Bee Bread is my forthcoming book about how the hive of story listening and storytelling heals the world. In its pages, I reweave the west using its two most militantly trusted figures, Emperor Constantine and Sir Isaac Newton.

By flipping these two pieces on the sacred gameboard, I flip all the others because everything has two faces, and once we catch on, intellect sees one face while imagination intuits the other. The challenge lies in getting curious enough to find what’s hidden.

Storytelling, through a chain of intentional and insidious actions, has been hidden from us. The body part that facilitates our unique healing processes, The Tree of Storytelling, has been hidden from us.

The process by which human wisdom evolves one generation after another through the wisdom of our stories and those of our elders has been hidden from us.

The metaphors of fermentation and alchemy that enable us to find meaning and reconciliation of our conflicts have been hidden from us.

Our single most life-giving body part has been hidden from us.

All that makes like sacred, meaningful, and beautiful has been hidden from us.

Here is the preface:

Preface

Stories sustain us. They heal, connect, and illuminate the unseen pathways that shape our lives. In Bee Bread: How the Hive of Story Listening and Telling Heals the World, Laura Hope-Gill invites us into a world where storytelling is more than an art—it is a vital force that nurtures individuals and communities alike. Through the lens of narrative medicine, expressive writing, and the ancient alchemy of storytelling, she weaves a compelling case for the transformative power of stories in health, culture, and the very fabric of human existence.

The book’s title, Bee Bread, draws inspiration from an Appalachian tradition of leaving a portion of the honeycomb in the hive for the bees. This act of generosity ensures the colony’s survival through lean times. Likewise, stories function as sustenance for the human spirit, carrying wisdom and resilience across generations. Laura, both a storyteller and a scholar, explores this profound parallel, showing how the ancient practice of oral storytelling finds new relevance in contemporary medicine, psychology, and personal healing.

At its heart, Bee Bread is a journey—one that traverses time and disciplines, from Indigenous storytelling traditions to the contemporary field of narrative medicine. Laura seamlessly blends personal memoir, cultural history, and scientific research, demonstrating how stories rewire our brains, rebuild our communities, and restore our sense of belonging. She delves into the intersection of creativity and neuroscience, revealing how storytelling reshapes memory, emotion, and even our physical health.

Yet, Bee Bread is not merely about storytelling; it is about storylistening. In a world increasingly dominated by digital noise and fragmented attention, Laura reminds us of the power of deep, attentive listening—how it fosters empathy, counteracts burnout, and serves as a bridge between people, cultures, and even generations. She challenges us to recognize storytelling not just as entertainment but as a sacred practice capable of transforming individuals and healing societal wounds.

In these pages, you will encounter stories of resilience, loss, renewal, and the unexpected magic that emerges when we truly engage with one another. Whether you are a healthcare provider seeking deeper connections with patients, an artist exploring the roots of creativity, or simply a seeker of meaning in a chaotic world, Bee Bread offers a nourishing feast for the mind and soul.

Let this book be the honeycomb left behind—the sustenance you can return to whenever you need wisdom, healing, or inspiration. The stories within are waiting, ready to work their alchemy on you.

Laura Hope-Gill has gathered the pollen from many flowers, and the result is both sweet and sustaining. May Bee Bread nourish you, as it has so many others, in the timeless tradition of storytelling and listening.

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Adjunct Professor of Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry                                                                                                       

Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University                 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania                                                                                           February 2025