you caused animal parents!" Wu stood there, numb, too heartbroken to pay attention to a sound that came from the side. Then in a flash he realized that the other animal he had heard in the grass was not a deer, 10 ___! However, he was too late ...

ANSWERS:1-h / 2-a / 3-i / 4-j / 5-c / 6-e / 7-b / 8-g / 9-d / 10-f

The Lesson:Animals have feelings and should enjoy the same rights that humans do

Now for some quotes from famous people about animals and their rights. Invite the learners to each pick three questions that interest them to ask the person they are sitting next to, and then to report back what they find out to the rest of the class:

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. ~George Eliot. Is this the kind of friend you would like to have?

There can be no justification for causing suffering to animals simply to serve man's pleasure or simply to enhance man's lifestyle. ~ The Dean of York. When, if ever, can there be a justification for causing suffering to animas?

Animals are my friends, and I don't eat my friends ~ George Bernard Shaw (Irish literary Critic, Playwright and Essayist. 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature, 1856-1950). What is your attitude towards vegetarianism?

The kind man feeds his beast before sitting down to dinner. ~Hebrew Proverb. Do you?

Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet. ~Colette. Who would you regard as your perfect companion?

I have been studying the traits and dispositions of the "lower animals" (so called) and contrasting them with the traits and dispositions of man. I find the result humiliating to me. ~Mark Twain, Letters from the Earth, 1907. What, if anything, makes you ashamed to be a human being?

There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats. ~ Albert Schweitzer (German medical Missionary, Theologian, Musician and Philosopher. 1952 Nobel Peace Prize, 1875-1965). What do you consider your refuge from the miseries of life to be?

If it is indeed impossible - or at least very difficult - to inhabit the consciousness of an animal, then in writing about animals there is a temptation to project upon them feelings and thoughts that may belong only to our own human mind and heart. ~ J. M. Coetzee. Do animals actually have feelings and thoughts – what do you think?

It is inexcusable for scientists to torture animals; let them make their experiments on journalists and politicians. ~Henrik Ibsen. Who do you sometimes feel you would like to make experiments on, and why?

Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage. ~Sri Aurobindo. But are all lives of equal value – what do you think?

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated~ Mahatma Gandhi (Indian Philosopher, internationally esteemed for his doctrine of nonviolent protest, 1869-1948). How great is your nation if we judge it based on this statement?

Men! The only animal in the world to fear. ~ D.H. Lawrence (British Poet, Novelist and Essayist, 1885-1930). True or false – what do you think?

If you love animals called pets, why do you eat animals called dinner? ~As seen on a shirt at veganstore.com. Is it hypocritical to love animals while being a meat-eater at the same time – what do you think?

Time spent with cats is never wasted. ~ Sigmund Freud (Austrian neurologist and Founder of psychoanalysis, 1856-1939). What does spending time with cats do for you?

The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men. ~ Leonardo Da Vinci. Can you see this ever happening and would you like to see it happen – why or why not?

A human being is a part of the whole, called by us the 'Universe', a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security. ~ Albert Einstein. But how do we help people to widen their circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures?

There will be no justice as long as man will stand with a knife or with a gun and destroy those who are weaker than he is. ~Isaac Bashevis Singer. Some would say such destruction can be justified, in times of war for example. What do you think?

c. Deer and tiger

Working individually, in pairs or small groups (the choice is yours), fit the twelve sentence parts into the correct gaps in the parable so that it makes sense, and then decide what the “powerful lesson” is:

1. after several hours of desperate effort
2. although his body was wracked with pain and he was completely exhausted
3. as the others looked on in helpless grief
4. because they were as good as dead
5. since they were already as good as dead
6. so the two frogs began to jump with all of their might
7. to see what could be done to help their companions
8. if they had been more careful, more obedient to the froggy rules, and more responsible.
9. What he had perceived as encouragement
10. when he saw their gestures and shouting
11. when two of them fell into a deep pit
12. when we told you it was impossible?

