“The Turnip Princess” by FXV Schonwerth, with Ian Reclusado

2025-05-19

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My friend IR and I discuss the titular story from The Turnip Princess and Other Newly Discovered Fairy Tales. Summary: A prince lost in the forest takes shelter in a cave and falls asleep. When he wakes up an old woman and a bear are leaning over him, but they are kind and helpful. Later, the bear, alone with the prince, instructs him to remove a nail from the wall and bury it under a turnip. He runs out only to encounter a monster, and passes out. Through twists and turns, and timeless sleeps, he makes his way back to the cave, furi...

My friend IR and I discuss the titular story from The Turnip Princess and Other Newly Discovered Fairy Tales. Summary: A prince lost in the forest takes shelter in a cave and falls asleep. When he wakes up an old woman and a bear are leaning over him, but they are kind and helpful. Later, the bear, alone with the prince, instructs him to remove a nail from the wall and bury it under a turnip. He runs out only to encounter a monster, and passes out. Through twists and turns, and timeless sleeps, he makes his way back to the cave, furiously demanding something that was there all along, and by putting something wrong right, finds myriad problems merge into a beautiful whole.

We go through the short story line-by-line, examining the meanings of movements, words, objects and characters. We notice the nature of various things as well as their changing manifestations. We comment on patterns in the story, and we bring in some philosophy, including Jung.

We talk about the story as involving being lost and finding your way, of facing and healing from trauma, of various stages of coming to realizations, and ultimately of growth, transformation, maturity, happiness. Please join us and comment on your thoughts about our discussion and the story, and I hope this inspires you to read this and other stories on your own and especially with friends.

Ian Reclusado is currently off exploring the poetic wilds of psychology, neuroscience, and spirituality.

He also offers guidance services for those interested in delving into their own inner wilderness.

You can find his weekly dispatches at www.thekindknife.com or follow him on Instagram: @ian_reclusado

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