The World of Fairy Tales by Rudolf Steiner

“. . . fairy tales can help counter illnesses . . .” – Rudolf Steiner

Published by SteinerBooks: www.steinerbooks.org

In our current weekly meetings, the local Section group in Fair Oaks has been studying Novalis intensively since the beginning of Covid restrictions in March 2020. Novalis placed great emphasis on Märchen (fairy tales). This is a helpful book that some of us have been using, along with other approaches to interpretation.

“There is a big difference in whether or not one has a child grow up with fairy tales. The soul-stirring nature of fairy-tale pictures becomes evident only later on. If fairy tales have not been given, this shows itself in later years in weariness of life, in boredom. Indeed, it even comes to expression physically: fairy tales can help counter illnesses. What is absorbed little by little by means of fairy tales emerges subsequently as joy in life, in the meaning of life — it comes to light in the ability to cope with life, even into old age. Children must experience the power inherent in fairy tales while young, when they can still do so. Whoever is not capable of living with ideas that have no reality for the physical plane “dies” for the spiritual world.”

— Rudolf Steiner