The Ancient Wisdom in Fairy Tales | Dr Sharon Blackie
Summary
Dr. Sharon Blackie discusses how fairy tales and myths offer wisdom for living meaningful lives, drawing on her working-class upbringing and Neoplatonic beliefs. She explores the degradation of women’s stories in patriarchal traditions and advocates for reclaiming original folklore to teach values like responsibility, reciprocity, and respect. Blackie emphasizes that these narratives help individuals process trauma while fostering community and connection to the natural world.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The power of fairy tales and first stories
Sharon's Neoplatonist worldview and the concept of the One
Childhood in Hartlepool: Working-class values and family trauma
The story of 'The Girl Without Hands' and resilience
Leaving corporate life: A midlife crisis and learning to fly
From neuroscience to narrative therapy and women's stories
Celtic mythology: The Dagda, Boann, and suppressed wisdom
Navigating gender essentialism and the 'both/and' approach
The three R's: Relationship, reciprocity, and resilience
The 'Cloak of Many Furs' and the absence of good fathers
Critique of the Hero's Journey and Joseph Campbell
The Eco-Heroine's Journey and ecological balance myths
Dark truths: Sexual violence in original fairy tales
Conclusion: Why children need the full, unvarnished stories
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