Discovering Ourselves Through Fairy Tales: Insights from Story Therapist Anna Benu

Anna Benu: A Journey Through Fairy Tales and Self-Discovery

Anna Benu, a renowned story therapist, has penned a new bestseller titled “Women’s Elements: Healing Practices Through Archetypes of Fairy Tales and Myths.” Like her previous two books, this one is also breaking sales records. We had the opportunity to sit down with Anna and discuss how fairy tales and myths shape our worldview, the impact of initiations on our lives, and what sets her new book apart.

Anna Benu: A Multifaceted Personality

Anna Benu is a story therapist, cultural expert, designer, artist, writer, and traveler who explores the traditions of people worldwide. She is the author and instructor of the course “Story Therapy: Myth and Symbol” at the Institute of Trans-Oriented Psychology. Born in the Moscow region, Anna spent her early childhood in Zambia, immersed in a multicultural environment. Her first friends were an African girl named Christina and two Native American sisters. Her love for diverse cultures began in childhood and evolved into studying the traditions, dances, music, festivals, and rituals of people worldwide.

The Essence of the New Book

The book delves into female archetypes in fairy tales and myths, and female initiations. It highlights the significance of the moment when a girl’s body transforms into a woman’s body, marking the onset of the female cycle. This moment was celebrated in various cultural traditions, helping the girl embrace her new role, take pride in it, and love herself in this new form. The book describes age-related initiations associated with bodily changes, with the primary female initiations being the onset of the menstrual cycle, childbirth, and menopause.

Learning and Practices

Anna learned about female initiations in different countries, knowledge that wasn’t included in her previous books. She gathered insights from African peoples, Mexican knowledge from Elena Galkina’s courses on “Psychology of the Feminine,” and pre-Hispanic Mexican cultures, among others. The book also includes new chapters on helping people who have lost loved ones, guiding the soul of the deceased, and finding new strength to live. It features new fairy tales and chapters on parent-child relationships and healing family programs.

A Practical Approach

This book is fundamentally different because it includes practices and has a different structure. It is more applied and can be used by psychologists and anyone interested in self-improvement. Unlike her previous books, which focused on theory and comparative analysis of fairy tales and myths, this book offers practical exercises after each chapter. For example, if you’re interested in improving your relationship with your mother, you can read the relevant chapters and then engage in transformative practices.

Initiations and Their Importance

Initiations are rituals that help adolescents accept their new bodies, status, and roles. These rituals were crucial in various cultures and were linked to physical changes during puberty. Anna discovered that cultures with ongoing initiation practices have virtually no suicide rates. During initiations, adolescents were asked questions about their identity, purpose, and responsibilities, helping them develop self-respect and pride in their new roles.

Modern Initiations

While historical initiations were often harsh, modern initiations can be adapted to contemporary realities. For girls, initiations involved solitude and darkness, teaching them to trust their intuition and embrace their feminine essence. Although modern women may not experience traditional initiations, understanding these practices can provide valuable insights into self-discovery and personal growth.

Conclusion

Anna Benu’s new book offers a unique blend of theory and practice, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in fairy tales, myths, and personal development. By exploring the archetypes and initiations described in the book, readers can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world.

For more information on Anna Benu and her work, visit her official website.