Storytelling from the Heart
Welcome to the HiYB Storytelling Space.
Stories that weave together mindfulness, wellbeing, Buddhist myth, personal experience
and the messy, tender, sometimes hilarious
business of being human.
Whether it’s navigating compassion fatigue, pain, heartbreak or the chaos of modern life —our stories are invitations to breathe, laugh, and reconnect - to take a break from the pain of life.
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​​​​​We've presented stories at the Storytelling Hut, Emerson College and in small rooms full of big heart,​​
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Upcoming events include The Oxford Storytelling Festival,​​​​​
🧡 “A new way to relieve pain - space to breath through laughter and engagement in stories.” - Audience member
About Anna
Anna has found her way, through blood, sweat, tears and laughter, to becoming a (mostly) happy, healthy human being. Hallelujah!
She is passionate about sharing what she has learned on life’s adventure thus far – in the hope that it may be of use to others.
Anna is irrecognisable from the troubled young woman who left Australia 30 years ago with a big suitcase – searching for healing, meaning, community and her place in the world.
Curiously, the Eastend of London and recently Emerson College, not the ashrams of India, provided what she sought.
”Tareshvari” is the Buddhist name she was given, when she was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist order in 2010. Tareshvari means “Bridge Builder” or ”capable of crossing over”.
Anna/Tareshvari is passionate about human growth and reaching her highest potential, by finding creative ways to cross to brighter shores and building bridges to help others do the same.
Testimonials
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Anna’s warm heart lifts our spirits, with her fluent storytelling.
I am always taken on a journey of much joy, sincerity and genuine feeling from stories of her past. She has a wonderful way of connecting to the audience and shares her stories from a place of integrity and love. We love her and want more. When she is on stage a light of gold covers all who listen and we are left with joy love and connection to our hearts.
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Jordan Northfield May 2025
Stories of The Wheel of Life – Tales of heartache and transformation
"Anna’s stories always hit you straight into your heart, in a very gentle, down to earth and funny way. I admire her ability to weave stories together from different passages of life. Stories from the Wheel of life is a show for everyone. Whether you have any knowledge of Buddhism or not you will find it very interesting and entertaining. With loads of moments of laughter and joy this story take us into times in our lives when we felt we might just explode from the weight of the world we put on our shoulders. And in a very beautiful way anna spins us through the wheel of life bringing the moments of deep profoundness, silliness and absurdity.It is deep and it is light and you will leave the room feeling as if someone rubbed your soul with a healing balsam.I’ve been lucky and priveleged to see a few of Anna’s stories and i have a warning: Be prepared to start quoting her wherever you go, because some of the gems coming out of her are truly unforgettable.
Emilya Ali May 2025
"The humanity and compassion that radiate through Anna's stories have been deeply moving and transformative for me.
Anna tells stories with a completely open heart an my heart always looks forward to hearing them.
I laugh. I cry. I feel great joy that sings and deep pain that curls in a ball to keep. When it all comes out in the wash, Anna emerges faithfully; there is a feeling of release in the room, of beautiful truths having been told.
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Anna's stories are brimming full, overflowing with kindness and honesty; they are belly-achingly funny, heart achingly sad and always triumphant with loving joy.
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Bella June 2025
Stories from the Wheel of Life
Tales of heartache and transformation
Anna (Tareshvari) shares a poignant, yet humorous weave of traditional Buddhist symbols, myths and autobiographical stories.
She invites us to journey with her through the depths of the hell realms, to the cool relief of the human realm, to enjoy the seductive pleasures of the world of the gods and to see where that inevitably leads.
The ”Wheel of Life” is an ancient Buddhist symbol. More than a painting, it acts as a magical mirror that we can gaze into and see our true selves reflected back.
Held by Yama (the Lord of Death), who represents impermanence and the fate we will all eventually face. The wheel mirrors both the human condition and our individual, ever changing mental states.
It reflects the workings of karma and the cycle of existence, allowing individuals to see their own actions and their consequences.
Thankfully and most importantly, “The Wheel of Life” teaches a path to freedom and through Anna’s tales, we may even catch a glimpse of that.