A group of frogs were hopping contentedly through the woods, going about their froggy business, 1 ___. All of the other frogs gathered around the pit 2 ___. When they saw how deep the pit was, the rest of the dismayed group agreed that it was hopeless and told the two frogs in the pit that they should prepare themselves for their fate, 3 ___ . They were unwilling to accept this terrible fate though, 4 ___. Some of the frogs shouted into the pit that it was hopeless, and that the two frogs wouldn't be in that situation 5 ___. The other frogs continued sorrowfully shouting that they should save their energy and give up, 6 ___. The two frogs continued jumping as hard as they could, and 7 ___ were quite weary. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to the calls of his fellows. Spent and disheartened, he quietly resolved himself to his fate, lay down at the bottom of the pit, and died 8 ___. The other frog continued to jump with every ounce of energy he had, 9 ___. His companions began anew, yelling for him to accept his fate, stop the pain and just die. The weary frog jumped harder and harder and - wonder of wonders - finally leapt so high that he sprang from the pit. Amazed, the other frogs celebrated his miraculous freedom and then gathering around him asked, "Why did you continue jumping 10 ___" Reading their lips, the astonished frog explained to them that he was deaf, and that 11 ___, he thought they were cheering him on. 12 ___ inspired him to try harder and to succeed against all odds. This simple story contains a powerful lesson. …

ANSWERS: 1-k / 2-g / 3-d / 4-f / 5-h / 6-e / 7-a / 8-c / 9-b / 10-l / 11-j / 12-i

The Lesson: Your encouraging words can lift someone up and help them make it through the day. Your destructive words can cause deep wounds; they may be the weapons that destroy someone's desire to continue trying - or even their life. Your destructive, careless word can diminish someone in the eyes of others, destroy their influence and have a lasting impact on the way others respond to them.

Now for some quotes from famous people about animals and their rights. Invite the learners to each pick three questions that interest them to ask the person they are sitting next to, and then to report back what they find out to the rest of the class:

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. ~George Eliot. Is this the kind of friend you would like to have?

There can be no justification for causing suffering to animals simply to serve man's pleasure or simply to enhance man's lifestyle. ~ The Dean of York. When, if ever, can there be a justification for causing suffering to animas?

Animals are my friends, and I don't eat my friends ~ George Bernard Shaw (Irish literary Critic, Playwright and Essayist. 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature, 1856-1950). What is your attitude towards vegetarianism?

The kind man feeds his beast before sitting down to dinner. ~Hebrew Proverb. Do you?

Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet. ~Colette. Who would you regard as your perfect companion?

I have been studying the traits and dispositions of the "lower animals" (so called) and contrasting them with the traits and dispositions of man. I find the result humiliating to me. ~Mark Twain, Letters from the Earth, 1907. What, if anything, makes you ashamed to be a human being?

There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats. ~ Albert Schweitzer (German medical Missionary, Theologian, Musician and Philosopher. 1952 Nobel Peace Prize, 1875-1965). What do you consider your refuge from the miseries of life to be?

If it is indeed impossible - or at least very difficult - to inhabit the consciousness of an animal, then in writing about animals there is a temptation to project upon them feelings and thoughts that may belong only to our own human mind and heart. ~ J. M. Coetzee. Do animals actually have feelings and thoughts – what do you think?

It is inexcusable for scientists to torture animals; let them make their experiments on journalists and politicians. ~Henrik Ibsen. Who do you sometimes feel you would like to make experiments on, and why?

Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage. ~Sri Aurobindo. But are all lives of equal value – what do you think?

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated~ Mahatma Gandhi (Indian Philosopher, internationally esteemed for his doctrine of nonviolent protest, 1869-1948). How great is your nation if we judge it based on this statement?

Men! The only animal in the world to fear. ~ D.H. Lawrence (British Poet, Novelist and Essayist, 1885-1930). True or false – what do you think?

If you love animals called pets, why do you eat animals called dinner? ~As seen on a shirt at veganstore.com. Is it hypocritical to love animals while being a meat-eater at the same time – what do you think?

Time spent with cats is never wasted. ~ Sigmund Freud (Austrian neurologist and Founder of psychoanalysis, 1856-1939). What does spending time with cats do for you?

