Working Creatively with Fairy Tales: Growing Old Part 1 Workshop with Jennifer Ramsay

This is the first part of a 2-part series on the topic of growing old. Both parts are independent and can be done separately.

What is it like to grow old in our modern world? What does growing old mean to you? Are old people in our society considered elders or elderly or perhaps considered a burden on society? In this workshop we explore this theme accompanied by ancient wisdom embedded in fairy tales.

In most of the fairy tales that have survived to the present day, we discover that the protagonists are young, and that the main themes are focused around leaving home and finding one’s way in the world. Many of these stories finish with and ‘they lived happily ever after’. But what happens “In the Ever After” and how does this relate to the reality of aging in our contemporary society?

We will explore this through fairy tales from around the world where elders are protagonists. Most of the stories will be from Allan B. Chinen’s book “In the Ever After”. Each one reveals a deep folk wisdom about the psychological tasks encountered in the second half of life and offer an engaging exploration into adult development and aging and the problems and challenges of growing old in contemporary society.

We will explore the stories and the themes that come up using tools from the Story Arte creative toolbox. Gestalt therapy, art therapy and perhaps Psychodrama will be accompanying us on the voyage. We will examine the symbolic language of the fairy tale and the different story characters.

Stories have been with us since the very beginning of humanity when we gathered around the fire to listen to myths of creation to connect us with our inner selves, our clan and the universe. Stories have accompanied us through dark times, of war and plague and they are here to accompany us now, with their medicine, in this time of uncertainty.

In this workshop:

• We will call upon the ancient wisdom of this literary fairy tale to guide us.
• We will experiment with tools from the world of Gestalt, art therapy or psychodrama as we deepen into the symbolic language of the story.
• We will explore the archetypes present in the story and how they relate to modern times
• We will explore the themes that are present in the story and discuss how we could work around these themes with our clients.

This workshop is experiential, and participants will be invited to explore a story in depth and engage actively in the activities. Paper and something to draw and write with is required.

Learning Objective Participants Can Expect From This Event

• You will learn how to explore the theme of growing old in our society by using fairy tales.
• You will see how to work creatively with fairy tales in a therapeutic setting.
• You will learn about the symbolic language and get to know some of the archetypes in the story and explore how they relate to our modern lives.

Who is This Workshop Appropriate For?

• This workshop is appropriate for all therapists, counsellors, storytellers, carers and anyone else with a deep interest in exploring the world of stories and the topic of growing old in a symbolic way.

How May This Workshop Impact Your Practice?

• The ancient wisdom of fairy tales is a powerful element to have in your toolbox as it has passed the test of time. Working with a story may help a client to distance themselves from the issue and explore it through the point of view of different characters and symbols.