The Power of Stories
Nurturing Children’s Imagination and Consciousness
- Publisher
Floris Books - Published
28th August 2008 - ISBN 9780863156595
- Language English
- Pages 208 pp.
Stories—from the great myths and legends to enchanting fairy tales, parables, fables and folktales—can have great healing and educative power. They come from our subconscious and imagination deep inside us. They have much to teach us about ourselves and the world we create around us.
Horst Kornberger, a writer, artist, and Waldorf teacher, first explores the power of particular stories such as Odysseus, Parsifal, Oedipus, Bible stories, and fairy tales. He explains how to apply that power to help a child develop or to heal and transform a child having difficulties.
Finally, Horst discusses the art and practicalities of creating new stories to help children with particular needs, showing that storytelling is a universal gift that we can use to benefit those around us.
This is a fascinating and inspiring book for teachers, parents, and those who care for children, as well as creative writers and students of literature.
“This beautifully written and wise book taps into a deep source, the spring of imagination. The author...gives very helpful examples of certain stories particularly well-suited to different ages, explaining how each matches and reflects the child's developing consciousness. If you have anything to do with children, buy this book. If you have anything to do with yourself, buy it as well.” —Matthew Barton, New View, summer 2007
“This book is about nurturing children's imagination and consciousness by the means of stories, the author calls this Story Medicine, whereby ancient traditions used stories as a means of transformation and healing.... This is a very important study of the role of stories in shaping our culture, reminding the reader of their central role.'
-- David Lorimer, Scientific and Medical Network Review
“Kornberger reminds us of the most powerful reason for using stories, that of helping children to understand their world and to overcome challenges.... If you read no other book about the importance of storytelling and the power of stories, I would recommend buying this book.... The book contains many stories that you will be familiar with and some that may be new. It will offer you a new way of looking at rhymes and stories and why they form an essential part of development.” —Early Years Educator, Jan. 2009
Horst Kornberger