Martin Shaw: The Hunter and the Fox Woman

A mythical short story as told by Martin Shaw, Poetics of Imagination MA tutor at Dartington Arts School.
Martin is a mythologist, writer and teacher of wilderness rites-of-passage. Author of the Mythteller trilogy (A Branch From The Lightning Tree, Snowy Tower and Scatterlings), he founded the Oral Tradition course at Stanford University, and has contributed to Desmond Tutu’s leadership programme at Templeton College, Oxford.
artsschool.dartington.org

[@gisellechausse5261]

Your rendition of the fox wife is so beautiful! There's an element that makes it feel like a story of real people is being told. The way you ended it teaches a wise lesson, to always accept your loved ones unconditionally. Never stop telling the stories you love to tell. You have the gift for it

[@DatGloriaVires]

I'm not sure that's the overall message. I couldn't see how that would be a tenable solution to an abusive relationship for example. Anyway, interpretations are subjective.

[@superwormhalz2607]

Perhaps the message is fantasy, and fairytales can not stay in a home if it stinks the place up the proper place or integration must be found. But without it, we lose our hearts, and we feel alone.

[@florencepierce1864]

Wow! What a true Storyteller. I’ve heard this story before, but never Felt it before. He imbues the story with such life and love and joy and pain - the loss that you don’t feel when you first make that terrible mistake and the pain you won’t realise and the actions you won’t regret - until it’s too late & you can’t take it back. And you can Feel it as he tells the story. I heard someone else telling the story that it was in the snow & the Hunter watched forever more across the snowy wastes, aching even for a sight of the Fox Woman’s tail - and yet despite how evocative that Seems, I never felt the Hunter’s pain until I heard This version. Again: Just Wow.

[@teresaiche4722]

I have no idea how many times I have listened to you tell this story Martin…and each time it touches just that bit deeper 💜 thank you🙏

[@DragonNo1]

Beautiful story and very well presented! The problem nowadays is that the fox wife doesn't cook, clean, or tell stories; and she's just for herself. We, hunters are learning, that being alone isn't that bad. A new story should emerge: how to accommodate for a fox wife that knows a bit of cooking, etc. and a hunter that can tolerate a little of the pelt scent. A balance can be stricken to allow the species to continue on earth.

[@miriamsorrellpoetry8299]

Thank you.

[@rachelsingleton6838]

Stunning - thank you

[@galina-healing]

Incredible beauty!!!!

[@davidcurtis8677]

I wonder if it talks about the exile of the wild women, that resides in every women. That some cultural norms ask women to be different, so that they can fit into a domesticated life style, but the wild side of women can't endure these rules and runs away. The result is a greatly diminished relationship for both parties, now that the women is repressing apart of herself. Maybe something similar can be said about the wild man. ......

[@ArticTusk-o2j]

You should ask them what they think about you speaking about the exile of wild women. This concept only exists in stories.

[@anajuliasilveira7953]

can someone tell me what is "pelt"? (non english speaker)

[@Anthony-oz6vd]

a pelt is the skin and hair of an animal.

[@anajuliasilveira7953]

Thank you!@@Anthony-oz6vd

[@corinneberry7603]

❤

[@ArticTusk-o2j]

And this why we shouldn't shoot foxes and why we shouldn't shoot wolves

[@lilibetp]

Why not just ask to wash the pelt?

[@stevendouglas3781]

Because the pelt wasn’t the problem. His attitude that a miraculous gift of a woman needs to be perfect was. There was no smell before the fox woman, but when she left he missed it. He was improperly orientated to what is good in life.

[@watermelonlalala]

Hunters hunt. BS story.

[@ArticTusk-o2j]

Don't be ridiculous. Only fisherman tell lies.

[@ephjos5649]

Ok but how stinky is too stinky? And why is there only one woman in the forest? And while we're at it, how do we know the hunter isn't standing lonely in his whole body, and kicking himself as the place still stinks, it was his own farts all along.

[@darcyschneider8525]

A treasure of a story, told with astonishing impact. May it enter the hearts of many!

[@rhemi553]

wow such a nice discovery... a man gifted with the ancient art of the storyteller.

[@ArticTusk-o2j]

The part that is left open to interpretation is that the Fox is the female protagonist. The Fox is a shapeshifter.

[@ArticTusk-o2j]

The Fox is somomeones wife.

[@LailaLivsdatter]

❤

[@stevendouglas3781]

We’re all a little jealous to this day.

[@alibongo5545]

💚✨

[@stevendouglas3781]

I have returned here many times. Martin Shaw is a master, and it’s so beautiful he has found his faith. Creating a connection between the hunter and the audience’s own experience with tiredness was a nice touch