Have you heard of the Dybbuk of Jewish folklore? It is a malicious possessing spirit most well-known in Yiddish Theater, Between Two Worlds. The play was written by S. Ansky in 1914, a playwright and enthographer. The tale centers on a young woman possessed by a dybbuk- that of her deceased lover. The play became a canonical work of both Hebrew and Yiddish theatre, being further translated and performed around the world. Dr. Morris M. Faierstein joins us in episode 44 to discuss his upcoming book The Dybbuk, Its Origins and History. In this fascinating episode we discuss possession, exorcism, reincarnation, mental illness, rituals for helping spirits move on to Gehenna (a temporary place of punishment), and more modern examples of alleged possession cases being debunked as frauds or diagnosed as mental illnesses. Don't miss it!

Pre-order book: Dybbuk, Its Origins and History- https://sunypress.edu/Books/T/The-Dybbuk

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Is Rumpelstiltskin morally good or is he evil? Why does he want the queen's baby? What does nature and the natural world have to do this fairy tale? If you have ever read a fairy tale and wondered if there was a hidden meaning, if it had a message you just weren't catching, this is the podcast for you. Fairy Tale Flip is a monthly collaboration between Doorways to Leaning and Fabric of Folklore to bring you a unique exploration of a different fairy tale each month. Each month, we have YOU, the audience, CHOOSE between three fairy tales, and this month for EPISODE 4 you choose Rumpelstiltskin. in this live episode we discussed the power of a name, the power of three, the history and the different versions found across the globe. This is such a fun episode, you wont want to miss it!

Notes:

• Some interpretations of him as a representation of nature 
• Rumpelstiltskin is one of the oldest narratives in Western literature
• There are different versions of the story all across the globe
• Discussion about storytelling techniques and engaging children
• Power of names and personalization
• Pattern of three in the story
• What Rumpelstiltskin actually means

Mentioned in the Episode:
Name of the Wind
Wizard of Earthsea
How to Fracture a Fairy Tale
Emma Wilby
Diane Stanley

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How does one go from slavery to equality? That is the question African Americans grappled with after their emancipation in 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation released Blacks from their enslavement, but they continued to experience inequality in all phases of American life —social, cultural, political, and economic. In episode 43, Dr. Ronald L. Sharps, Associate Dean of College of the Arts at Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ joins us to discuss his new book 'Black Folklorists in Pursuit of Equality-African American Identity and Cultural Politics, 1893–1943.' We talk about the folklore of African Americans After the Civil War and how they sought to solidify and create their identity by defining their own folklore. Through this pursuit of equality, African Americans developed movements to reveal in their rhetoric the soul of a race and a path toward civilization. 

Book: Black Folklorists in Pursuit of Equality-African American Identity and Cultural Politics, 1893–1943.

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Have you heard of The Hero with a Thousand Faces? What about the hero's journey? Joseph Campbell was an author, professor and global storyteller. A lecturer at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, his work continues to have ripple effects across the globe today. His works, and influence in understanding mythology around the world, are the topic of today's incredible show. In episode 42, Bruce Boyce, the creator of “I Take my History with My Coffee” blog and podcast, joins us to discuss the influential American writer and his works on mythology and world religion, including, The Masks of God. Joseph Campbell's work has inspired and influenced generations, including filmmaker George Lucas in his framing of the Star Wars Trilogy.


I Take History With My Coffee: itakehistory.com

I Take History With My Coffee Podcast: www.podpage.com/i-take-history-with-my-coffee/

Here are some essays for blog related to folklore and myth:

Yule (itakehistory.com)

On A Midsummer's Night (itakehistory.com)

NOTES: 

• Bottom-up histories require research in documents like deeds and records.
• Military records and pension records are valuable for understanding social structures.
• Bruce Boyce recommends Joseph Campbell's four-volume set on world belief systems.
• Joseph Campbell's work highlights the shared humanity and different answers to life's questions.
• Joseph Campbell's writing is accessible to a wide range of readers.
• Filmmakers can benefit from Joseph Campbell's storytelling approach.
• Criticisms of Joseph Campbell's work need to be understood within the context of the time period.
• Joseph Campbell's daily routine involved extensive reading and teaching comparative literature.
• The structure of the Hero's Journey is outlined by Joseph Campbell.
• The Hero's Journey consists of different stages and trials.
• Stories are best told in a condensed and digestible format.
• Stories were a way of passing down knowledge in ancient cultures.
• Preservation of oral-based cultures is important.

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Have you ever wondered why humans are primed for stories? Once a story starts, its so hard to stop. In episode 41 Kendall Haven talks to us about the brain science behind why we are magnetically attracted to stories. His research, story coaching work, and two seminal books, STORY PROOF: The Science Behind the Startling Power of Story, and STORY SMART: Using the Science of Story to Persuade, Influence, Inspire, and Teach have revolutionized our understanding of stories—of the science of story, of the relationship between the human brain and story and of the power of story elements to transform communications.

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Links for Kendall Haven: 

Website: https://www.kendallhaven.com/index.htm

Books: https://www.kendallhaven.com/works.htm

Notes:

• Using stories as a communication method is more effective and memorable than other structures.
• Storyproof is a method that supports the idea that the human brain thinks in terms of stories.
• The brain automatically rearranges information to fit into a story structure.
• The structural elements of a story remain the same across different cultures.
• Story IQ is a way to understand and utilize the core elements of a story.
• The neuroscience of narrative, story tools, influencing beliefs, and creating story smart stories are discussed in the book.
• The goal is to tell stories naturally and effectively using the tools learned from neuroscience.
• Anticipating the audience's response and emotional engagement is key in storytelling.
• Stories are powerful communication tools that should be respected and used accordingly.

