Links | Books | Downloads | Resources

This stunning piece was written by Colm Campbell, ably inspired by his team of Maxine and Tim on "Metaphor Day" on the INLPTA Practitioner course. It is a classic in the isomorphic style.

Thank you all.

The Originator

Many, many lives ago the Originator became aware of a lack within his people, and within himself. They had no story, and without a story they were stagnating and unhappy and had no purpose in their lives other than their day to day survival. The Originator realised that unless one of the tribe could find a story this unhappy state could continue forever.

The Originator decided that he would be the one to set out into the wilderness on a journey of discovery, in a great quest to find a story that he could bring back to save his people from misery and stagnation.

He set out on his quest bringing only those things that he could comfortably carry to help him on the way. He traveled through the wilderness for some time forever searching for the story that would allow him to return to the comfort of his tribe but the wilderness was bare of anything that he thought might be a story. He was sitting on a rock on a hillside resting wondering if he would ever find a story when he saw a mother bird teaching it's chick to fly. He watched as the young chick struggled time and time again until finally it took to the air, swooping and soaring above the trees. The young chicks success gave the Originator hope and he resolved to continue his journey.

Further along on his travels the Originator was confronted by a large fearsome monster which challenged him, saying that he could only continue his journey if he could defeat the beast. The Originator was afraid to fight this monster thinking that he would surely be defeated and he prepared to return to his people, when he realised the shame that he would feel if he returned having failed in his quest. It was this thought that spurred him on to accept the challenge of the fearsome beast. Long they fought and many were the wounds that they inflicted on each other but eventually the beast slunk away in defeat and the Originator was victorious. He rested then, treating his wounds and reflecting on his victory feeling a new sense inner strength and fresh resolve to continue his quest.

Later in his travels the Originator came to a great range of mountains which, he realised , he would have to cross. The mountains were daunting and the climb was very difficult. The Originator struggled for days on the climb, being battered by wind and rain, sleet and snow before finally he reached the top of the mountains and fell to the ground exhausted. When he awoke the next morning the wind had calmed to a gentle breeze and the sun rose allowing to see the full majesty of the landscape before him. He gazed in awe at the wondrous sight of the world spread out all around him reaching from horizon to horizon. Never before had he seen anything so beautiful.

He spent many hours there admiring the beauty of the landscape and contemplating his journey. Finally, reluctant as he was to leave this place of peace and serenity, he felt the need to return to the companionship of his people, for he realised that even if he found a story he may not recognise it or even be able to carry it back through the wilderness to his people. He had many other struggles and challenges on his journey but finally he returned to the land where his people d welled and was cheered by their welcome.

That evening the people prepared a magnificent feast in celebration of his safe return. They clamored for the Originator to show them the story he had sought for so long. The Originator was reluctant to admit his failure to find a story and so he began to tell his people of the events that had occurred on his journey. As he told the people of these events he sensed new understandings growing both within himself and within his people. It was only through recounting the description of the challenges on his journey that the Originator realised that in setting out to seek the story he had become part of the process of creating the story and finally he smiled for he realised that his long difficult journey had been a success after all for he had found his story.