The Power of Stories
Nurturing Children's Imagination and Consciousness

From the great myths and legends to enchanting fairy tales, parables, fables and folk tales, stories can have a great healing and educative power. They come from our subconscious and imagination, deep inside us. They have much to teach us about ourselves, therefore, and the world we create around us.

Horst Kornberger, a writer, artist and Steiner-Waldorf teacher, first explores the power of particular stories such as Odysseus, Parsifal, Oedipus, Bible stories and fairy tales. He then explains how to apply that power to help a child develop, or to heal and transform a child with difficulties.

Finally he discusses the art and practicalities of creating new stories to help children with particular needs, and shows storytelling to be a universal gift that we can use to benefit those around us.

This is a fascinating and inspiring book for teachers, parents and carers of children, as well as creative writers and students of literature.

Reviews

'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

About the Author(s)

Horst Kornberger was born in Austria in 1959. He is a poet, artist, writer and lecturer. He has taught at the Rudolf Steiner College in California and now lives in Western Australia. He is the founder of the School of Integral Art where he pioneers creative, biographical and story writing.