Archetypal Symbols in Fairytales: Introducing The Collected Works of Marie Von Franz

"The Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz" is a 28 volume Magnum Opus from one of the

leading minds in Jungian Psychology. The first volume, "Archetypal Symbols in Fairytales: The

Profane and Magical Worlds", released on her 106 th birthday, January 4 th , 2021 and is to be

followed by 27 more volumes over the next 10 years. Volume 2 looks at the hero’s journey,

while Volume 3 explores the maiden’s quest. Steven Buser is one of two General Editor’s in The

Collected Works of Marie-Louise von Franz. Dr. Buser will take us through a history of the

project, an overview of von Franz’s life and work, as well as a deep dive into the first 2 volumes

of this foundational material.

Von Franz, one of the most renowned authorities on fairytales, presents a systematic and wide-

ranging approach. She amplifies a variety of fairytale motifs to show that the magical realm is

alien to the profane realm of ordinary daily life. She was one of analytical psychology’s most

original thinkers and here she presents a lucid, concise exploration of the archetypal symbols

found in fairytales. Fairytales, like myths, provide a cultural and societal backdrop that helps

the human imagination narrate the meaning of life’s events.