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The Story Apothecary

The Story Apothecary

By Nana Tomova

The Story Apothecary is a podcast filled with medicinal and healing stories. Nana Tomova, a Storyteller and a Mental Health Pharmacist dispenses stories for sadness and anxiety, and shares tales for loss, happiness and love. Here you will find her prescriptions of stories for the body, mind, heart and soul, and for the Earth. Come into the Story Apothecary as we enter the healing world of stories together.
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1. The Curing Fox

The Story Apothecary Apr 14, 2020

00:00
21:49
44. The Snow Maiden
Jan 16, 202429:56
43. The Twelve Months

43. The Twelve Months

Story Prescription: A reminder to live in the present to embrace each season of life as it arrives.

A magical story from Bulgaria about the time that all the twelve months gathered together, and what happened when a brave young girl saw them in the midst of winter searching for snowdrops, for new hope.

I wish you all very merry Christmas and a Joyful New Year!

_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.
Dec 23, 202330:28
42. Daughter of the Moon, Son of the Sun
Oct 21, 202336:42
41. The Husband Who Stayed at Home
Sep 01, 202323:50
40. Little Red Riding Hood

40. Little Red Riding Hood

Story Prescription: A story about coming of age, about having courage and about the importance of wise grandmothers.
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Story Caution: This story is for people over the age of 14, not because there are scary wolves, but because it contains some mature content.
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If you think you know Little Red Riding Hood, think again. I share with you the oral women's version of the story from France, before it became a written down and 'famous' version. There is a wolf of course, but this is where the similarities end. A story of women's sexuality and bravery. Enjoy!
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To support my work financially you can become a a regular patron on Patreon. You can also 'buy me a coffee' as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening.
To join me for the Handless Maiden workshop, you can find more here.

Music: Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.
Aug 06, 202338:28
39. Rumpelstiltskin
Jul 03, 202345:34
38. Cinderella (Mara Pepelashka)
May 29, 202327:22
37. The Magic Fiddle
Apr 01, 202321:09
36. The Spoilt Daughter

36. The Spoilt Daughter

-Story Prescription: A story for the freedom of women
-Story Caution: TW: This story deals with domestic violence
A Bulgarian well-known folktale of Bogdana, who was a spoilt daughter and therefore a bad, good-for-nothing wife. But is there more than meets the eye? In a ecofeminist retelling of this story, we might find that there is more than meets the eye to useless, spoilt Bogdana, and her idiot mother. Perhaps their voices have been forgotten, up till now. A story I dedicate to all Bulgarian women across the world, who were only told a singular version of this story. The stories we are told influence the lives we live.
To support my work financially you can become a a regular patron on Patreon. You can also 'buy me a coffee' as a one-off way of supporting me if you enjoy listening.
Jan 31, 202339:27
35. The Golden Maiden
Nov 21, 202242:50
34. Vasilisa and Baba Yaga

34. Vasilisa and Baba Yaga

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.
.
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.
Oct 22, 202254:16
33. Clever Gretel

33. Clever Gretel

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.
_
Music:
Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.
Aug 29, 202224:33
32. The Tailor's Coat

32. The Tailor's Coat

-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.
Aug 09, 202227:06
31. Storyteller Wendy Shearer shares the story of How Tortoise Fooled Elephant
Jul 12, 202250:32
30. The Paid Advice

30. The Paid Advice

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.
May 11, 202229:24
29. Why the Bat Hangs Upside Down

29. Why the Bat Hangs Upside Down

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.
Feb 23, 202228:48
28. Baba Yaga and the Seven Orphans

28. Baba Yaga and the Seven Orphans

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.
_
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.
Jan 19, 202239:57
27. Christmas Story - Brother and Sister

27. Christmas Story - Brother and Sister

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.
_
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
_
Music:
Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music.
Episode Artwork by Winslow Homer, 1892.
Dec 20, 202121:41
26. The Seventh Swan

26. The Seventh Swan

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.
_
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.
Dec 01, 202128:14
25. The Three Aunts

25. The Three Aunts

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.
_
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.
Nov 03, 202132:37
24. Mannikin Spanalong
Oct 06, 202125:31
23. Vasilisa, the Priest's Daughter
Sep 06, 202129:59
22. The River
Aug 10, 202123:57
21. The Treasure in the Land

21. The Treasure in the Land

A sweet story about the bread of life, and about the tenderness and richness of the harvest.
-Story Prescription: A story for the earth and the land.
_
Ways to Support this podcast:
-If you have enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating or review as this helps others to find it. Share this podcast with your friends and on social media. You can find me on Instagram
@nana.tomova or on Twitter @NanaTomova or on Facebook @NanaTomovaStoryteller
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. You can find more of his music and musings at www.instagram.com/in.feathers/
Jul 19, 202123:15
20. The Wood Maiden
Jun 09, 202140:41
19. The Linden Tree
May 19, 202126:45
18. The Wise Little Girl

18. The Wise Little Girl

A story from Russia about a seven year old who knows the important things in life.
-Story Prescription: A story about the wisdom of women, and of our younger selves. A story of nature, and for valuing the strong, wise, and independent girls in our stories and in our world.
_
Ways to Support this podcast:
-If you have enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating or review as this helps others to find it. Share this podcast with your friends and on social media. You can find me on Instagram
@nana.tomova or on Twitter @NanaTomova or on Facebook @NanaTomovaStoryteller. You can book story walks and find out about my work and upcoming events via my website www.nanatomova.com
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. You can find more of his music and musings at www.instagram.com/in.feathers/
Mar 30, 202136:17
17. What Do Women Want (The Loathsome Hag)
Mar 08, 202134:43
16. Whatever you do, you do it to yourself
Feb 23, 202121:16
15. Monkeys Rescue the Moon - National Storytelling Week
Feb 02, 202120:07
14. The Potter's Wish