The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men. ~ Leonardo Da Vinci. Can you see this ever happening and would you like to see it happen – why or why not?

A human being is a part of the whole, called by us the 'Universe', a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security. ~ Albert Einstein. But how do we help people to widen their circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures?

There will be no justice as long as man will stand with a knife or with a gun and destroy those who are weaker than he is. ~Isaac Bashevis Singer. Some would say such destruction can be justified, in times of war for example. What do you think?

A Parable of Two Frogs

Working individually, in pairs or small groups (the choice is yours), fit the twelve sentence parts into the correct gaps in the parable so that it makes sense, and then decide what the “powerful lesson” is:

1. after several hours of desperate effort
2. although his body was wracked with pain and he was completely exhausted
3. as the others looked on in helpless grief
4. because they were as good as dead
5. since they were already as good as dead
6. so the two frogs began to jump with all of their might
7. to see what could be done to help their companions
8. if they had been more careful, more obedient to the froggy rules, and more responsible.
9. What he had perceived as encouragement
10. when he saw their gestures and shouting
11. when two of them fell into a deep pit
12. when we told you it was impossible?

A group of frogs were hopping contentedly through the woods, going about their froggy business, 1 ___. All of the other frogs gathered around the pit 2 ___. When they saw how deep the pit was, the rest of the dismayed group agreed that it was hopeless and told the two frogs in the pit that they should prepare themselves for their fate, 3 ___ . They were unwilling to accept this terrible fate though, 4 ___. Some of the frogs shouted into the pit that it was hopeless, and that the two frogs wouldn't be in that situation 5 ___. The other frogs continued sorrowfully shouting that they should save their energy and give up, 6 ___. The two frogs continued jumping as hard as they could, and 7 ___ were quite weary. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to the calls of his fellows. Spent and disheartened, he quietly resolved himself to his fate, lay down at the bottom of the pit, and died 8 ___. The other frog continued to jump with every ounce of energy he had, 9 ___. His companions began anew, yelling for him to accept his fate, stop the pain and just die. The weary frog jumped harder and harder and - wonder of wonders - finally leapt so high that he sprang from the pit. Amazed, the other frogs celebrated his miraculous freedom and then gathering around him asked, "Why did you continue jumping 10 ___" Reading their lips, the astonished frog explained to them that he was deaf, and that 11 ___, he thought they were cheering him on. 12 ___ inspired him to try harder and to succeed against all odds. This simple story contains a powerful lesson. …

ANSWERS: 1-k / 2-g / 3-d / 4-f / 5-h / 6-e / 7-a / 8-c / 9-b / 10-l / 11-j / 12-i

The Lesson: Your encouraging words can lift someone up and help them make it through the day. Your destructive words can cause deep wounds; they may be the weapons that destroy someone's desire to continue trying - or even their life. Your destructive, careless word can diminish someone in the eyes of others, destroy their influence and have a lasting impact on the way others respond to them.

The Animal Zodiac: Your Chinese Horoscope

Fill in the gaps with the correct prefixes or suffixes, and then decide how typical you are of your sign:

People born in the year of the RAT are blessed with great person___ charm. The Rat is adapt___, aggressive, and creative. Rat people are ___working, thrift___, and can save a lot of money. They are elegant by nature and strive for the better things in life. Bright and gregarious, rat's intellect___ versatility is not always immediately recognized. Rat people make good business people, account___, and bankers.

Ideal Partner: Dragon and Monkey

Rat Years: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020

The OX is quiet, steadfast, method___ and can tolerate difficulties. Ox people are ___working and down to earth. They are exception___ clever and creative with their hands. In business, the ox often brings prosper___, not through entrepreneurial imagination and risk, but as a result of logical thought, resolute practical___, and honest endurance. Ox people should seek their fortune as a surgeon, dentist, architect, tailor, or technician.