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In Episode 3 "A Flowering Tree" Donna and Vanessa dive deep into this Indian fairy tale translated to English by A. K. Ramanujan to understand its significance, relevance and historical context. The story is a Kannada folklore that tells the tale of a young woman, Kumudha, who discovers that she has the magical ability to transform herself into a flowering tree. She uses this gift to support her impoverished family, but her transformation is later exploited. The story explores themes of magic, transformation, and the vulnerability of women, establishing a connection between women and nature. It is a woman-centered tale that highlights the challenges and vulnerabilities faced by women. The narrative involves elements of impossible events and mythic archetypes that resonate with universal human experiences.

What are you thoughts? What did we get wrong?

Watch The Flowering Tree here: https://youtu.be/r3KqegIn6Qk?si=tOqQdw6F1xt2uFMZ

Music Credit

Celtic Impulse by Kevin MacLeod http://incompetech.com

Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0

Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/celtic-impulse

Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/0mmKw8WNPSY

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Have you ever taken a journey that awakened your senses? In episode 40, we speak with Stina Gray, a professional storyteller, ethnologist and author with roots in Sweden and New Zealand. She talks to us about her heartwarming stories, performances and also her new book, When the Woods Sang: Returning to the Singing Earth. It is about her journey into the singing, weeping woods of her Motherland and to the heart of her path as a storyteller. The journey awakened her senses to the lore of the land, showing her that everyone and everything has a song to sing and a story to tell. It's a session filled with inspiration, connection to nature, and the magic of stories. Tune in now!

Stina's Website

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How can mythology and folklore be a tool for healing? In episode 39, Sabrina Fletcher, a bereavement doula incorporates myth storytelling in her grief circles for pregnancy loss, drawing on ancient stories, myths, and archetypes to facilitate healing. These narratives can act as reminders that we are not alone in our experiences. Inspired by her own loss and the lack of community support, Sabrina became a doula, offering support to others in their grief. We delve into how rituals and folktales are healing. We explore a few folktales such as Persephone's descent into the underworld (symbolizing grief) and La Llorona (a crying woman associated with loss) and how she uses them in her work. Don't miss this fascinating episode!

Links:
Grief Circle Enrollment :http://www.thetfmrdoula.com/ascend-apply
The TFMR Doula Website: http://thetfmrdoula.com/
Apply for TFMR FB group : https://www.thetfmrdoula.com/facebookgroup.html
The lack of mourning rituals : https://www.thetfmrdoula.com/writings/the-lack-of-mourning-rituals

Time Stamps
Folklore and its relevance to personal healing 02:43
Creating a safe space for grief and tough emotions 09:29
Questions and guidance for supporting grieving individuals 11:00
Following the lead of the grieving individual 17:00
Incorporating folktales into the healing process 24:01
Rituals and storytelling in grief circles 29:50
Structure of grief circles 42:05
Lighting candles and sharing personal experiences 42:15
Journaling prompts and writing breaks 44:16
Exploring different stories and their significance 46:15
Stories of the younger goddesses Persephone 48:10
The importance of storytelling in the healing process 59:50
Validation of grief and tough emotions in stories 1:04

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What if you are reading fairy tales all wrong? What if the witch is actually the good guy? In episode 38, we're talking Donna Lee Fields, a teacher-trainer and speaker in the international educational circuit with a passion for looking deeper into the underlying messages in fairy tales. The Witch as the Hero of Fairy Tales was the title of her doctoral thesis.  We talked about fairy tales and how the stereotypes we’ve made about the characters of the princess and the witch, may be wrong. We also discussed winter celebrations, their similarities and differences and their related religions based off one of her student-centered activities created for educators. 

Links:

https://www.youtube.com/@donnaleefields

www.scaffoldingmagic.com

As a gift for listening to Vanessa's podcast with Donna, find a free scaffold from her award-nominated website here. 

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Main Points

• Magic in education: Inspired by the teacher's love of fairy tales, combining education, fairy tales, and magic to create engaging learning experiences.
• Winter Celebrations Lesson Plan: Originated from the teacher's Jewish background and a desire for inclusivity in celebrating various winter holidays. Developed in collaboration with a nun in Spain, promoting understanding and connections between different religions and traditions.
• International Religion Day: A day created to encourage questioning about various religions, exploring their purposes and common themes such as love.
• Teacher resources: Lesson plans and scaffolding techniques available for purchase in the teacher's store, designed to complement existing curricula and promote inclusive education.
• Common threads in winter celebrations: Focus on vanquishing darkness with candles, fire, and light. Different cultures emphasize lights to combat the dark periods, using music and dance to elevate vibrations. Sweets play a role in bringing people together during winter holidays.
• Winter celebrations covered in the lesson plan: Boxing Day (England), Chinese New Year, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas (Mexico), St. Lucia, among others.
• Fairy tales and traditions: During research, the teacher was captivated by the joy of diversity in people celebrating winter traditions. No specific elements mentioned but the emphasis on the variety of faces and the wish for more diversity in the local community.
• Higher-order thinking questions: The importance of incorporating higher-order thinking questions in education to encourage creativity and critical thinking. The goal is to move beyond rote memorization to foster independent and creative thinking.

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Fairy Tale Flip (Episode #2) is a monthly collaboration with Donna Fields from Scaffolding Magic about diving deeper into fairy tales. Fairy tales feel simple. And we love them because we all just want a happily ever after. The Singing Bone fairy tale, however, is a dark story about a boar, two poor brothers and a princess with no agency. It is from the 1700's  Grimm Brothers' Fairytale collections with a bittersweet ending. Its a story about vergence and about correcting a wrong. It also has surprising roots in Greek mythology as well. Don't miss this fun discussion!

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