14. The Potter's Wish

A wise and lighthearted story from Nepal about a potter who makes a wish for his pots to be unbreakable.
-Story Prescription: A story for perfectionism, a story for and about creativity, imperfection and the beauty of impermanence.
_
Ways to Support this podcast:
-If you have enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating or review as this helps others to find it. Share this podcast with your friends and on social media. You can find me on Instagram
@nana.tomova or on Twitter @NanaTomova or on Facebook @NanaTomovaStoryteller
.
To support my work financially you can become a a regular patron on Patreon, and you will receive the gift of Baba Yaga's Calendar, stories, poems 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. You can find more of his music and musings at www.instagram.com/in.feathers/
Jan 19, 202125:47
13. Grandmother Plague (Baba Chuma)
Jan 05, 202121:32
12. Stone Soup
Dec 08, 202022:34
11. Tatterhood
Nov 17, 202037:55
10. Mother Moon

10. Mother Moon

A beautiful, sad and hopeful story from Lincolnshire in the UK about the Moon, and people's reliance on her light.
-Story Prescription: For anyone who is looking for light. For those who wish to get in touch with their intuition, and to honour their feminine nature. For those who need to know when to rest. For those people who wish to uncover what lies for them inside the bogs, and to uncover where the light has gone. For anyone who might be feeling down, or going through dark times - a story about light and hope prevailing after darkness. And for all mothers out there, who at times may sit in the darkness for those they love.
-Story Caution: In this story, there are some parts which deal with violence against the Moon. If anyone has experienced physical or sexual trauma, ensure that before listening you are feeling resourced. It's such a beautiful and medicinal story - if listened at the right time for you.
_
Ways to Support this podcast:
-If you have enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating or review as this helps others to find it. Share this podcast with your friends and on social media. You can find me on Instagram
@nana.tomova or on Twitter @NanaTomova or on Facebook @NanaTomovaStoryteller
.
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. You can find more of his music and musings at www.instagram.com/in.feathers/
Oct 20, 202035:08
9. The Willow Wife
Sep 01, 202028:38
8. Munachar & Manachar

8. Munachar & Manachar

Aug 18, 202030:19
7. ‘Death in a Nut’ with storyteller Daniel Allison

7. ‘Death in a Nut’ with storyteller Daniel Allison

In this episode, I conduct my first ever interview. It was really lovely to interview Daniel Allison for this podcast, and I will be featuring in his: House of Legends. You can find more about Daniel here: www.houseoflegends.me
In this episode we discuss creativity and the dance between writing stories and telling stories, how the places we live in and have a connection with influence the stories we tell. We discuss how we can be in relationship with stories more deeply, how it is important to keep them as true as possible. We talk about what wisdom we have gained from stories, and how they can encourage us to welcome life fully - all parts of it - the beauty, the sorrow, the hardship, the joy and the love.
Daniel tells Duncan Williamson’s beautiful Jack story called "Death in a Nut”. Duncan Willimason used to be an oral storyteller from the Scottish travelling community, and his stories have lived on and are truly special.
Story Prescription: For anyone who is finding it challenging to accept the good and the bad, the happiness and the difficulties intertwined. For anyone who is grappling with the trials of death in their house or community - whether that be of a life or an idea, a relationship, a creation. This is a light and humorous tale, and yet acknowledges something really important: Death is what keeps the world alive.
Music: Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music. You can find more of his music and musings at www.instagram.com/in.feathers/
If you enjoy my podcast please leave a rating and a review, as this helps others to find it. To support my work, and to hear more stories you can find me on Patreon at www.patreon.com/NanaTomova.
Jul 28, 202043:39
6. The Dream Serpent

6. The Dream Serpent

A king has dreams he cannot decipher, and a young peasant interprets the dreams due to the help of a wise serpent A poignant story about how we may be influenced by our surroundings more than we think. And a story about how the dreams that visit us at night might be worth listening to.
Story Prescription: For those that wish to belong, for those that have done something they regret, or for those that wish to live life differently.
Music: Thank you to In Feathers for the beautiful music. You can find more of his music and musings at
www.instagram.com/in.feathers/
If you enjoy my podcast please leave a rating and a review, as this helps others to find it. To support my work, and to hear more stories you can find me on Patreon at www.patreon.com/NanaTomova.
You can find the Mental Health Storytelling Project Crowdfunder here and you can find out more about and join the Crowdfunder Launch Party here
Story Source: Based on a Georgian folktale called "The Peasant and the Serpent" from a story collection titled Folktales from all nations; F.H. Lee; 1931. Storyteller Hugh Lupton also tells this story by the name of "The Snake of Dreams"
Jul 14, 202025:21
5. The White Wolf
Jun 16, 202023:07
4. The Tiger's Whisker
Jun 03, 202029:51
3. The Magic Ring
May 12, 202017:29
2. The Mustard Seed
Apr 28, 202023:49
1. The Curing Fox
Apr 14, 202021:49
Podcast Trailer

Podcast Trailer

Welcome to the Story Apothecary, where you will find healing and medicinal stories for the body, heart, mind, soul and Earth.
Apr 13, 202000:60