Ideal Partner: Rat, Rooster, or Snake

Ox years: 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021

The TIGER is a born leader, fiercely competitive, and never afraid to fight. Tigers often get into difficult and hazard___ situations because they live danger___. Narrow-mind___ and suspicious___ are their great___ faults. Their careers exemplify them as deep thinkers and careful plan___. Tigers are likely to succeed in sales, person___ management. They can be good military leaders, supervisors, teachers, firemen, or police officers.

Ideal Partner: Horse, Dragon, or Dog

Tiger Years: 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022

RABBIT people are happy, gifted, refined and ambitious. They also know how to draw others' attention and are great mix___ in any social gather___. The typical Rabbit will be submissive, even humble, in a constant effort to avoid confront___. Rabbit is an excel___judge of character, with an instinct for recognizing sincerity in others and an almost uncanny ability for sensing false___. Hare people make wonderful reception___, publicists, stock___, and pharmacists.

Ideal Partner: Ram, Dog, Boar

Rabbit years: 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023

The DRAGON symbol___ life, grow___, and brings bless___ of long___, virtue and harmony. Dragon people are born extroverts, their opinions and ideas are worth listening to since their advice is usually the best. Elegant and with a good eye for spotting the latest trends, Dragon people are always to the ___front of the fashion scene. Blessed with rich imagination, the Dragon always comes up with exotic ideas for new ventures. a Dragon should choose a career as artist, doctor, or architect.

Ideal Partner: Rat, Monkey, Rooster

Dragon years: 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024

Those born under the sign of the SNAKE are romantic, passion___, charm___ and ___ informed. Snakes are intellectuals, philosophers, and deep think___. They strive to succeed in all that they do. They are extremely ___-critical. Snake person___ often make their way to the top. They___sure that they are in the right place at the right time, which means when the right people are there as well. Snake people should seek their fortunes as professors, writers, philosophers, or psychiatrists.

Ideal Partner: Dragon, Dog

Snake years: 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025

HORSE year people are popular and ___working. They have financially sound minds and are adept at handling money matters. Whether male or female, Horse person___ feel more comfort___ in the company of their own kind. They are ___dependent and ___-willed individuals who never take advice. Horse people should choose a field as a dentist, financier, banker, or politician.

Ideal Partner: Tiger, Ram

Horse years: 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026

RAM people are elegant, charming, generous, wise and gentle. They are also pessimists, hesitant, and ___-anxious worriers. Uncertainty causes the Ram people to seek guidance from others while their timid___ prevents them from becoming great lead___. They are deeply religious and highly talented in the fields of art and music. Ram people are likely to be success___ as land___ gardeners, actors, artists, entertain___, music___, or photographers.

Ideal Partner: Boar, Horse

Ram Years: 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027

The MONKEYS are mischievous and vain. Their most prized character___ are origin___, creativity, and education. People adore Monkeys for their wit, impress___ intelligence, and know___ of world affairs. Older and wiser Monkeys are able to channel their energetic and rich imaginations into the solving of complex problems. Monkey people have a tend___ to do well in professions such as business, trade, law, stocks, industry and politics.

Ideal Partner: Dragon, Rat

Monkey Years: 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028

The ROOSTERS people are industrious, diligent, and devoted to their work, which makes them ideal employ___. They love to travel because of their courage___ and adventurous spirit and nothing seems to fright___ them. They are deep think___, but can often be eccentric. They are not at all shy and have an annoy___ tend___ to exaggerate and to be boast___. Rooster people make good travel and public relation agents, dentists, surgeons, cooks, or beauticians.

Ideal Partner: Ox, Snake

Rooster Years: 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029

People born in the year of the DOG are honest, loyal, and have animpress___ sense of duty. Their ___-average intelligence and industrious nature make them particular___ good leaders in the business world. Dog people are usually steady workers, and they can easily become both trusted and valued members of any community. Their attributes make them effect___ in senior manage___ roles, and they also make success___ priests, doctors, writers or scientists.

Ideal Partner: Horse, Tiger

Dog Years: 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030

By nature, BOARS are peace-___, trust___, and sincere. People born in the year of the Boar will be lucky and success___ in handling money, business and academic matters. They have a deep desire for know___ and are generally well informed. Boars are the finish___, they are the ones who put the finish___ touches to a project. Boars are suited to be doctors, bank___, business___, scientists and entertainers.

