Show Notes
Episode Summary Sarah Mooney returns for Season 2 with a deeply personal exploration of creation myths, seasonal transitions, and the power of storytelling as soul retrieval. Fresh from a storytelling retreat in Wales, she weaves together ancient wisdom from the Iroquois Sky Woman story, reflections on anxiety and creative process, and insights about using myth as a framework for life's initiations. This episode captures the raw authenticity Sarah is known for - complete with tea cupboard cleaning procrastination, technical difficulties, and the vulnerable honesty that makes her work so compelling. She explores how creation stories can serve as "ritual landscapes" for our own personal transitions, particularly during the autumn season. Key Themes & Highlights Sacred Storytelling & Cultural Respect Sarah thoughtfully addresses the importance of honoring indigenous stories while sharing them respectfully. She calls upon the unbroken line of Iroquois ancestors and reflects on how these ancient creation myths contain profound wisdom for modern listeners. Seasonal Transitions & Personal Ritual Drawing inspiration from Timothy Leary's concept of "set and setting," Sarah explores how we can intentionally create our inner and outer environments during seasonal shifts. She shares her own struggles with autumn transitions and the healing power of ritual. The Sky Woman Creation Story The centerpiece is Sarah's telling of the Iroquois creation myth featuring Sky Woman, who falls through a hole in the celestial realm and, with the help of sea creatures, creates the earth from a handful of soil on the turtle's back. This story becomes a metaphor for how we can create new worlds from small beginnings. Body Wisdom & Shadow Work Sarah vulnerably shares her journey of reconnecting with her physical body after years of disconnection, using the Sky Woman story as inspiration for embracing both light and shadow aspects of self. Anxiety as Sacred Information Through her experience of cleaning the tea cupboard instead of recording (classic creative avoidance!), Sarah explores anxiety as a messenger and the importance of trusting the creative process. Stories Featured * The Sky Woman Creation Story (Iroquois tradition) - A complete telling of how the earth was created * Two Golden Eggs - An Indian creation myth about sky and earth becoming lovers * Maori Creation Chant - Beautiful poetic account of creation from nothing to abundance Music "Ritual Door" by Queen Space Baroque (from their forthcoming album Ritual Door) * Band members: Jenny Bliss, William Kramer, Rob Bray * Custom recorded for the podcast Resources & Mentions * Books: * Beginnings by Penelope Farmer (creation myths compilation) * Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer * The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell * Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés * The Psychedelic Experience by Timothy Leary * People: * Hugh Lupton (storyteller) - Show: "When the Morning Stars Sang and the Angels Shouted for Joy" * Merlin Sheldrake (mycologist and author) * Locations: * Cai Mabon, Wales (storytelling retreat location in Snowdonia foothills) Upcoming Next Episode: Sarah's friend Dagan Robinson will join for music and conversation Retreat Opportunity: Creation stories as ritual landscapes retreat (September 26th -28th ) 2 spaces remaining at time of recording) Closing Blessing "May you feel the stars around you wherever you are. May you feel the living, breathing earth under your feet wherever you are." Support the Show This podcast is supported by Patreon subscribers who make Season 2 possible. Sarah expresses deep gratitude for this community support that allows her to continue sharing these mythic explorations.
