In this episode the Storyteller Kathy Shimpock explores the relationship of the crone within the maiden, mother, and crone trilogy. She tells the Greek myth of "Demeter and Persephone" and shares a lesser known variation in which Hecate plays a pivotal role. Story: "Demeter & Persephone" (a traditional Greek myth) as told by Kathy Shimpock. Cover i…

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, meets again with Master Hypnotherapist, Linda Bennett. Together they discuss the Norwegian folktale, "Tatterhood," and explore its many meanings and interpretations by looking at its symbols, metaphors, and archetypes. It's a fascinating model for dream interpretation too. Part 2 of their conversati…

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will explore a little known Norwegian folktale, "Tatterhood." It's a story in which an unexpected, young girl goes on a hero's journey. She has quite a surprising role to play in a very unusual story. Story: Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, Lurvehette [Tatterhood], Norske Folkeeventyr (Chri…

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will discuss archetypes with renowned hypnotherapist Linda Bennett. Together, we’ll identify common archetypes and discover how they can be identified in both life and stories. Cover Image: Photo by Linda Bennett. To learn more about Linda Bennett, check out her website for services offered (https:/…

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will focus on the Shadow side of the Christmas holiday. Not all folklore surrounding this time is happy and gay; some of the characters are birthed from our deepest nightmares. This time, we’ll look at Krampus and the goblins from Charles Dickens’s imagination. She'll read “The Story of the Goblins …

In this episode, the storyteller Kathy Shimpock, will continue our discussion of the Russian folktale "Go I Know Not Whither and Fetch I Know Not What." In doing so, we'll learn a bit more about Baba Yaga, the Slavic character who's part witch and part wise crone. Who is she in this story? Maybe it's a bit of both. (Because this is a long story, ou…

In this episode, the storyteller Kathy Shimpock, will read the Russian tale, “Go I Know Not Whither, Fetch I Know Not What.” It’s a story with two crones: one the wise crone and the other the infamous Baba Yaga. Perhaps she’s a wise crone too. Only time will tell. (Because this is a long story, our discussion will be broken into two parts. This mon…

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will read the story of “Old Rinkrank.” It’s a Grimm Brother’s tale with a surprising ending. We’ll discuss the innocent persecuted heroine and how her journey differs from the traditional hero’s journey tales. Where is the wise crone in this story? I can’t wait to tell you! Story: "Old Rinkrank" in …

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will read the literary fairy tale, "The Maiden in the Castle of Rosy Clouds." It's a story written by the Swedish author Harald Ostenson in the early 20th century. We'll identify the differences between traditional folktales and literary tales. Finally, we'll discuss how older characters are depicte…

In this episode, we’ll look at three stories in which an old woman meets and outwits the devil. The first is “Devil’s Bridge,” a Welsh legend. The second, “The Devil and His Grandmother,” is a German folktale recorded by the Brothers’ Grimm. The last story, “Kitta Grau” is from Sweden. The old woman in these tales runs the course of characters from…

In the last "Wise Crone Cottage Podcast," storyteller, Kathy Shimpock shared the Grimm fairy tale "The Girl Without Hands." This is a continuation of that discussion. This time we'll focus on the earlier 1812 version of the story. We'll see how the Handless Maiden shifts from a persecuted figure into a heroine. We'll also explore the ways this stor…

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will explore the Grimm tale, "The Girl Who Lost Her Hands." It's a story that packs a punch and leaves listeners quaking in the dust. Well, maybe that's a bit extreme. You can judge for yourself! We'll look at several versions of the story, its derivation and multiple interpretations. And finally, a…

In this episode, we’ll be exploring the folklore around the "nisse," a Norwegian house spirit, found throughout Scandinavia (by different names). I’ll read the story “Round the Yule Log,” by P. Chr. Asbjornsen which includes several folktales. Further, we’ll reflect on the negative stereotype of the old maid. What should we do with the stories from…

In this episode, we’ll be exploring the Cailleach, the Celtic goddess of winter. She’s found in both mythology and folktales in Ireland and Scotland. She sometimes appears as the sovereignty goddess. I’ll read the Irish myth, “The Adventures of the Sons of Eochaid Mugmedon,” which addresses issues of gender, power, land, and kingship. Further, we’l…

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will tell you the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Her version is one you may not have heard before, for it tells this story from the eyes of Ariadne. In doing so, we’ll discover how a single shift in perspective can make all the difference. Story: Derived from "Ariadne's Lament" by Catullus.…

