In this episode, the storyteller, Kathy Shimpock explores the crone's role as the midwife in Irish and European folktales. The story she will share with you is called "Midwife to the Fairies." In this story, we'll learn more about the crone and even more about those disagreeable fairies. Finally, we'll ponder medieval midwifery, and in doing so perhaps uncover some healing wisdom for today.
Story: Anna Eliza Bray, "Midwife to the Fairies," in Traditions, Legends, Superstitions, and Sketches of Devonshire on the Borders of the Tamar and the Tavy, vol. 1 (London: John Murray, 1838), pp. 183-88.
Cover illustration: "A midwife presents St Anne, naked except for a white cap, with the baby Mary." Ranworth Antiphoner, fol 257.
Music: The Snow Queen Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Copyright 2021 Kathy Shimpock.
For more crone tales, visit the "Wise Crone Cottage in the Woods" (http://www.wisecronecottage.com).