Warm Greetings from a snow dusted Scotland,

The temperature has dropped and it suddenly feels more winter than autumn.

The bite of winter makes me think of Baba Yaga's iron jaws- the death witch from Old Russia, who gobbled up unwary children when given half a chance... yet those who navigated her chicken hut with the required wit, diligence and blessing would return home with a ferocious light.

It's not the classic festive musing but that's where I'm at having shared the tale with my Myth as Medicine group last night. It's a cracker!

......

Winter is the classic time for gathering by the fire and telling tales to fend off the long, dark, cold nights.

I've got a little flurry of live events this week, linked below, but would like to share a couple of free online story resources below too, including a new BBC show featuring my excellent storytelling mentor and friend Jan Blake.

Live Storytelling

From Jordan with Love

Thursday the 30th November I'll be joined by storyteller and author Janis Mackay and Moroccan Gnawa musician Omar Afif, as we reflect upon our recent trip to the Kingdom of Jordan and share stories from the Levant and music from the wider Arab world. Money raised with go towards emergency aid in Gaza and I'm going to tell a ghoulish tale from Syria for the first time.

https://scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:5156/913:21802/

Midwinter Tales at Rosslyn Chapel

I'll be welcoming in December at the exquisite Rosslyn chapel. Expect Polar bears, Festive trolls and seasonal tree tales.

https://www.rosslynchapel.com/live-event/midwinter-tales-330pm-2/

Online

Voices of Celtic Wisdom also starts this eve with tonights tutor leading a session on making a deerskin pouch. I'll be offering a fiery Celtic tale to kindle the hearth in January. Scholarships and payment plans are available. Use the following link to enquire:

https://weaving-remembrance.mykajabi.com/a/2147716521/EiCWvZ7T

Free online Resources

Musical Storyland

I'm excited to see my faourite storytelling Mentor Jan Blake bringing here live storytelling expertise to the BBC, with this new show on CBeebies. You can watch her telling of Anansi and the monkeys here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001sz38/musical-storyland-series-1-3-ananse-and-the-monkeys

Dragonfly Tales

Again with an emphasis for a younger audience, is Dragonfly Tales Podcast. This podcast has lit up many a car journey with my daughter. I recently enjoyed their episode with Baba Yaga:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dragonfly-tales/id1503551826?i=1000634637456

Land and Stories Article

Finally, an article referencing another storyteller called Dougie who recently walked across Scotland, tracking the tales that lie in the land. He's written a book about it and I like his style. Worth a browse I'd say.

https://dark-mountain.net/the-king-of-scarbas-daughter/?fbclid=IwAR1IAVCp3_yNu1eiR6G-xhZTtkCkHRgzFMfjIKogeTiSEO0yBHVkAasp2is

Wishing you many fine tales through the Darker months

All best

Dougie