Ideal Partner: Rabbit, Ram

Boar Years: 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031

ANSWERS

People born in the year of the RAT are blessed with great person al charm. The Rat is adapt able, aggressive, and creative. Rat people are hardworking, thrift y, and can save a lot of money. They are elegant by nature and strive for the better things in life. Bright and gregarious, rat's intellect ual versatility is not always immediately recognized. Rat people make good business people, account ants, and bankers.

The OX is quiet, steadfast, method ical and can tolerate difficulties. Ox people are hardworking and down to earth. They are exception ally clever and creative with their hands. In business, the ox often brings prosper ity, not through entrepreneurial imagination and risk, but as a result of logical thought, resolute practical ity, and honest endurance. Ox people should seek their fortune as a surgeon, dentist, architect, tailor, or technician.

The TIGER is a born leader, fiercely competitive, and never afraid to fight. Tigers often get into difficult and hazard ous situations because they live danger ously. Narrow-mind edness and suspicious ness are their great est faults. Their careers exemplify them as deep thinkers and careful plan ners. Tigers are likely to succeed in sales, person nel management. They can be good military leaders, supervisors, teachers, firemen, or police officers.

RABBIT people are happy, gifted, refined and ambitious. They also know how to draw others' attention and are great mix ers in any social gather ings. The typical Rabbit will be submissive, even humble, in a constant effort to avoid confront ations. Rabbit is an excel lent judge of character, with an instinct for recognizing sincerity in others and an almost uncanny ability for sensing false hood. Hare people make wonderful reception ists, publicists, stock brokers, and pharmacists.

The DRAGON symbol izes life, grow th, and brings bless ings of long evity, virtue and harmony. Dragon people are born extroverts, their opinions and ideas are worth listening to since their advice is usually the best. Elegant and with a good eye for spotting the latest trends, Dragon people are always to the forefront of the fashion scene. Blessed with rich imagination, the Dragon always comes up with exotic ideas for new ventures. a Dragon should choose a career as artist, doctor, or architect.

Those born under the sign of the SNAKE are romantic, passion ate, charm ing and well informed. Snakes are intellectuals, philosophers, and deep think ers. They strive to succeed in all that they do. They are extremely self-critical. Snake person alities often make their way to the top. They ensure that they are in the right place at the right time, which means when the right people are there as well. Snake people should seek their fortunes as professors, writers, philosophers, or psychiatrists.

HORSE year people are popular and hardworking. They have financially sound minds and are adept at handling money matters. Whether male or female, Horse person alities feel more comfort able in the company of their own kind. They are independent and self-willed individuals who never take advice. Horse people should choose a field as a dentist, financier, banker, or politician.

RAM people are elegant, charming, generous, wise and gentle. They are also pessimists, hesitant, and over-anxious worriers. Uncertainty causes the Ram people to seek guidance from others while their timid ity prevents them from becoming great lead ers. They are deeply religious and highly talented in the fields of art and music. Ram people are likely to be success ful as land scapegardeners, actors, artists, entertain ers, music ians, or photographers.

The MONKEYS are mischievous and vain. Their most prized character istics are origin ality, creativity, and education. People adore Monkeys for their wit, impress ive intelligence, and know ledge of world affairs. Older and wiser Monkeys are able to channel their energetic and rich imaginations into the solving of complex problems. Monkey people have a tend ency to do well in professions such as business, trade, law, stocks, industry and politics.

The ROOSTERS people are industrious, diligent, and devoted to their work, which makes them ideal employ ees. They love to travel because of their courage ous and adventurous spirit and nothing seems to fright en them. They are deep think ers, but can often be eccentric. They are not at all shy and have an annoy ing tend encyto exaggerate and to be boast ful. Rooster people make good travel and public relation agents, dentists, surgeons, cooks, or beauticians.

