The Fireside
A MONTHLY ONLINE STORY CIRCLE
anyone standing at a threshold.
Next gathering: 19 January 2027, 7 pm UK time, on Zoom. 90 minutes.
Free, or pay what you can
Some seasons of life ask more of us than others.
A job ends. Children leave. A parent dies. A marriage changes shape. Or simply, quietly, the life that fitted no longer does.
For thousands of years, people have gathered around fires at times like these to hear stories. Not to be told what to do, but to find their own lives reflected back in the old images.
Once a month, I light a candle and tell one myth or traditional tale. Then we sit with it together. You might share what it stirred in you, or you might simply listen. Both are welcome.
Some seasons of life ask more of us than others.
Each gathering follows the same gentle shape, so you always know where you are.
Lighting the fire:
A warm welcome, a candle lit, and a few quiet breaths to arrive.
The telling:
I tell the story aloud. You simply listen, and notice what catches you.
A few minutes of quiet:
Time to let a word, an image or a moment from the story settle.
Around the fire:
Open reflection on where the story meets your own life. Speak, write in the chat, or listen.
A thread to carry:
We close by gathering one or two images to take with you into the month ahead.
Who it is for
Anyone standing at a crossing point in life. Perhaps midlife, retirement, bereavement, the end of a marriage or a career, the children leaving home, or a change you can’t yet name.
You don’t need to know anything about myths, and you don’t need to speak. Men and women are equally welcome. Come once, or come every month.
THIS MONTH’S STORY
The Descent of Inanna
An ancient Sumerian tale of a queen who goes down into the underworld and must give up everything at its seven gates. A story for anyone who is being asked to let something go.
19 January 2027, 7 pm UK time
Three agreements
We speak these at the start of every gathering. They are what make the circle a safe place to be.
What is shared stays by the fire:
Nothing is recorded, and nothing personal is repeated outside the circle.
Speak from your own life:
We speak to the story, rather than advising or analysing each other.
Passing is welcome:
Listening is a full way to take part.
The practical bits.
When:
Monthly, on 19 January 2027, 7 pm UK time. 90 minutes.
Where:
Online, on Zoom. The link arrives by email when you book.
Cost:
Free, or pay what you can. Free places are always available. Contributions help keep the fire lit.
On camera?:
Entirely up to you. Many people light a candle at home and sit with their camera on or off.
Questions people ask
Do I have to speak?
No. Some people share every month, some never do. Listening is a full way to take part, and you can write in the chat if you prefer.
Do I need to know anything about myths?
Not at all. The stories are told from the beginning, and there are no right answers about what they mean.
Can I just come once?
Of course. Each gathering stands on its own. Many people find they like to return as the year turns.
What if I’m going through something hard right now?
You are very welcome. The circle is a place to be met, not fixed. If you need more personal support, I’m happy to talk about what might help.
Your Host
Paul Barker
I’m a Life Transitions Guide and Mentor. My work draws on myth, story and rites of passage to help people find meaning in times of change.
The Fireside is the simplest form of that work: an old story, told aloud, and a little room to hear what it says about where you are now.
Join me at the Fireside
Next gathering: 19 January 2027, 7 pm UK time, on Zoom.
Free, or pay what you can
If a story touches something you’d like to explore more personally,
I also offer a 90-minute Foundation Session. Book a session here