The Story Apothecary

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 for a light, and face her ultimate fear - a human devouring, frightening witch, the keeper of the underworld, a powerful goddess. But is there more to Baba Yaga that meets the eye, and can Vasilisa make it out alive? A story perfect for Samhain and Halloween.

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To support my work financially you can become a a regular patron on Patreon, and you will receive the gift of stories and folklore.

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You can also 'buy me a coffee' as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening.

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Music:

Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.

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, and if and when we take it, there is a lot of guilt. This story speaks to this part of us and offers medicine. 

Episode artwork: Vincent Van Gogh

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 coffee' as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening.

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Music:

Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.

-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.

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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 coffee' as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening.

_

Music:

Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.

-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 repertoire of stories of tricksters, shapeshifters, ancient Greek heroes, gods and goddesses is drawn mostly from her Afro-Caribbean heritage and her first degree in Classics. You can find out more about Wendy, her upcoming events and her story books on her website: http://wendyshearer.co.uk

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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 coffee' as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening.

_

Music:

Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.

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.

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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 one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening.

_

Music:

Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.

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.

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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 one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening.

_

Music:

Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.

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 chose to bury them. 

-Story Caution: A frightening story for children. This one might be for adults or for slightly older children. There are also themes of animal cruelty throughout. Nonetheless, a story full of wisdom and metaphor.

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To support my work financially, and benefit from the Story Apothecary community, 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 one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening.

_

Music:

Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.

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, I recommend listening to the end with them.

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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 one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening.

You can book tickets to Slavic Stories for the Winter Solstice here

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Music:

Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.

Episode Artwork by Winslow Homer, 1892.

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 beautiful though, and rather wild. I hope that you like it.

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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 coffee' as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening.

You can book tickets to Slavic Stories for the Winter Solstice here

_

Music:

Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.

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.

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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 one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening.

_

Music:

Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.