People born in the year of the DOG are honest, loyal, and have animpress ive sense of duty. Their above-average intelligence and industrious nature make them particular lygood leaders in the business world. Dog people are usually steady workers, and they can easily become both trusted and valued members of any community. Their attributes make them effect ive in senior manage ment roles, and they also make success fulpriests, doctors, writers or scientists.

By nature, BOARS are peace- loving, trust worthy, and sincere. People born in the year of the Boar will be lucky and success ful in handling money, business and academic matters. They have a deep desire for know ledge and are generally well informed. Boars are the finish ers, they are the ones who put the finish ing touches to a project. Boars are suited to be doctors, bank ers, business men, scientists and entertainers.

Michael Berman's published work includes The Power of Metaphor for Crown House, The Nature of Shamanism and the Shamanic Story for Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Shamanic Journeys through the Caucasus and Shamanic Journeys, Shamanic Stories for O-Books, Journeys outside Time for Pendraig Publishing, and Tales of Power for Lear Books. A Bridge to the Other Side: Death in the Folk Tradition and Georgia through Earth, Fire, Air and Water are both due to be published by Moon Books in 2012. ELT publications include A Multiple Intelligences Road to an ELT Classroom, In a Faraway Land (a resource book for teachers on storytelling), On Business and for Pleasure (a self-study workbook), and English Language Teaching Matters, written with Mojca Belak and Wayne Rimmer. For more information please visit www.Thestoryteller.org.uk, E-mail: berman.michael@rocketmail.com

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being not at all afraid and 10 highly afraid, rate yourfear of the following:

Death
Snakes
Ridicule
Illness
Failure
High places
Other people
Mice or rats
The unknown
Darkness

If you are like most people, youwill say that you are most afraid of death and snakes and least afraid of darknessand other people. But how self-aware are you really, and are you being honest with yourself?

Fears

We can travel in this world of course, but we can also travel in other worlds or realities, in dreams for example. Our fears can totally control our lives and limit what we do with them. However, some maintain that by attacking our fears first in non-ordinary reality, through guided visualisation like athletes and sports people, or by making use of shamanic techniques, we will then be more able to deal with them in this reality.

In Andrew’s case, he attempted to do so through his artwork, with paintings set in exotic tropical locations, full of voluptuous women bound to trees with ropes, and at the mercy of wild animals. Andrew’s fears included not only establishing relationships with women but also the idea of flying anywhere. He even felt unable to cross the Channel by boat and so spent every holiday he had in Scotland instead, visiting his family there.

I tried to persuade him to be more adventurous in various ways, suggesting his travels might give him new inspiration for his artwork and pointing out flying was no longer the ordeal it once had been, with no more enormous air pockets to contend with as had been the case in the past,in planes with propellers. But his answer was that there was so much to explore in Scotland that it would take a lifetimeso there was no need to travel further afield.

As for helping him to find a partner, I would arrange threesomes, but despite assuring me that he genuinely wanted to meet someone to have a relationship with, he wouldinvariably spend the whole time ignoring them and talking to me instead. It was a delicate issue and I asked him once what the problem was, but he replied it was complicated and did not want to go into iteven though we had been the closest of friends for twenty years. And if he felt unable to tell me, his very best friend, who could he share his problems with? In any case, as the women found his lack of interest rude, I gave up in the end and just had to accept the situation as it was.

Personalising

The Aunt version

bio in other version

It is quite a long journey by car from Tbilisi to Batumi, especially when the main road is flooded and, as a result, many detours were required that particular year after the early summer rains. The problem was exacerbated further by the fact the taxi we hired ran on gas. Gas filling stations were few and far between and detours were needed to find these along the way too. And all this took place in a temperature of 40 degrees, with us all cramped together in a totally unsuitable vehicle with no air conditioning, hired on the cheap through a friend of a friend.

Apart from the driver with his shiny bald head, fake Ray Ban sunglasses, and the body odour of someone who had clearly not washed for several days, there was me, Keti, Keti'sneice, Keti's mother and the Aunt.

