Fairy Tale Journaling

Have you ever felt lost in the woods, going in circles? Or like you are stuck in a tower with no way down?  Perhaps you feel like you are always chasing a happy ever after that you can’t quite reach. 

The language of fairytales is so much a part of us, that we instantly recognise where these questions land in our lives.  Every setting, character, villain, magic object or talking animal somehow feels like a part of us. It becomes easy to draw parallels to the situations we find ourselves in. 

That is why journaling using fairytales can be so powerful. In the The SpeakEasy sessions so far, we have found tales that unlocked emotions we hadn’t acknowledged before, or brought comfort to a difficult situation. We have noticed what our feelings towards the characters have shown us about ourselves and that why whether we love them or hate them can be a glimpse into our own hopes and fears. 

Over the next few months, each session will take a familiar tale and we will use it as a lens to get a new perspective on our situations. I thought I’d use this blog to share with you some of what we have been noticing. 

In our first session we looked at Snow White. I chose Snow White because she is such a well known character and most people are very familiar with her story. Which means the prompts later on in this post should make sense even if you haven't read it in a while. In The SpeakEasy, I told a version which leaned heavily on the Grimm’s version which you can read here.

But.. I am a storyteller and every storyteller brings something of themselves into the story. I will be telling my version in a future podcast episode and explain why I chose to highlight the elements I did. So do subscribe to Beyond The Good Girl podcast and keep an eye out for that.

When you read or listen to the story, what part of the story do you find most resonant?

That’s the premise for Fairytale Journaling. Whatever part feels most like it speaks to you- you take that part and ask a question about your life.

Like Tarot, or dreamwork we are allowing the imagery and symbols to bypass the thinking mind and start to show us what we might be missing by only examining a problem logically. 

Another really powerful part of fairytale journaling is an openness to writing without planning, to just seeing what falls out as the pen moves across the paper. 

In our Snow White Fairytale, here are 6 points you might find yourself at. Which feels truest for you right now? Pick one and use the journaling prompt as a jumping off point for writing.

1. In a changing situation

Snow White’s idyllic life had suddenly become dangerous due to the Queen’s jealousy. Are you in a situation that was working but has recently started to feel uncomfortable or restrictive?

2. Lost in the woods 

After being spared by the huntsman, Snow White is lost in the dark woods. She knows she needs to get out, but she can’t find her way in the dark. Is your situation like being lost in the woods, have you noticed a chink of daylight that you can walk towards or do you need to rest for the night and wait for light?

3. In the dwarves’ home

She finds home, a hearth, food, warmth,  friendship. The little house in the woods becomes somewhere to lay her head for a while. But everything is still just a little bit small.  Is your situation that you stopped for a rest somewhere on your path and ended up staying there even if it wasn’t quite the right fit?

4. In the glass coffin

Snow White eats the poison apple and it gets stuck in her throat. Everyone thinks she is dead and so they put her in a glass coffin but she’s not dead, only sleeping. Is there a part of you that is waking up, a desire or talent that has lain sleeping for a while?

5. The Trip up 

In the Grimm’s version, Snow White is not woken by a Prince’s kiss but by a root that a guardsmen stumbles on causing the apple to shoot out of her throat. Is there something in your path that may look like an obstacle but could be the thing that’s needed to move you along?

6. The Union 

Snow White wanted a prince. Of course she did, these Fairytales come from a time with minimal choice for women.  Her happy ever after is saying Yes to the marriage proposal to become the princess. What’s your version of happy ever after? What is it you truly desire? What do you need to say Yes to- to get closer to your dream?

If you want more Fairytale Journaling you can join The SpeakEasy. If you are not sure yet- come along to a free taster session. Next one is Sept 1st but keep an eye on the events tab for more.