The link between creative imagination and fairy tales is much stronger than many people believe. Fairy tales are much more than fun stories for children. There is often a hidden meaning. In many ways, a fairy tale is similar to a secret code that can only be cracked through careful examination and detailed analysis of each feature.
An in-depth analysis of incidents in a fairy tale can be an enlightening and productive exercise. The process will not only allow you to discover the hidden meaning of the fairy tale, but your efforts will be rewarded with a marked improvement in your ability to think more creatively.
You will also develop the ability to see situations from a completely different and much more imaginative perspective and find innovative solutions to problems.
These are the definite benefits that I experience after having completed a close and detailed examination of every incident in a fairy tale, no matter how trivial or inconsequential it may seem.
This unusual technique that I devised, of analyzing fairy tales to enhance creative power, owes its origin to the theories developed by Jung and Freud. Both psychologists delved into the subject of fairy tales and myths. Jung made special reference to fairy tales as an indication of man’s creative potential.
You might find this technique as rewarding as I do for enhancing your creative power. This unusual technique is worth experimenting with.
Let me show you how I proceed with this detailed “fairy analysis process”.
I found “Rumpelstilskin”, the story of a strange little man with a strange name who had the magical ability to turn straw into gold, a fairy tale well suited to analyze in depth. For this reason, I called the technique I developed, “The Rumpelstilskin Process”. But the same process can be used with most fairy tales.
For example, you can follow the same procedure with “Ali Baba and the 40 thieves”. You will find the results equally effective. When you think about it, what else is the Genie released from the bottle supposed to represent besides creative power?
Rumpelstilskin’s fairy tale.
If you have forgotten the details of this delightful fairy tale, you will find it worth reading one more time.
When you examine the incidents in the story in detail, you will realize that Rumpelstilskin’s ability to turn a worthless substance like straw into gold is not a supernatural power. It is not intended to signify a magical ability. It is a symbol of exceptional ability combined with the power of creativity.
Open any popular fairy tale book and re-read this fairy tale you enjoyed as a child. This time do it very carefully. Examine each incident and detail as you would when reading a detective story. Look for hidden clues.
After you have carefully read the fairy tale “Rumpelstilskin”, focus on certain incidents in the story and ask yourself the following questions:
How could a person like a common miller
to talk to someone as important as the King?
What was the miller’s motive in approaching the king?
Why was he so eager to impress the king?
Why did you make such an outlandish claim about your daughter’s life?
ability to turn straw into gold?
What prompted the king to test his skill?
What was the significance of the sudden appearance of
the strange little dwarf, “Rumpelstilskin”?
Why was it necessary for the miller’s daughter to make a number
of sacrifices “
What was the importance of the child to “Rumpestilskin”?
Why would I choose the child over so many rich people?
What was the meaning of the strange name “Rumpelstilskin”?
Aside from the mental exercise of examining every aspect of this fairy tale from every angle, there are important lessons to be learned. Situations must be viewed from a completely different perspective to understand their true meaning.
Only then can you come up with the most appropriate solution to a problem. You will know which is the most appropriate way to follow.
There are important lessons to be learned from the symbolism in the “Rumpelstilskin fairy tale.”
This fairy tale highlights the fact that most difficult situations, no matter how serious, can be solved. Obstacles can be overcome by using four vital strategies.
Strategy number one: Develop specialized skills, exceptional talents, technical expertise, or contingency plans. This will allow you to deal with any problems that may arise.
Strategy number two. Keep in mind that you will need to make certain sacrifices to address the issue at hand. Decide what sacrifices you are willing to make.
Strategy number three. Use your imagination to formulate creative solutions. These solutions must be part of the trade-offs and sacrifices you are willing to make.
Strategy number four: do not hesitate to turn to expert and professional advisers
whenever you consider it necessary.
In this story, the miller’s daughter used these four strategies to solve her problem.
First, he experimented with different techniques until he could come up with an effective method of transforming “straw” into “gold.”
Second, he realized that he would have to make sacrifices. You would have to give up something more and more precious each time.
Third, when the sacrifice it demanded of him – having to give up his son – was too drastic to consider, he had to use his imagination to find a creative solution. This involved the use of the secret name “Rumpelstilskin” to neutralize its power.
Ultimately, this vital information was provided by his professional advisers, his Couriers, whose help he counted on.
There is a clear message in the fairy tale. Every problem, every obstacle, every unpleasant situation that you are forced to face in life will require some form of response on your part.
In the course of life, one is called upon to face many unpleasant incidents.
It is not the nature of the incident, however serious it may seem, but your response that will determine whether or not you have been successful in treating the problem.
This answer question is the most important factor in dealing with all adverse situations in life. This is an important lesson to be learned from a “Rumpelstilkin’s fairy tale” exam.
Although the problems faced by the Miller’s daughter seemed insurmountable, she was able to solve them by responding creatively. The small gifts of jewelry that he gave to “Rumpestilskin” represented concessions.
They have an important symbolic meaning.
The importance of concessions or “sacrifices”.
You have the capacity, potential and ability to achieve any goal that you have set for yourself in life. But one thing is for sure. To achieve these goals
you will need to give up something in return.
The “sacrifice” you will have to make may be your moment; your energy; certain pleasures and diversions; favorite recreations; personal indulgences; even relationships.
You will have to make a personal assessment of how much you are willing to give up. It may be necessary for you to reorganize your life to suit your goal.
Everything you acquire in life involves an exchange in one way or another. This is an immutable law of nature. There are no free lunches!
To find the most suitable solution to any difficult situation and to respond effectively, it is necessary to approach the problem from a different perspective.
You will find the process of examining each incident in the fairy tale “Rumpelstilskin”.
– the “Rumpelstilskin Process” – a valuable mental exercise to develop your creative powers.
Examine incidents from other fairy tales in the same way. Once you’ve done this, don’t limit your efforts to fairy tales. Start looking at a variety of different situations in life from a completely different perspective.
Even if the conclusions you have drawn are implausible, impractical and completely unrealistic, this exercise will help you develop the ability to examine situations in a way that you have never thought of before. You will start to think more creatively.
Faced with problems that were once insurmountable, you will find that you are now able to handle difficult situations with ingenious and innovative techniques.
You will be able to harness the most powerful resources at your disposal – your creative imagination!
© Copyright Dennis Fisher.
