Жажда смысла. Практики логотерапии по Виктору Франклу - [85]

In process of logotherapy using the imaginative techniques it is possible to work over:

a) Imagining the person’s Itself, the way the patient accepts own image, and changing of this image. Purpose of analysis of the personal image is self-understanding, recognition of personal capacities and role in the inter-personal relationships.

b) Images of environment, of the world, that surrounds the person and ability to change these images.

Purpose of creating certain images of the environment is creation of the active life position, belief in ability to be heard to, understood and accepted by society, and in capability to make changes in own life and life of surrounding people. In perfect, the result of implementation of the imaginative techniques should assist into development of creativity and capabilities of person.

During the narrative techniques while analyzing fairy-tales, legends, parables the multi-step imaginary is applied. It is based on active fantasies and contriving. Steps of the multi-step imaginative are:

– perception of the image;

– following the image;

– change of the image;

– change of the plot;

– extraction of the sense.

This way of imaginative techniques is applied under the guidance of the logo-therapist. During the unveiling of the text sense it is possible to apply the technique of the naive questioning.

1) Example from the practice.

Fairy-tale about the forest Nymph (Czech tale)

Once upon a time there lived wealthy peasant. Once in the woods he saw beautiful girl sleeping on the moss. When he approached her girl leaped and wanted to flee. But the peasant grabbed her hand and did not let her go. Examining her dress he realized that he is dealing with the forest Nymph. He liked her so much that he asked whether she would agree to be his wife. Forest Nymph liked the young peasant so she agreed and went to his house. Mother of the peasant was very surprised after she saw who came with her son, but she liked the bride so much that she did not mind for her son to get married on the Nymph.

After the wedding was over wife told to her husband:

– I’ll do everything for you to be happy with me, for you not to ever regret that you’ve married me. But there is only one thing for you never to do – never be angry with me, or I shall leave and you’ll never find me.

Peasant laughed: it was impossible for him to get angry over his wife.

Really, young wife was great housekeeper, everything in their house was perfect, everything was in order – fine on sight! Husband loved his wife, besides, she was behaving perfectly with her mother-in-law. cared of her and obeyed to her in everything. For that old lady loved her as if she would love her own daughter.

Once, before the reaping peasant departed to Prague on business. Every house concern burdened his young wife. On the third day after the peasant’s departure she told workers to reap large field of crop that appeared to be still green. Reapers were surprised thinking of that order as insane. But the young lady insisted, saying that she knew better. She made reapers to reap the green crops and bring it home. Every person in the village just shook their heads in surprise. Next day the peasant returned home. He travelled through the field and saw it reaped. He stopped astonished. Occasionally there was a man from the close-by village and explained that his wife ordered to reap the harvest and bring it home. In sudden rage master started cursing his wife and rushed home. He came and started looking for her but she was gone. And his old mother did not know where the lady was. They both, mother and son, decided that the girl went insane.

Looking for her, peasant ran to the field. Suddenly the sky turned dark and hail started. Master was just happy to find shelter in the shepherd’s hat. And the storm came! Huge hailstones size of a pigeon-egg fell from sky and in half an hour the entire harvest was wiped out.

After the storm peasant left the hat and sadly went back home. He recalled words his wife told him right after the wedding: that she’ll leave if he’ll ever get mad at her, and that he’ll never find her again. And he cursed her so badly for that reaped field! And now he saw that crops would be wiped out anyway. Even if it would not be reaped.

His mother was standing by the gates, watching, whether his son was bringing his wife home. But he said that it was useless to search her.

– You know what I’m going to tell?! – said the old lady. – All the reaped crops in the barn is completely dry and ripe!

That is how it was. Only then the peasant realized that he should not have cursed his wife in rage. But it was too late. he never saw his wife ever again.

* * *

This fairy-tale contains huge amount of images that are typical for human’s life, although covered with fantastic veil. It can be very useful during the family therapy. What should be considered? The perception of fairy-tales has several levels. Moral which is on surface is comprehended immediately. Ant it is great. But it’s just the first step, patient should be stimulated with directing questions to look deeper, fit the situation onto himself, looking for solutions out of situation in own life, making up fantasies on this topic.