Mooney's Mythic Podcast

Mooney Stories

Myth Making, Spell Breaking. It’s about knowing our psyche as a treasure chest and using story as a map. Not for children. Fuck. sarahmooney.substack.com

  1. Halsway Manor - King Orphy & The Hag with the Money

    14 JAN

    Halsway Manor - King Orphy & The Hag with the Money

    Sarah shares from her week at Halsway Manor (National Centre for Folk Arts) - the library behind a hidden door, feeling like a rabbit in the headlights among musicians, and telling the story of King Orphy (the ballad version where they COME BACK). Plus: Mother’s Christmas (January 6th, Irish women celebrating), Sian Reid teaches “The Hag with the Money,” and navigating imposter syndrome with a holly brooch. This is a long one - settle in with a cup of tea for winter dreaming. Music: * Queen Space Baroque - “Ritual Door 2” (opening) * Sian Reid - “An Cailleach An Airgid” (Gaelic) * Nik Wyke and Bcki Driscoll play their new tune, a work in progress. * Old Time musicians at Halsey Manor (fiddle, bagpipes, collective jam) Featured: * Halsway Manor (National Centre for Folk Arts, Quantocks) * Sian Reid (Irish musician, Mother’s Christmas tradition) * Mabinogi (12th-13th century Welsh stories) * Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special * Anastasia (book about planting seeds) Upcoming Events: * January 17: Alfred Gillett Trust Orchard Wassail * Jan 29-31: Dave Sanger Circus Show, Evercreech * Feb 13: Aphrodite & Love Stories * Feb 14: Love Cabaret, Avalon Centre Glastonbury (comparing) * Feb 16-17: Wookey Hole * April 10-12: Wales Storytelling Residential (all levels, working with story for transformation) * March (start): Women Who Run With Wolves Wednesdays (8 sessions, every other Wednesday) Support: Patreon | PayPal (thefullmooney@gmail.com) | Share the pod! For: Storytellers, musicians feeling imposter syndrome, anyone gathering lost parts of self, people who love ballads with happy endings, winter dreamers, wassailers. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sarahmooney.substack.com

    53 min
  2. Winter Dreaming Stories

    29/12/2025

    Winter Dreaming Stories

    In the stillness between Christmas and New Year, Sarah offers three stories for your winter dreaming: Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Rose Elf” (love, murder, and jasmine’s revenge), plus two original tales - a girl searching for her dreams in the darkness, and a boy who dances with bears to bring peace. In this episode: * The silence and languish of this stretch between holidays * Mic in a bowl of walnuts (new recording technique!) * Planning for February 13th gig (love stories that aren’t traditional love stories) * Halsey Manor residency (5th time applying!) - exploring where fairy tale, folk ballad, and sea shanty meet * THE ROSE ELF: Tiny elf witnesses murder, lives in roses, jasmine revenge, flower spirits and bees * THE GIRL WHO LOVED TO DREAM: Bear, seven sisters, archer, turtle carrying her home * THE BOY WHO DANCED WITH BEARS: People cowering in fear, boy hears dancing not danger, dances with bears for peace * The golden-haired woman story (murdered woman’s truth told through reed flute) * January 4th online journey (2-6pm) - storytelling, soul journeying, creative writing, dreaming your year (by donation) “Winter is the time for our dreams, for things to unspool in our minds, to fill ourselves with our own liminal and deep imagining.” Stories Featured: * “The Rose Elf” by Hans Christian Andersen * “The Girl Who Loved to Dream” by Sarah Mooney * “The Boy Who Danced with Bears” by Sarah Mooney Mentioned: * Halsey Manor (National Centre for Folk Arts) * Fire Draw Near (folk music show) * Broadside ballad (captain, maid, robbery, broadsword as oar) * Reed flute story (golden-haired woman) * Intro music Ritual Door by Queen Space Baroque Support: Patreon (Mooney’s Mythic Podcast) | PayPal (thefullmooney@gmail.com) Upcoming: January 4th online journey (comment on podcast to join) For: These liminal days, Tupperware-clearing energy, winter dreamers, people who need permission to be still. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sarahmooney.substack.com

    35 min
4.6
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Myth Making, Spell Breaking. It’s about knowing our psyche as a treasure chest and using story as a map. Not for children. Fuck. sarahmooney.substack.com