Episode 15

The Heroine At the Crossroads: The Story Is the Knot | Ep 15

Published on: 4th May, 2022

Our Story

“Lord Thomas and Fair Eleanor” appear in a ballad from the 17th century that has been passed across Scotland, England, Ireland, Canada, and the US for centuries. Marisa Goudy’s retelling of the tale is inspired by a version collected in the 1930s Irish Schools Collection of Folklore, found at Duchas.ie. It’s the tale of a love triangle with a bloody end. It’s the tale of a heroine caught at the crossroads.

Our Exploration

This final episode of season 1 of KnotWork Storytelling is a solo exploration of Fair Elen’s story. Marisa explores the history of the ballad and describes her own journey to finding the song: a failed attempt at finding a source for stories of Elen of the Ways, a figure purported to be a Celtic goddess of the crossroads.

Marisa also examines the multiple layers of meaning associated with “sovereignty” and how her relationship with her 2020 book, The Sovereignty Knot, is a prime example of how any author or artist’s relationship with their creation changes over time.

An Invitation to Meet the Heroine Within You

In May 2022, Marisa is offering a free online workshop, The Heroine At the Crossroads:

Meet the Heroine Within You & Discover a New Discernment Tool that Will Help You Meet Any Challenging Situation.

For details and to find a workshop date and time that works for your time zone, visit www.marisagoudy.com/crossroads

During our hour together, you’ll learn about the qualities that define a heroine and meet the archetypes of Sovereignty. They help you understand that there are countless ways to be a heroine and that there are always new ways to look at and approach the tangles of life. 

You’ll walk away with this new tool that will help you look at the energy you bring to every decision and will help you choose how to respond to whatever comes your way.

Our Music

Music at the start of the show is by Beth Sweeney and Billy Hardy, a Celtic Fiddle and multi-instrumental Duo based on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The traditional Irish reel we play at the start of the show is called The College Groves. Find out about their music and shows at: billyandbeth.com

Discover, Heal & Write Your Own Stories: Work with Marisa

Book a Healing for Heroines session: a unique blend of energy medicine, intuitive guidance, and the language of archetypes and mythology to help you work through the tangles of life so you can weave a new story.

Explore Marisa's work and get a copy of The Sovereignty Knot: www.marisagoudy.com

Follow the show on InstagramFacebook, and join our vibrant listeners' community.

Join the free Heroine at the Crossroads class in May: www.marisagoudy.com/crossroads

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About the Podcast

KnotWork Storytelling
Myths Retold, from Ireland and Beyond
In each KnotWork Storytelling episode, we'll explore a different story from mythology, folklore, or history, particularly from Ireland and the Celtic World. Then, my guest and I dive deep into why these ideas and characters still resonate today.

Your host is Marisa Goudy, author of The Sovereignty Knot: A Woman’s Way to Freedom, Power, Love, and Magic. She is a Myth Worker, a Story Healer, a Writing Coach, and a has an MA in Irish literature from University College Dublin.

Join us as we wander through these ancient storylines as we set out on a quest to learn from the past, better understand the present, and craft a sustainable future.

Every episode reminds us that age-old stories are medicine for this modern moment.

About your host

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Marisa Goudy

Marisa Goudy is a story healer, a writing coach, and a word witch. Her book, The Sovereignty Knot: A Woman’s Way to Freedom, Power, Love, and Magic, was released in 2020.
Marisa nurtures writers and storytellers in her long-running online writing community, the Sovereign Writers’ Knot.
On this show, Marisa combines her passion for story with her love of Irish literature, culture, and folklore and her fascination with the Celtic world. She has a particular love of stories of heroines, goddess, and women whose tales were forgotten by history.