Whether she was a real aunt or not I never did find out. All I knew was that nobody wanted her, even her own daughter, that she had spent her whole life being passed from pillar to post as a result, and in this way had become yet another in the long line of "relatives" who lived off the kindness of Keti and her family. These included a single middle-aged neighbour who called himself a philosopher but who had never had a real job in his life, and an emaciated tragic-looking "poet" who had never actually had any poetry published but who would come around at mealtimes to be fed. By far the main drain on the extremely limited and never sufficient financial resources of the family was the aunt though, so let me stop digressing and, however unpleasant recollecting my journey with her might be, force myself to get back to her again.

It had been decided that as my taxi was being paid for by the authorities in Batumi, who had invited me to give a week of workshops to teachers at the university there, it made sense for the family to use the opportunity to go on a vacation together for the very first time since Keti's father had passed away. As for the aunt, it was the first time she had ever been to the seaside, and I have no doubt it ended up being the very only time too.

She was one of those old women who insist on kissing you whenever you meet, and you end up getting covered with lipstick and greasy make-up all over your face. And however hard you tried to avoid it, she would always find a way of getting you somehow. She would also always find a way of using me in particular as a "crying board", availing herself of every opportunity she could to cry all over me. But why me, given my surely very obvious aversion to her charms, and what the crying was about, God only knows. And though I always made a point of positioning myself as far away from her as I possibly could, she would always find a way of countering that somehow.

By far the worst of the "ten plagues" we were smitten with on that journey though, was the travel sickness. Her vomiting was virtually constant, from a few minutes after we all set off until about seven hours later when we finally arrived. And once she started, she set Keti's mother off so they were both at it. Consequently, the driver had to keep stopping to let them out of the car, where they could continue their performances freely and uninterrupted. Poor man, for whom time was money, needed the patience of a saint to put up with all this, but with typical Georgian politeness he somehow managed. At least it seemed to be so, but inside God only knows what he must have been experiencing.

As for me, as you must surely be aware of by now, I have no such patience. My only contribution was to suggest if she really felt so ill, we should drive her to the nearest mainline station, put her on a train, and send her back home again which, as you can imagine did not go down too well. How could I possibly be so heartless towards the poor woman?And so I had no choice but to grit my teeth and bear it.

There was, at the same time, yet another way she found to turn everyone's journey into a nightmare - the portable blood pressure monitors. I use the plural as she appeared to make use of at least three different models, to ensure greater accuracy no doubt. These were brought out, like rabbits from a magician's top hat, every five minutes or so. Apparently she took them wherever she went. And this resulted in further stops so measurements could be taken, noted down, and compared. The reality was that any problem she might have had, though none had actually ever been diagnosed, were undoubtedly caused by the cakes she was constantly stuffing herself with.

Finally, though God only knows how, we reached our destination, our Promised Land, and all piled out of the car - stiff, hot, and sweaty - where we all headed for an ice cold drink of Borjomi, the Georgian mineral water, in the nearest bar. The aunt's first move though, as usual, was to look for my shoulder to cry on. She spoke no English so whatever I said to her made no difference. And what I did actually say to her on that occasion, outside the earshot of the others of course, is unrepeatable but made me feel a lot better at least.

They say we can choose our friends but not our family. Working in pairs or small groups,tell each other about members of your family who get or have got on your nerves for one reason or another, and explain what it is that annoys you so much about their behaviour.

Aunt

It is quite a long journey by car from Tbilisi to Batumi, especially when the main road is flooded and, as a result, many detours were required that particular year after the early summer rains. The problem was exacerbated further by the fact the taxi we hired ran on gas. Gas filling stations were few and far between and detours were needed to find these along the way too. And all this took place in a temperature of 40 degrees, with us all cramped together in a totally unsuitable vehicle with no air conditioning, hired on the cheap through a friend of a friend.

Apart from the driver with his shiny bald head, fake Ray Ban sunglasses, and the body odour of someone who had clearly not washed for several days, there was me, Keti, Keti's neice, Keti's mother and the Aunt.

