Russian Archetypes: The Fairy-Tale Cultural Code That Influences Our Lives

In this book, you will see how archetypal images manifest in a person’s personality today, and you will learn to read the hidden layers of meaning in familiar fairy-tale stories. Based on “Tom Thumb,” “Nikita the Leather-Cutter,” and other plots, the book offers exercises and practices that help strengthen inner supports and find answers to the most important life questions.

Татьяна Зинкевич-Евстигнеева – Ph.D, creator of the Comprehensive Fairy-Tale Therapy method, president of the International Union of Fairy-Tale Therapists.

Many people think that a fairy tale is only a cultural artifact, far removed from the reality of the 21st century. Its events may seem ridiculous and illogical because today its symbolic language requires translation. But fairy tales are not a relic of the past—they are an effective way to comprehend life lessons and gain inner resilience.

This book grew out of the author’s 30 years of work with fairy tales and observations of human destinies. Here, the author’s system of archetypes is presented, and it shows how these archetypes are reflected in the character, choices, and life path of a modern person. By examining well-known plots (“Tom Thumb,” “Chernushka,” “Nikita the Leather-Cutter”), you will understand how fairy-tale stories help you see yourself more clearly and get closer to answers to life’s key questions.

Inside:
• a list of universal archetypes and their Russian variants;
• analysis of the most important fairy-tale plots;
• self-knowledge tools—exercises for restoring contact with the archetypal in yourself and strengthening inner supports;
• ways to apply archetypes in fairy-tale therapy.