The Story Apothecary

-Story Prescription: A reminder of not trading or giving up those parts of us that are integral to our being. A story from Hungary about a traveller whose fiddle plays the most beautiful music. But he gives it all one day for something more worthwhile. . To support my work financially you can become a a regular patron on Patreon , and you will receive the gift of stories and folklore.  You can als...

-Story Prescription: A story for the freedom of women -Story Caution: TW: This story deals with domestic violence A Bulgarian well-known folktale of Bogdana, who was a spoilt daughter and therefore a bad, good-for-nothing wife. But is there more than meets the eye? In a ecofeminist retelling of this story, we might find that there is more than meets the eye to useless, spoilt Bogdana, and her idio...

Story Prescription: A story of the Woman's Quest, a feminine journey, a story of female initiation into adulthood, and into an awakening.  A Bulgarian wondertale about a girl to enters into an old woman's hut and finds gold; and her step-sister who instead of gold finds darkness - but that too is a gift, if you know to recognise it as one.  Music: Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music....

Story Prescription: A story about entering the frightening places in our lives, like Baba Yaga's hut, in order to come out on the other side. A story about following inner wisdom and intuition, and embracing the darkness that we all need to face sometimes.  -Story Caution: Recommended age 12+ A story from Eastern Europe about a girl called Vasilisa the Beautiful, who needs to go to Baba Yaga's hut...

Story Prescription: A story about doing what feels good rather than what one should do. A story for self-indulgence, pleasure, rest, and enjoying life with no guilt. A humorous story from Germany about a clever and witty woman, a cook, who knows what she wants, and takes it with no guilt and no apology. With so many of us having lost touch with what we want or desire, through life circumstances, a...

-Story Prescription: A story of hope, of marking endings, and remembering stories. A lighthearted, bittersweet and hopeful Yiddish tale of a Tailor in Russia who made a beloved coat that just kept giving, until there was just not enough. _ To support my work financially you can become a a regular patron on Patreon, and you will receive the gift of stories and folklore. . You can also 'buy me a cof...

-Story Prescription: For anyone who is is need of some Trickster energy, in a world that is often serious. A story that offers the richness of humour and transformation, as well as challenges the status quo.  - A funny and lighthearted story from Tanzania, about the day Tortoise fooled the Elephant, told by the brilliant Wendy Shearer. Wendy is a Professional London Storyteller and author. Wendy’s...

A funny and lighthearted story from Bulgaria about a man who decides he is better off following advice because it cost him a lot of money.  -Story Prescription: For anyone who likes to give advice freely, and for anyone who follows advice that does not serve them. For those who wish to have some wisdom by which to live their lives. _ To support my work financially you can become a regular patron o...

A story from Sudan. Bat is shunned from animals and birds as he doesn't belong in either. He is neither bird, nor animal.  Story Prescription: A sad, lighthearted and endearing story about not belonging, which we can all relate to. . To support my work financially you can become a regular patron on Patreon, and you will receive the gift of stories and folklore. . You can also 'buy me a coffee' as...

A story from the Slavic lands about Baba Yaga - the liminal Crone Goddess. It is an uncomfortable and uneasy story about burying the animal, wild, parts of us and the dangers that follow.  Story Prescription: A story about the importance of initiation, and having elders in your life. A story about the importance of those wild barking parts of us that tell us when something is not right, and how we...

A Bulgarian Christmas Story (available in English for the first time here) about a sister and brother who met misfortune one winter day. A story of hardship and hope. -Story Prescription: A story to feel festive, a story for gratefulness, for the unfairness of life sometimes, for small miracles. -Story Caution: Some not very nice things happen to brother and sister. If listening with little ones,...

The Seventh Swan (Cambridgeshire, England) - a somewhat dark, and beautiful tale about a boy who tries to kill a swan. The other six swans, her companions come to her aid.  -Story Prescription: A story of feminine power, of true friendship, of wild nature.  -Story Caution: This story is rather intense in places and deals with taking that which is not given in multiple senses of the word. It is bea...