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More from Mooney's Mythic Podcast
Show Notes Mooney’s Mythic Podcast: Under Anger, a Broken Heart . She spent one night at Wales Millennium Centre seeing Laurie Anderson, then sneaking in to see the Shovel Dance Collective, and she cried, giggled and danced her way through it. Laurie’s Friends and Teachers show leaves her with a teaching from Pema Chödrön: underneath anger there is always a broken heart. Sarah carries that question into the new story she’s making, about a great oak that splits into gardener, magician and king. She also lists her own shadow on a till receipt while working as the witch of Wookey Hole. Max Porter’s All of This Unreal Time and Robin Williamson’s bardic magic feed into the drunk, brilliant wizard she’s learning to embody. Featured * Laurie Anderson: Friends and Teachers, Llais Festival, Wales Millennium Centre. * Shovel Dance Collective: The Bold Fisherman shoveldancecollective.bandcamp.com * Robin Williamson: “Five Denials on Merlin’s Grave”, from A Glint at the Kindling (1979) * Max Porter: All of This Unreal Time * Direction support: Joanna Procter, Reveal Productions * Intro music: Queen Space Baroque Coming up * Friday 23 Oct, 6pm: a mythic storytelling show in the woods near Glastonbury (secret location) with musicians, fire and aerial acts. Get in touch to come. * Friday 30 Oct: Samhain Secrets and Songs with Ted Waters, St Benedict’s Church, Glastonbury.https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1998949432563?aff=oddtdtcreator * Women Who Run With the Wolves: a seven-week Tuesday-night circle in Glastonbury. Starts beginning of November 3 spaces left * One-to-one online sessions this winter for speeches, stories and performance. Support the pod on Patreon : Mooneys Mythic Podcast | Stories, soul craft, good company | Patreon
As autumn turns us down into the earth, this episode opens with a threshold track from Tarisha, then shares a treat from the archive: a conversation with Welsh storyteller Owen Staton. Together they explore unscripted telling, storytelling cards, letting a story “sing it plain,” and stories as nourishment and refuge. Owen StatonWelsh performance storyteller, actor and writer, host of Time Between Times.🎧 owenstaton.substack.com · Apple Podcasts🌐 www.welshstoryteller.com · ko-fi.com/owenstaton · patreon.com/owenstaton7 MusicIntro music: Ritual Door 2 Queen Space Baroque Opening track: Tarisha – Deep into the Earth we go, with thanks for permission Come and find me * 14 Oct – Story Wintering: Greek myths, beginning with Artemis * 23 Oct, 6–8pm – Once upon a… Forest: a mythic woodland trail near Glastonbury with circus, music and stories from the realms of the fey. The location is sent when you book. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/once-upon-a-forest-tickets-2002560757132 * 24 Oct – Wellington Garden of Light: oracle storytelling * 30 Oct, 7:30pm – Samhain Secrets in Story and Song with Ted Waters, St Benedict’s Church, Glastonbury. Bring an ancestor stone and photographs. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/samhain-secrets-in-story-and-song-tickets-1998949432563 * 3 Nov – Women Who Run with the Wolves: 7-week in-person circle, Glastonbury (a few spaces left) * 18 Dec – Festive family show with Sarah Curtis (harp and piano), St Benedict’s Church Next week: Laurie Anderson and the Shovel Dance Collective.Support the pod on Patreon, share it with a friend, or leave a comment 💛
Mooney’s Mythic Podcast Past the equinox, Sarah reflects on telling stories in the woods and the prayer she’ll make next time. She also talks about unwrapping a bubble-wrapped six-year-old part of herself, and joining the fierce Savage Sisters Morris side. In the story pot: The Princess’s Blankets and Tam Lin. Then a furious poem from Extinction Rebellion co-founder Stu Basden, recorded at the Green Gathering, and an invitation to come back to life together. Music: Queen Space Baroque, “Ritual Door” (opening titles) · Tarisha, “Deep Into the Earth” · Wyndreth, “My Mother’s Savage Daughter” Support Wyndreth: the writer of My Mother’s Savage Daughter is living with dementia. Please give if you can:👉 https://www.gofundme.com/f/my-mothers-savage-daughter-needs-our-help Come and join me: * 🌲 Mythic Wander, Friday 23rd October. Get in touch for the location. * 🐺 Women Who Run With the Wolves, Glastonbury, seven Tuesdays from 3rd November (I said the 2nd in the episode, but it’s Tuesday 3rd!) * 🕯️ Story Wintering, online, once a month
Opening music By Queen Space Baroque Online workshop Thursday 6:30–8:30pm https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1998740818593?aff=oddtdtcreator Samhain telling of Donkey Skin in Glastonbury, 30th Oct https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1998949432563?aff=oddtdtcreator
Sarah previews The Synthphonic Orchestra ahead of Friday’s Rose Concert, then reflects on cycles — vision quests, moon time, community rhythm — before telling a Loathly Lady tale: three princes, a dried well, and the old woman who asks only for a kiss. Music: The Synthphonic Orchestra, “Love Remains” Upcoming: Rose Concert (Fri 11th, Glastonbury Town Hall) · Autumn Threshold Gathering online, next Thurs, 2-for-1 tickets on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1998740818593?aff=oddtdtcreator Women Who Run With the Wolves (Glastonbury, late Oct) · Greek myths (details soon) Loved this? Send it to one person who needs the story today. Keep the kettle on for the pod — Patreon (Mooney’s Mythic Podcast).