In this episode we'll reflect on two stories that demand retelling. In each tale (from "Star Wars" to King Arthur), we'll see how the story is poised to continue through the intervention of a single storyteller. In the sharing of the story, its meaning, values, and Truth continue to inspire and motivate those who stop to listen and tell again. Stor…

In this episode we’ll explore the Irish folktale “The Witches Excursion.” It was recorded by Patrick Kennedy in the book Legendary Fictions of the Irish Celts published in 1866. Like the Grimm tale, “Frau Holle,” here is another story that began as a myth and became a folktale. We’ll discuss how the character of Queen Medb is reflected in this tale…

In these very dark days, when the world has gone awry, a story comes out of the darkness. In this episode, we're entering a haunting tale with storyteller, Kathy Shimpock. It is a dire tale rarely told to children. Over time, the story grew even darker, more dire and its message corrupted. It is the corruption of that message, that we'll explore. A…

In this episode, we're in the world of Irish fairies with the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock. Our story is called "The Brewery of Eggs." It's a changeling legend in which the wise old woman saves the day by bringing the right baby home. We're also going to explore how women stories may be coded, so they can share topics too difficult to address direct…

In this episode, we’ll meet Medusa with the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock. Some call Medusa a Gorgon, others a cursed beauty. Maligned in popular media, controversy has followed Medusa wherever she goes. In her first recorded interview, Medusa will sit down with the Wise Crone for a tell-all exchange. Her visit is courtesy of the Jungian technique “a…

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock explores the stories that must be told and what happens when we try to forget them. We'll look at three tales from India. Each one addresses stories that are untold, the need to find a willing audience, and the consequence when they are hidden. Finally, we'll discuss how traditional stories from the …

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, explores La Befana, a crone character from Italian folklore. Befana appears on January 5th to give gifts to children. I'll share with you my story that consolidates many of the tales surrounding her. Finally, we'll look at how La Befana compares to some other legendary figures (who also appear durin…

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock explores the crone's role as the midwife in Irish and European folktales. The story she will share with you is called "Midwife to the Fairies." In this story, we'll learn more about the crone and even more about those disagreeable fairies. Finally, we'll ponder medieval midwifery, and in doing so per…

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock explores Norwegian folktales surrounding the Black Death. She shares a story that incorporates many of the motifs and elements found in these tales. It's the story of two very different old women. One is the wise crone and the other is Pesta! Perhaps we'll uncover some plague wisdom we can use today!…

Greek mythology has a full pantheon of gods and goddesses. Each deity has a story line with the past and present clearly defined. There are stories of triumph and petty jealousies. There are stories of conflict. Their relationships with humans and other gods are often tempestuous. Rarely do we see these gods and goddesses as exemplars. More often t…

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will explore the power of story. What is it? How can a simple tale impact our lives so deeply? The story I will tell (as the wise crone) provides one answer. “The Story that Grew in My Heart” was crafted from a book written by Walter Hackett entitled The Swans of BalleyCastle. It contains clear refe…

In this episode, the storyteller Kathy Shimpock, will read you the Grimm tale, "The Goose-Girl at the Well." It's a tale within a tale - a story of a young girl's initiation into womanhood and the guiding hand and protection of the wise crone. First discussed in an earlier podcast (S1, #4), this story just won't go away! It is categorized as Aarne-…

In this episode, we'll explore the magic of spring. I'll share two stories: one from Europe and one from China in which the beauty of the natural world is both honored and rewarded. It's a message we all need to be reminded of after a long cold winter and an even longer pandemic. In these stories we see the creation and protection of the flower-elv…

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will share the story of "The Crone vs. the Cyclops: A Confrontation in the Forest." It’s a fun story filled with motifs from both folklore and mythology that she wrote long ago. These elements fill fantasy literature today and can be an excellent way to get the imagination going. Finally, we’ll expl…

In the wake of insurgents overtaking the U.S. capital in pursuit of a “big lie,” this episode explores the truth that is found in stories. The storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will start by reading a Spanish tale entitled “Falsehood and Truth.” Next, we’ll look at those folktales that provide a context to current events. Finally, she will tell you a mo…

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will share the story of "The Little Match Girl" by Hans Christian Andersen. It is a tragic, Danish, literary tale written in 1845. The subject has similarities to Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" written two years earlier in Victorian England. Both tales focus on the fate of the poor when the world is d…

