Danielle Free
One day, while wrapped in gorse and cold air on top of an ancient hillfort in Shropshire, a key fell from the sky and landed in Danielle's ear. "Remember" it whispered, and it turned. Clunk. All the voices of those long passed started seeping through the damp grass, and the longer Danielle listened, the more the noise became a song. A beautiful song sung by all the people the world has ever held. In that moment, Danielle's world was never the same again.
Events
Wild Gods
Grey Wolf Story Cafe, The Globe, Hay-on-Wye
7pm - 9pm
Come and join us for a wild night out with the Greek Gods, Pan and Dionysus, for the March instalment of the Grey Wolf Story Cafe.Watch as Storytellers Danielle Free and Marcus Pibworth weave together the chaotic tales of the panic inducing wild god, Pan, and the wine soaked god of festivity, ecstasy and ritual madness, Dionysus.
Past events
Folklore in the Library
Saturday 8th January 2025, Shrewsbury Library, 1pm - 1:30pm
Free event, just turn up!
Winter Tales in the Library
Saturday 7th December, Shrewsbury Library, 1pm - 1:30pm
Free event, just turn up!
About
. storyteller . writer . researcher .
Danielle is a traditional oral storyteller devoted to uncovering the voices of lesser-known historical women, breathing life into their stories, and weaving them into the present. Her research and performances celebrate the courage and complexity of these figures, ensuring their legacies are no longer whispers but resounding echoes.With an MA in Celtic Studies, Danielle’s fascination with oral tradition and Celtic history runs deep. Her dissertation on the representation of Celtic women laid the foundation for her first major show, 'The Conditions for Courage (2025)', which spotlights the bravery and resilience of women throughout history. While she adores whimsical myths and enchanting folktales, it is the voices of forgotten historical women that call to her most strongly, urging her to give them their place in the narrative once more.As well as her Masters, Danielle also has a BA Hons in English Literature and Media Studies. She's an Assistant Writer for Spark Young Writers (Writing West Midlands) and is a prize winning writer - her short story, A Jacket Full of Pockets, won the 'Birmingham City University Future Writers presents Benjamin Zephaniah' competition. Danielle's flash fiction piece, Blushing, will also be published in Broken Spine's LGBTQIA+ anthology in June 2025.
This passion for history blends with her deep connection to myth, a realm where shamanic perspectives and ancient wisdom intertwine. Having lived much of her life with an animist approach, Danielle devoted three intense years to ritual practise and connection with the flora, fauna, and fungi of her land which she embodies now on a regular basis. Through storytelling, she shares the wisdom of the oak, the song of the stream, and the stories of those who don't want to be forgotten.
I've been giving reiki 'professionally' for the last 5 years but I made the shift last year to pursue my love of storytelling & writing in favour of my work as a Reiki Practitioner. I ran a successful business called Feel Free Healing where I hosted events and saw clients 1:1 for reiki appointments.Magic still seeps from my fingertips and I'm reluctant to fully let this part of myself go, which is why I've dedicated a page on this here new website for any past clients or new folks who would like to book a session with me.
Reiki
I have been taught the Usui Shiki Ryoho method of Reiki and this is the foundation of all my energy healing treatments. My own technique focuses a lot on intuition and brings in Shamanic* elements, which allows me to be with your guides & ancestors to create a healing that is so powerful and unique to you. I'm now working on incorporating story into these appointments: Stories offer us so much medicine that I believe being told a story (that I think is relevant to you) whilst receiving reiki would not only increase relaxation, but help us to understand ourselves in a much deeper & richer way.The energy healing I offer can benefit your mental & spiritual wellbeing, including:
Anxiety/depression
Fear
Grief
General relaxationTogether, we find the root cause of the problem and go from there. Of course I would always recommend seeking help from a medical professional too, but my sessions can be complementary to this.
* The term 'shamanic' doesn't sit overly comfortably with me. A lot of Western people use it flippantly without really having any depth knowledge about it and/or the otherworlds it takes you to. However, currently I can't find a better word to use instead. Perhaps 'animist' comes close. I work with the lands I am from (England & Wales) and use practices native to the Celtic Isles to connect with nature and what I'd call the 'otherworld'. However, I think storytelling is akin to this too & I fully believe in the power of story to transport us to the places we need to go to find the medicine we need right now, as individuals and a collective. This is why for me, there is a blurred line between the work I did at Feel Free Healing, and the work I do as a storyteller.
For more information, please get in touch with me via my 'Contact' page.
storytelling
Over the last couple of years, Danielle has trained with many well known and professional storytellers, such as Michael Harvey, Angharad Wynne, and Ben Haggarty. Though, Danielle believes her greatest teachers are her audience: whether that's a library full of children, a lecture hall full of university students, a houseful of friends, or of course the crows, hawthorn, stream sprites and grassy goblins of the land.Danielle has a collection of stories of the women who once spun wool, wielded weapons, sang poetry to their enemies, loved deeply, shapeshifted, defied societal norms, found bravery when there was little left, rode goats instead of horses, lied for their sisters, were collectively cunning, united communities, screeched at the seas and danced under the mistletoe.
These stories are all true.
EDUCATION
Danielle uses her experience within academia to research and rediscover the true stories of people of our past - our ancient ancestors. These stories are perfect within an educational setting and can be adapted to suit audiences from age 8 to 18+.Half and full day workshops and storytelling performances are available and can suit your needs. Danielle promises to get your class excited about history, geography and sociology using storytelling and fun, interactive & engaging exercises and activities. Danielle has plenty of experience working with children in educational environments.
Contact
I'm attempting to move away from using social media quite so much, but I'd still love to curate a brilliant space where we can talk and keep in touch. Please consider joining my mailing list where you'll periodically be sent updates, musings and offers.
Please email me at: [email protected]
and consider subscribing to my Substack via the button below.