Show Notes
Wild Women & The Hunter Turned to Stone with Katy Cawkwell Guest: Katy Cawkwell - Professional storyteller, host of Artemis Storytelling events Episode Summary Sarah opens with a vulnerable prayer about abundance and visibility, inspired by the fruiting trees of autumn - sharing bruised gifts without hesitation. Through a series of funny mishaps (including being caught naked on her landing by Avalon Cloaks’ founder Susie), she weaves toward deeper questions about women, power, and age. The episode centers on a backstage conversation with touring storyteller Katy Cawkwell, who shares the haunting Dartmoor legend of Bowerman and the Wild Hunt - a tale of hubris, mysterious women, and a man turned to stone for disrespecting the sacred. It’s a perfect threshold story for the thinning of the veil as we approach Samhain. Key Themes Seasonal Abundance & Vulnerability Sarah reflects on the trees’ generous giving - sharing all their fruit, bruised or perfect - and her own prayer to do the same with her work and gifts. Lilith & Untamed Feminine Power Brief mention of Katy’s solo show about Lilith - Adam’s first wife who refused to submit - connecting to the episode’s theme of powerful women who won’t be tamed. Finding Your Storytelling Voice Katy shares how she moved from nervously following traditional versions to confidently adapting stories, trusting that “the story is stronger than all of us.” The Sacred Feminine & Wild Women The Bowerman tale features mysterious women performing rituals in the woods - a powerful image of feminine power that punishes masculine arrogance and disrespect. Threshold Time & Stones That Move Sarah adds her own reflection after the story: at this threshold time approaching Samhain, “the very rocks under our feet can come alive and very places within us can turn to stone.” Everything has magical resonance when the veil is thin. The Story: Bowerman and the Wild Hunt Katy beautifully tells this Dartmoor legend about a boastful hunter who disturbs a coven of women performing rituals around a fire while chasing a hare. The hare-woman leads him on an exhausting night-long chase across the moors until dawn, when the mysterious women turn both Bowerman and his dogs to stone. The rocks still stand on Hayne Down and Hound Tor - and some say they move on autumn nights. Locations mentioned: Hayne Down, Hound Tor, Dartmoor (Devon) Katy Cawkwell’s Work Current Tour: “Wild Visions, Untamed Myth” with Lucy Lill * Greek mythology double bill * Katy’s half centers on Artemis * Lucy’s half features Cassandra * Derby (next week from recording) * Rural Northumberland (mid-October) Solo Show: “The Story of Lilith” * Exploring the first wife of Adam who refused to submit Background: * Host of Artemis Storytelling events in Exeter for 5 years * Featured on Radio 3 and Radio 4 * Performed at festivals across Iceland and Europe * Developed lockdown work through outdoor storytelling in Devon parks Resources Mentioned * Folkloric Map of Dartmoor by Ethan Pennel- search it out! * Women Who Gave No Fucks - Lucy Lill’s show that brought Katie and Lucy together Sponsor Avalon Cloaks - Handmade ritual cloaks from Glastonbury
* Featured in Netflix’s “Wednesday” * Worn by Glastonbury’s Bard and May Queen * “When you need a cloak worthy of your magic” Sarah’s Upcoming Events FREE Online Taster Session - This Thursday Morning Try out Sarah’s teaching style before committing to the winter series - storytelling, journaling, and experiencing how she works with Women Who Run With The Wolves. Women Who Run With The Wolves - Winter Series Online course starting in November for those who love the Thursday session Next Week: Rob Bray from Maythorne joins to discuss the Waning Moon celebration (October 20th at 777, Glastonbury) - a night of music, poetry, and storytelling as we approach Samhain Musical Note The episode opens and closes with Queen Space Baroque’s “Ritual Door 1” - Sarah describes it as “like a big musical podcast hug around my world.”
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).