From the Editor
“In myths and fairy tales, as in dreams, the psyche tells its own story, and the interplay of the archetypes is revealed in its natural setting as “formation transformation/eternal Mind’s eternal recreation.” C. G. Jung (1948/1968, CW, 9i, para. 400)
“Fairy tales are the purest and simplest expression of collective unconscious psychic processes.” Marie-Louise von Franz (1966, 1)
Fairy tales enchant us and take us to a special and often profound place whereas myths add the cultural component, expressing the natural character of the civilization in which they originate. Fairy tales are the purest and simplest expression of collective unconscious processes and give us the best clues to an understanding of the processes going on in the collective psyche; they mirror the basic patterns of the psyche more clearly, presenting typical responses to typical human problems. As von Franz says, they do so because they represent the archetypes in their barest, simplest, and most concise form.
Why as Jungians would we be interested in fairy tales? Jung says we can best study the comparative anatomy of the psyche through fairy tales because they mirror the simplest basic structure—the skeleton—of the psyche. Fairy tales go beyond cultural and racial differences and thus become the international language of all humankind. From the beginning to the end, an entirely new situation emerges, resulting in a transformation. We can see the deficiency in the beginning and then a new level is attained through an accomplished development, and we open up to an entirely new situation; transformation has occurred. In the beginning, there seems to be a limited set of possibilities, but in the end, the hero has abandoned the various ruts through accepting new challenges and can once again take advantage of their opportunities. A blueprint that promises hope for all.
In addition, we want to acknowledge Susanne Short who received the NAAP Gradiva Award for her article “Who Shall Soothe These Feverish Children,” published in the Fall 2024 (18-4) issue of Jung Journal: Culture & Psyche. Congratulations!
Audrey Punnett, Editor-in-Chief