Grim Grimm: How Dark Fairy Tales Speak to Women’s Trauma, Taught by Alicia King Anderson, Ph.D., Begins November 5
Six week class taught online via Zoom
Wednesdays, November 5 & 19, December 3 and 17, 2025 & January 7 and 22, 2026 (every other wednesday, skipping holidays)
7:30 - 9:00 pm ET (New York City time)
$145 Paid Patreon Members / $165 General Admission
PLEASE NOTE: The lecture portion of all classes will be recorded and archived for students who cannot make that time.This class is most powerful when attending live.
Fairy tales offer complex metaphors and imagery that give us safe ways to process traumatic events. The more violent and darker versions of fairy tales—the grim ones—often escape the public eye and resist the Disney treatment of animated film versions. Yet, these stories persist. They are still quietly included in the compilations of fairy tales.
Why?
Because they still offer rich metaphors for the experience of trauma. Particularly the traumas experienced by women—who were often the original tellers of these stories.
In this journal-writing and experiential class, we will be studying, discussing, and working with the darker fairy tales and the traumatic elements that they depict. While students of all genders are welcome to attend, the topics covered will be focused upon the experiences of those who are not cis men.
Each class session will include:
- Centering tools, grounding exercises, and guided imagery
- Journal prompts preceding the lecture for private self-exploration
- Discussion prompts for (unrecorded) discussions of the material
The classroom will create a safe space in which students will be invited to amplify images and free-associate around the metaphors offered by the tales discussed. This may involve the sharing of personal stories, but it is by no means required. Due to the personal nature of the class, only the lecture portion will be recorded. This class is most powerful when attending live.
Alicia King Anderson has a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies and Depth Psychology. She is a mythologist, coach, and instructor based in New Mexico. Alicia has studied chaplaincy, yoga instruction, and psychology. Her book on burnout recovery is coming in early 2026.
Images:
Vasilisa at the Hut of Baba Yaga, by Ivan Bilibin
Bluebeard, Gustave Dore
Six week class taught online via Zoom
Wednesdays, November 5 & 19, December 3 and 17, 2025 & January 7 and 22, 2026 (every other wednesday, skipping holidays)
7:30 - 9:00 pm ET (New York City time)
$145 Paid Patreon Members / $165 General Admission
PLEASE NOTE: The lecture portion of all classes will be recorded and archived for students who cannot make that time.This class is most powerful when attending live.
Fairy tales offer complex metaphors and imagery that give us safe ways to process traumatic events. The more violent and darker versions of fairy tales—the grim ones—often escape the public eye and resist the Disney treatment of animated film versions. Yet, these stories persist. They are still quietly included in the compilations of fairy tales.
Why?
Because they still offer rich metaphors for the experience of trauma. Particularly the traumas experienced by women—who were often the original tellers of these stories.
In this journal-writing and experiential class, we will be studying, discussing, and working with the darker fairy tales and the traumatic elements that they depict. While students of all genders are welcome to attend, the topics covered will be focused upon the experiences of those who are not cis men.
Each class session will include:
- Centering tools, grounding exercises, and guided imagery
- Journal prompts preceding the lecture for private self-exploration
- Discussion prompts for (unrecorded) discussions of the material
The classroom will create a safe space in which students will be invited to amplify images and free-associate around the metaphors offered by the tales discussed. This may involve the sharing of personal stories, but it is by no means required. Due to the personal nature of the class, only the lecture portion will be recorded. This class is most powerful when attending live.
Alicia King Anderson has a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies and Depth Psychology. She is a mythologist, coach, and instructor based in New Mexico. Alicia has studied chaplaincy, yoga instruction, and psychology. Her book on burnout recovery is coming in early 2026.
Images:
Vasilisa at the Hut of Baba Yaga, by Ivan Bilibin
Bluebeard, Gustave Dore
Six week class taught online via Zoom
Wednesdays, November 5 & 19, December 3 and 17, 2025 & January 7 and 22, 2026 (every other wednesday, skipping holidays)
7:30 - 9:00 pm ET (New York City time)
$145 Paid Patreon Members / $165 General Admission
PLEASE NOTE: The lecture portion of all classes will be recorded and archived for students who cannot make that time.This class is most powerful when attending live.
Fairy tales offer complex metaphors and imagery that give us safe ways to process traumatic events. The more violent and darker versions of fairy tales—the grim ones—often escape the public eye and resist the Disney treatment of animated film versions. Yet, these stories persist. They are still quietly included in the compilations of fairy tales.
Why?
Because they still offer rich metaphors for the experience of trauma. Particularly the traumas experienced by women—who were often the original tellers of these stories.
In this journal-writing and experiential class, we will be studying, discussing, and working with the darker fairy tales and the traumatic elements that they depict. While students of all genders are welcome to attend, the topics covered will be focused upon the experiences of those who are not cis men.
Each class session will include:
- Centering tools, grounding exercises, and guided imagery
- Journal prompts preceding the lecture for private self-exploration
- Discussion prompts for (unrecorded) discussions of the material
The classroom will create a safe space in which students will be invited to amplify images and free-associate around the metaphors offered by the tales discussed. This may involve the sharing of personal stories, but it is by no means required. Due to the personal nature of the class, only the lecture portion will be recorded. This class is most powerful when attending live.
Alicia King Anderson has a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies and Depth Psychology. She is a mythologist, coach, and instructor based in New Mexico. Alicia has studied chaplaincy, yoga instruction, and psychology. Her book on burnout recovery is coming in early 2026.
Images:
Vasilisa at the Hut of Baba Yaga, by Ivan Bilibin
Bluebeard, Gustave Dore