Wise Crone Cottage Podcast

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, shares the story of "The Vampire Skeleton Corpse." This is a frightening tale from the Iroquois tradition.  Although there is never a single meaning for any story, this one has an important teaching  for the days ahead.

Story:  This story is a conflation of early Iroquois variants and my version of the story as told by Joseph Bruchac. Iroquois Stories: Heroes and Heroines, ...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will be reading Charles Dickens’ masterpiece, A Christmas Carol.   The work is a novella, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843.  Because of the story's length, it will be read over four episodes. This is chapter four and five (or what Dickens called Stave Four, The Last of the Spirits and Stave 5, The End of It).   In this story Scrooge will have a visit from...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will be reading Charles Dickens’ masterpiece, A Christmas Carol.   The work is a novella, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843.  Because of the story's length, it will be read over four episodes. This is chapter three (or what Dickens called Stave Three, The Second of the Three Spirits).   In this story Scrooge will have a visit from "Christmas Present.&...

 In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will be reading Charles Dickens’ masterpiece, A Christmas Carol.   The work is a novella, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843.  Because of the story's length, it will be read over four episodes. This is chapter two (or what Dickens called Stave Two, The First of the Three Spirits).   In this story Scrooge will have a visit from "Christmas Past."  ...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will be reading Charles Dickens’ masterpiece, A Christmas Carol.   The work is a novella, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843.  Because of the story's length, it will be read over the next four episodes. This is chapter one (or what Dickens called Stave One, Marley’s Ghost).   You'll find a link in the credits to the tale, so you can read along.  At the...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will be reading “Stribor’s Forest.” It’s a Croation literary tale written by Ivana Brlic-Mazuranic. It is a tale longer than most, so grab some tea and your journal before we begin.  After listening to this story, you might have some thoughts to jot down and ideas to explore.

Story:  "Stribor's Forest" by Ivana Brlic-Mazuranic in Croation Tales of Long Ago, ...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will explore elder abuse, as seen in stories, folklore and actual life.  We'll start our exploration with a practice found in Japanese stories called ubasute or "abandoning the old woman."  Then we'll shift to modern day America and the recent death of my friend who was killed by a family member in an unspeakable act of "elder abuse."

Story:  U...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock, will explore the Chinese folktale, “The Old Woman and the Tiger.”  The story is retold by Mary Hemingway who grew up in northern China.  In this story, we’ll see a different side of the wise crone archetype. No longer a side character, she is now the protagonist.  And rather than serving as the “helper,” this old woman puts herself first. She shows us that one person can make a diff...

In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock explores the Grimm tale “Frau Trude.”   It’s a short didactic story that allows for many surprising interpretations. Whether she be a witch or a crone, there’s a lot of cackling and crackling going on.  Hopefully, we can stay out of the fire without getting burnt!  Either way, she's a friend you'll want to have. Fingers crossed!

My latest blog post discusses the c...

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 illustration: "The Night of Enitharmon&apo...

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 conversation continues on  the "Crone & Queen's Fireside Podcas...

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 (Christiania [Oslo], 1842-1852), translated by George Web...

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://www.lindahypnoqueen.com).  For more information on Kathy Shimpock&ap...

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 Who Stole a Sexton.” It’s a shadowy precursor to the Dickens' story “A Chr...

 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, our discussion is broken into two parts.  Last month the ...

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 month is the story and next month will be the discussion.)

Story: "Go ...

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  Grimm's Household Tales, eds. Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Gri...

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 depicted in stories and discover how a hero's journey can b...

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 helper to hero and villain too. But no matter what her role, the wise crone knows...