神話、傳說和童話 MYTHS, LEGENDS & FAIRYTALES

在榮格心理學中，神話、傳說和童話被視為人類心靈深層結構的表達。這些故事能跨越文化與世代流傳，是因為它們觸及了我們內在共同的經驗——例如愛與失落、危機與重生、背叛與救贖等原型主題。這些不僅僅是娛樂或歷史遺產，而是我們內在心理旅程的象徵地圖。從這些故事的圖像與情節中，我們能看見自己內在的恐懼、渴望、創傷與追尋。

這些故事所說的，是潛意識能理解的象徵語言。它們為一些我們尚未能清楚表達的內在經歷，提供了具體形象。比如，一條守護寶藏的巨龍，可能象徵著阻礙我們發揮潛能的恐懼；一個迷路的孩子，或許代表著內在那部分被忽略或遺棄的自我。透過與這些故事的互動，我們能更深入地與內心對話。神話和童話不會直接告訴我們應該怎樣做，但它們透過象徵方式提醒我們，轉化往往從最意想不到的地方開始，並揭示「成為人」的深層意義。

為什麼我們在治療中會探索神話與童話？

• 理解原型如何在故事中展現（例如英雄、陰影、智者或小丑）。
• 透過象徵性的敘事，覺察內在衝突與生命轉折。
• 以間接但深刻的方式，接觸情感層面的經驗。
• 減少孤單感，因為個人困境其實與人類集體經驗相連。我們的故事其實是更大故事的一部分。

我們如何在治療中運用這些故事？

• 留意故事中的象徵與主題，並思考：這是否反映了我們當下的處境？
• 找出故事旅程與我們個人成長或情緒歷程之間的對應。
• 辨識其中的原型，協助我們了解難以言喻的內在動力。
• 有時候，當某個故事特別有共鳴，我們會進一步進入故事的想像空間，探索更深的意義，就像進行夢境探索或主動想像一樣。

這些古老的故事蘊含跨越時代的智慧。在榮格心理治療中，它們成為我們心靈的活地圖——幫助我們了解自己正處於哪個階段、面對甚麼挑戰，以及內在有甚麼潛能正在等待被發現。當我們投入這些故事時，或許也會開始看見：我們的人生其實正沿著類似的象徵軌跡展開——經歷考驗、轉折與蛻變，就像那些古老的旅程一樣。

In Jungian psychology, myths, legends, and fairytales are seen as expressions of the deep structures of the human psyche. These stories have endured across cultures and centuries because they speak to something universal in us—archetypal experiences of love and loss, danger and renewal, betrayal and redemption. They are not merely entertainment or cultural relics; they are symbolic maps of inner life. Within their images and plotlines, we find reflections of our own psychological journeys—our fears, desires, wounds, and longings.

These stories speak a symbolic language that the unconscious understands. They give shape to inner experiences we may not yet have words for. A dragon guarding treasure may represent the fear that blocks us from claiming our full potential. A lost child might echo a part of us that feels abandoned or forgotten. By engaging with these stories, we enter a deeper dialogue with ourselves. Myths and fairytales don’t tell us what to do—but they show us, symbolically, what it means to be human, and how transformation often begins in the most unlikely places.

Why Do We Work with Myths and Fairytales?

• Understand archetypes in action (e.g. the Hero, Shadow, Wise One, or Trickster).
• Recognize inner conflicts and life transitions through symbolic narrative.
• Access deep emotional material in an indirect but meaningful way.
• Feel less alone, by connecting personal struggles to collective human experience. They remind us that our story is part of something bigger.

How Do We Work with Them in Jungian Therapy?

• We pay attention to the symbols and themes in a story and ask: What does this reflect in our own life?
• We look for parallels between the story’s journey and our own emotional or developmental path.
• We identify archetypes at play, which can help name inner dynamics that are hard to describe directly.
• Sometimes, we may work with a myth or tale that resonates strongly, entering it imaginatively to explore new meaning—just as we do in dreamwork or active imagination.

These stories hold wisdom that speaks across time. In Jungian therapy, they become living maps of the psyche—showing us where we are, what we’re facing, and what inner resources may be waiting to be claimed. As we engage with these tales, we may begin to see how our own life story is unfolding along similar symbolic lines—through trials, turning points, and inner transformations that mirror the arc of mythic journeys.