A story from Norway. A girl finds herself in a castle asked to spin impossible quantities of flax in just a night and a day. Three old women come to help her.  -Story Prescription: A tale of women's power and intuition, of help from wiser generations, of respect for grandmothers. And a little bit of humour. _ To support my work financially you can become a regular patron on Patreon, and you will r...

A tale from Germany about a strange creature called Mannikin Spanalong which a young girl helps to free, and she gets her own freedom in return.  Story Prescription: A story about facing your fears and moving forward; about being kind in the face of uncertainty and adversity; a story about being strong and independent; about importance of caring for elders, and the wisdom that you can gain in retu...

A lighthearted story from Russia. This is not a story of Vasilisa the wise, the brave, the beautiful. This is a different girl called Vasilisa. Vasilisa is also called Vasily, a boy's name. Which is she - a woman or a man - the king desperately tries to find out. But he can't. A wonderful story of wit that defies the perceived social roles of gender. Story Prescription for breaking gender stereoty...

A story from Portugal. A father and his daughter move from place to place. His fear that she will abandon him keeps them moving, despite her wanting to settle down. A story of breaking free, of a love - suffocating rather than nurturing. -Story Prescription: A story for anxiety, for unbalanced relationships of any kind, of loving too tightly, a story of being afraid to let go. A story of seeking f...

A sweet story about the bread of life, and about the tenderness and richness of the harvest. -Story Prescription: A story for the earth and the land. _ Ways to Support this podcast: -If you have enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating or review as this helps others to find it. Share this podcast with your friends and on social media. You can find me on Instagram @nana.tomova or on T...

A beautiful and lighthearted story from from former Czechoslovakia about a girl who tends her goats when she meets a wood maiden - a forest nymph in the woods. -Story Prescription: A story about knowing when to work and when to dance. A story about giving yourself permission to feel joy, and maybe sometimes - letting go and enjoying the magic around.  _ Join me for Sun Stories for the the Summer S...

A story from Russia about a poor cottager who is granted wishes by a magic linden (lime) tree. He gets carried away and, well, things turn out differently to how he wished.  -Story Prescription: A story for greed and for gratefulness. A reminder of not desiring what is impossible- if you desire too much, you may lose what you had.  _ Ways to Support this podcast: -If you have enjoyed this episode,...

A story from Russia about a seven year old who knows the important things in life. -Story Prescription: A story about the wisdom of women, and of our younger selves. A story of nature, and for valuing the strong, wise, and independent girls in our stories and in our world. _ Ways to Support this podcast: -If you have enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating or review as this helps ot...

An important and lighthearted story from England, about King Arthur who must save his life by answering a riddle - what do women want, more than anything. Does he succeed to find the answer?  -Story Prescription: For all women out there, for all who identify as women, for all who treasure their feminine qualities, for all that appreciate the women in their lives. For International Women's Day, the...

A wise and sobering story from Bulgaria, which I've translated especially for this podcast. It's about a woman who poisons a loaf of bread to teach someone a lesson. Things don't turn out the way she planned. -Story Prescription: A story for pondering on our actions. One for reflection and for helping us to set an intention for what we do. A story to encourage kindness towards ourselves and others...

A lighthearted and yet poignant and cautionary tale from Tibet about some monkeys, led by their monkey leader, who doesn't take time for reflection and advice, leads his monkeys to rescue the moon from deep water as he thinks she is drowning.  -Story Prescription: A story about misguided leadership, one to give courage and strength to speak up in challenging circumstances. A story to provide inwar...

A wise and lighthearted story from Nepal about a potter who makes a wish for his pots to be unbreakable.  -Story Prescription: A story for perfectionism, a story for and about creativity, imperfection and the beauty of impermanence.  _ Ways to Support this podcast: -If you have enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating or review as this helps others to find it. Share this podcast with...

A sad, sobering and hopeful Bulgarian story which I've translated into English about Grandmother Plague, old woman, who comes to visit. -Story Prescription: A story to help with not living in fear and being present in our times. A tale to encourage kindness and compassion.  -Story Caution: This story talks of the Plague taking lives. It conjures up similarities to the current pandemic, and therefo...