Wise Crone Cottage Podcast

Send us Fan Mail 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 Hausmarchen (Childr...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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  Spinn...

Send us Fan Mail  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  Spinnerinnen, Kinder- und H...

Send us Fan Mail 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: A.N. Afanasev, &q...

Send us Fan Mail 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: Photograph from P...

Send us Fan Mail  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 similar beliefs expressed t...

Send us Fan Mail 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 the Bla...

Send us Fan Mail 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).  Licens...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Olwen,&qu...

Send us Fan Mail 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  (1927...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 psychological perspective.   Finally we...

Send us Fan Mail 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 u...