In this episode, it's all about Santa: the folklore, story, and the greater archetype. I posit the question of whether Santa can be gender-neutral. We'll explore an adapted version of the poem, "A Visit from Santa Claus" written by Clement Clarke Moore, Think on it, for just a moment. Santa as the wise crone? Why not? Story: "A Visit from St. Nicho…

In the third episode of Season Two, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, shares the story of "The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces." This Grimm Brothers' tale has variants found throughout Germany and central Europe. We’ll also explore how the wise crone handles youthful indulgence. Story: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Die drei Spinnerinnen, Kinder- und Hau…

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, shares the story of "The Witch." It's a Russian variant of the Grimm's tale "Hansel & Gretel." In this story, we explore the character of the grandmother. These characters surprise us more in what they don't do than in what they actually do. They stand in stark contrast to the figure of the wise cro…

In the first episode of Season Two, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, shares the story of "The Golden Key." This version of the Grimm Brothers' tale is created for the child in all of us. Once told, we'll see if we can uncover just what was inside that box! Finally, we'll discover what the wise crone found. Story: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Die drei S…

In this episode, the Storyteller Kathy Shimpock explores stories of spinning, as the wise crone spins the world - to help and guide 7 generations forward and 7 generations back. We'll focus on Native American mythology and compare those stories to the Grimm versions of the "Three Spinning Women." Story: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Die drei Spinnerinne…

In this episode, the Storyteller Kathy Shimpock explores the character of Baba Yaga as she confronts "Vasilissa the Beautiful." She will also discuss the way folktales and their characters can impact our lives today. These stories can serve the same function as Vasilissa's tiny wooden doll, providing needed guidance and insights for us all. Story: …

In this episode, the Storyteller Kathy Shimpock shares an original creation myth written in 2014. We'll discuss creation mythology generally and look at what these stories and the wise crone might have to say about the troubled times we face. Story: "The Story of One World" (an imagined creation myth) written by Kathy Shimpock. Cover illustration: …

In this episode the Storyteller Kathy Shimpock tells you a little known version of "The Three Bears." In this version, the character of Goldilocks is traded for that of an old woman. This 1837 literary tale was written by Robert Southey. The story reflects Victorian stereotypes and biases that viewed the old and the poor as criminals. We see simila…

In this episode the Storyteller Kathy Shimpock tells you the Grimm Brothers' tale "Godfather Death." She then reads her new version of this story, one that is placed in a much earlier time. Her version is entitled, "Godmother Death and the Healer Urssenbeck," a story derived from several European variants. It is placed in the 1300s, at the time of …

In this episode, storyteller Kathy Shimpock, shares her story "Awaken to Wonder." In this literary tale of the wise crone, we see many of the same elements and plot structures found in traditional folklore. Story: "Awaken to Wonder" by Kathy Shimpock, copyright 2015. Cover illustration: Pixabay. Music: The Snow Queen Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)…

In this episode storyteller Kathy Shimpock, shares two versions of "The Very Black Witch" found within the story of "When Culwhch Won Olwen." The first is the traditional story as found in The Mabinogion, the second, is a newly created variation. She also discusses the wisdom this witchy Crone can share with women today. Story: "How Culwhch Won Olw…

In this episode storyteller Kathy Shimpock, reads the Grimm brothers' story "The Goose-Girl at the Well." She also explores the character of the crone archetype. Is the crone simply a witch or is she something more? Story: "Goose-Girl at the Well" recorded by the Brothers Grimm. Cover illustration by Rie Cramer, found in the book Grimm Fairy Tales …

In this episode, Kathy Shimpock tells the Welsh tale of "Ceridwen's Quest" also known by the title "The Birth of Taliesin." We then explore the concept of archetypes and especially the archetype of the wise old woman. All rights reserved. Story: "The Birth of Taliesin" from Medieval Welsh poetry. Cover Image: Pixabay.com. Music: The Snow Queen Kevi…

In this episode, Kathy tells the story of “Frau Holle,” a German folktale, recorded by the Brothers Grimm. We explore the relationship between its young and old characters - especially the role the wise crone plays in the initiation of the young woman. We also look at the symbolism found within this story to see what it has to offer from a psycholo…

On this episode, Kathy discusses the creation of the Wise Crone Cottage podcast and the importance of folktales today. She'll tell you a Japanese story, "The Old Woman and the Wicked Oni." It's a story that explores the concept of the "Other." We'll see how the wise old woman becomes an unlikely hero, facing her opponents bravely and finding unexpe…