This week, we are joined by author and professional storyteller, Dawn Nelson, to discuss her new book and the fascinating world of ancient stones. The conversation covers everything from the rhythms of nature to the enduring folklore and modern myths that surround Britain’s standing stones.
Key Topics:
- Stories of the Sun: Dawn shares her inspiration for her book, which documents her experience watching a sunrise once a month for a year.
- Sunrise Reflections: The hosts and Dawn share personal anecdotes about their own experiences watching sunrises and the peaceful, sometimes cathartic, nature of the experience.
- Ancient Stones, Global Stories: Dawn provides a mini-history of stone circles, mentioning the 1,300 sites in Britain and comparing them to older sites like Gobekli Tepe in Turkey and the "works of old men" in Arabia.
- The Hurlers & Cornish Folklore: Andy shares the specific legend of The Hurlers, where the stones are believed to be men who were petrified for playing the ancient sport of hurling on a Sunday.
- The Curse of Stanton Drew: We discuss the folklore of the Zealous Bride who was turned to stone by the Devil for dancing on the Sabbath.
- Long Meg & Her Daughters: The story of a venture capitalist businesswoman in Cumbria who was turned into a stone circle due to her unpopularity.
- The Stonehenge Curse: Craig tells the tale of Cecil Chubb, the man who bought Stonehenge at an auction instead of curtains and gifted it to the public after a curse brought misfortune to the original owner.
- Modern Folklore: The conversation touches on modern legends, including a Stonehenge creepypasta about a mysterious disappearance and the ongoing "disappointing" reviews of the site.
- The London Stone: The episode wraps up with the surprising history of the London Stone, a small block of rock in Cannon Street with its own folklore and a strange connection to rebellion.
Stay Wyrd!
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Written and hosted by Craig Brooks and Andy Stevens
Edited by Craig Brooks
Intro music by Leonell Cassio - The Paranormal Is Real (ft. Carrie)
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