Whether she was a real aunt or not I never did find out. All I knew was that nobody wanted her, even her own daughter, that she had spent her whole life being passed from pillar to post as a result, and in this way had become yet another in the long line of "relatives" who lived off the kindness of Keti and her family. These included a single middle-aged neighbour who called himself a philosopher but who had never had a real job in his life, and an emaciated tragic-looking "poet" who had never actually had any poetry published but who would come around at mealtimes to be fed. By far the main drain on the extremely limited and never sufficient financial resources of the family was the aunt though, so let me stop digressing and, however unpleasant recollecting my journey with her might be, force myself to get back to her again.

It had been decided that as my taxi was being paid for by the authorities in Batumi, who had invited me to give a week of workshops to teachers at the university there, it made sense for the family to use the opportunity to go on a vacation together for the very first time since Keti's father had passed away. As for the aunt, it was the first time she had ever been to the seaside, and I have no doubt it ended up being the very only time too.

She was one of those old women who insist on kissing you whenever you meet, and you end up getting covered with lipstick and greasy make-up all over your face. And however hard you tried to avoid it, she would always find a way of getting you somehow. She would also always find a way of using me in particular as a "crying board", availing herself of every opportunity she could to cry all over me. But why me, given my surely very obvious aversion to her charms, and what the crying was about, God only knows. And though I always made a point of positioning myself as far away from her as I possibly could, she would always find a way of countering that somehow.

By far the worst of the "ten plagues" we were smitten with on that journey though, was the travel sickness. Her vomiting was virtually constant, from a few minutes after we all set off until about seven hours later when we finally arrived. And once she started, she set Keti's mother off so they were both at it. Consequently, the driver had to keep stopping to let them out of the car, where they could continue their performances freely and uninterrupted. Poor man, for whom time was money, needed the patience of a saint to put up with all this, but with typical Georgian politeness he somehow managed. At least it seemed to be so, but inside God only knows what he must have been experiencing.

As for me, as you must surely be aware of by now, I have no such patience. My only contribution was to suggest if she really felt so ill, we should drive her to the nearest mainline station, put her on a train, and send her back home again which, as you can imagine did not not go down too well. How could I possibly be so heartless towards the poor woman, and so I had no choice but to grit my teeth and bear it.

There was, at the same time, yet another way she found to turn everyone's journey into a nightmare - the portable blood pressure monitors. I use the plural as she appeared to make use of at least three different models, to ensure greater accuracy no doubt. These were brought out, like rabbits from a magician's top hat, every five minutes or so. Apparently she took them wherever she went. And this resulted in further stops so measurements could be taken, noted down, and compared. The reality was that any problem she might have had, though none had actually ever been diagnosed, were undoubtedly caused by the cakes she was constantly stuffing herself with.

Finally, though God only knows how, we reached our destination, our Promised Land, and all piled out of the car - stiff, hot, and sweaty - where we all headed for an ice cold drink of Borjomi, the Georgian mineral water, in the nearest bar. The aunt's first move though, as usual, was to look for my shoulder to cry on. She spoke no English so whatever I said to her made no difference. And what I did actually say to her on that occasion, outside the earshot of the others of course, is unrepeatable but made me feel a lot better at least.

They say we can choose our friends but not our family. Working in pairs or small groups. Tell each other about members of your family who get or have got on your nerves for one reason or another, and explain what it is that annoys you so much about their behaviour.

***

Michael Berman’s published work includes The Power of Metaphor by Crown House, The Nature of Shamanism and the Shamanic Storyby Cambridge Scholars Publishing, as well as Shamanic Journeys through the Caucasus and Shamanic Journeys Shamanic Stories by O-Books. Journeys outside Time can be obtained from Pendraig Publishing, and Tales of Power from Lear Books, A Bridge to the Other Side: Death in the Folk Tradition and Georgia through Earth, Fire, Air and Water were published by Moon Books in 2012, and Sacred Mountains by Mandrake in 2013. ELT publications include A Multiple Intelligences Road to an ELT Classroom, In a Faraway Land (a resource book for teachers on storytelling), On Business and for Pleasure (a self-study workbook), and English Language Teaching Matters, written with Mojca Belak and Wayne Rimmer. For more information please visit www.Thestoryteller.org.uk, E-mail: berman.michael@rocketmail.com