The Tale of Vasilisa. The Heroine's Journey, the Skull Suitor, and the Wonderful Transformation

A guide to the archetypes and symbols hidden behind the images of Vasilisa, mysterious horsemen, a skull with burning eyes, and Baba Yaga.

Vasilisa the Beautiful is that very girl with the skull lantern from the famous Bilibin illustration. She has become the most recognizable fairytale heroine of our time.

In this book, Vasilisa's journey is explored from two perspectives. Firstly, according to V. Ya. Propp's theory, with numerous parallels in folklore and folk customs. Secondly, from the perspective of Jungian psychology and the theory of archetypes: the death of the "good mother", encounters in the dark forest, Yaga's trials, respect for the Mystery, liberation from the Shadow's power. In this context, the plot and images of the fairytale turn out to be a reflection of the processes occurring in the human psyche.

Folklorist and psychologist Vladimir Ryabov invites us to look deep into the fairytale and see in it a universal story of inner transformation. To understand what this story can tell us about ourselves.