How prepared are you for a surprise encounter with a magical creature like a Yaga or a Dwarf with a Long Beard?
- I’d pull out my spell book, obviously.
- As prepared as one can be for such a thing, I suppose!
- I’d welcome the opportunity to learn from them.
- Let’s just hope they’re friendly!
How often do you extend kindness to strangers, even if it seems like it might not be deserved?
- Kindness is my love language, I can’t help but be kind to everyone I meet.
- I try to pay it forward whenever possible
- I believe in second chances.
- I’m no saint, but I do try to be kind when I can.
What is your favorite memory related to reading fairytales or experiencing them as a child?
- Getting lost in the magical world of the story, I’d spend hours pouring over my favorite fairytale books
- That feeling when my parents would read me fairytales before bed, it was such a special bonding experience for us.
- Imagining myself as the hero or heroine of the story and acting it out.
If you could choose any magical artifact from the tales, like the Flying Carpet or the Gold-Giving Ring, which one would you choose and why?
- The Gold-Giving Ring, it would solve so many problems.
- The Smiting Club, someone’s gotta keep the peace!
- The Flying Carpet, duh! The freedom to travel wherever I want would be incredible!
- The Invisible Cap, there’s so much you could do if you were invisible…
What’s your favorite Slav fairytale and why?
- The Maiden with Hair of Gold. I love how courageous and clever the fisherman is.
- The story of Prince Dobrotek, defeating the evil dwarf is my all-time favorite fairytale trope.
- The Journey to the Sun and the Moon, the idea of seeking answers beyond our world is fascinating to me.
- I love them all, they’re so different and offer so many life lessons.
What makes you most frustrated about modern retellings of classic fairytales?
- When they stray too far from the original story and its meaning.
- When they remove the magic and wonder and try to make everything realistic and relatable.
- When the characters are watered down to the point of being bland and forgettable.
What is your absolute favorite fairytale meal, whether it’s something mentioned in a story or just gives you those magical vibes?
- Anything homemade and made with love; it’s like a warm hug.
- A feast fit for a king! Roast meats, fresh bread, and sweet treats!
- Something simple but delicious, like a rustic stew cooked over an open fire.
- Ambrosia! Is there even a real recipe for that? Asking for a friend…
What happened in the past when you experienced a conflict stemming from someone else’s greed or envy?
- I tried to understand their perspective and see if there was a way to resolve the issue fairly.
- Greed and envy can be such destructive emotions, I try to stay away from people who exhibit those qualities
- Sadly, greed and envy are a part of life, I try to learn from those experiences and move on.
- Oh man, don’t get me started…
You have a choice of receiving a magical gift from the Abode of the Gods or embarking on a quest to find your own destiny. Which do you choose?
- A magical gift, duh! I’ll take all the help I can get.
- A quest for my own destiny. It’s the journey, not the destination.
What is your current biggest challenge, viewed through the lens of fairytale and folklore?
- Finding my own happily ever after, though that doesn’t always mean finding a romantic partner, for me it means finding my purpose.
- Overcoming my own personal demons and insecurities.
- Learning to trust my intuition and make decisions that are in alignment with my values.
You are at a party, and someone starts criticizing fairytales for being too simplistic and unrealistic. How do you react?
- I politely excuse myself and find someone more interesting to talk to. Life’s too short to argue.
- “Okay, well, you do your thing, and I’ll do mine,” and then I just walk away.
- I disagree! Fairytales are full of symbolism and allegory that can teach us a lot about life. I launch into a detailed explanation of my interpretation of their favorite fairytale.
What’s your go-to fairytale movie or book to watch when you need a dose of magic and escapism?
- The Princess Bride
- Pan’s Labyrinth
- Ever After
- The Lord of the Rings, yes, that’s a fairytale!
Which of these fairytale themes is most likely to be a struggle for you: overcoming enchantment, battling evil, finding lost loved ones, or gaining wisdom?
- Finding lost loved ones, I’m such a homebody and I can’t imagine being separated from the people I love most.
- Battling evil. The world can feel like a dark place sometimes, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by it all.
- Gaining wisdom. There’s so much I want to learn and experience, but it can be hard to know where to start.
How well do you bounce back from adversity and find the silver lining in challenging situations?
- I’m pretty resilient. I try to find the lessons in every situation, good or bad.
- I rely on my support system to help me through tough times.
- It depends on the situation, sometimes it takes me longer than others to process.
How comfortable are you with the unknown, whether it’s venturing into uncharted territory or simply facing the uncertainty of the future?
- I find it exhilarating! I love a good adventure and a chance to step outside of my comfort zone.
- Change can be scary, but I try to embrace it.
- I prefer to have a plan, but I’m learning to go with the flow more.
What do you think you need to fully embrace the magic and wonder of fairytales in your everyday life?
- To believe in myself more, I think deep down we all have a little magic inside us.
- To stop overthinking everything! I can be a bit of a worrywart.
- To be more present and appreciate the beauty in the simple things.
How often do you reflect on your actions and decisions to ensure they align with your values and aspirations?
- Every day. It’s important to stay true to myself.
- Once a week or so. I like to check in with myself regularly and make sure I’m on the right path.
- Not as often as I should. Life gets busy!
If you could waive a magic wand, what would the perfect outcome be for a current challenge you’re facing?
- If I could waive my magic wand my biggest challenge would magically be resolved. Poof!
- That all the conflict and suffering in the world would disappear.
- My problems feel insignificant compared to everything else that’s happening in the world.
How do you handle betrayal or disappointment from someone you trusted, especially if it calls into question your own judgment?
- It’s happened to all of us, right? I try to remember that everyone makes mistakes and that it doesn’t diminish my worth.
- It really depends on the severity of the situation, but communication and forgiveness are always a good place to start.
What’s your favorite Slav fairytale creature and why?
- The Domovoi! Every home should have a mischievous house spirit to keep things interesting!
- The Rusalka, those seductive water spirits are both beautiful and deadly!
- Baba Yaga, she’s the ultimate embodiment of female power, both good and evil!
What do you dream about when it comes to living a more magical and fulfilling life?
- Traveling the world, following my bliss, and pursuing my passions.
- Living in a cozy cottage surrounded by nature, with a library full of books, and a garden full of herbs and flowers.
- Making a real difference in the world and leaving it a better place than I found it.
When you were a kid, how did you incorporate fairytales and fantasy into your playtime and imagination?
- I would always imagine myself as the hero of the story, saving the princess and defeating the dragon!
- Fairytales were woven into every aspect of my playtime. My friends and I would spend all day acting out scenes and making up our own stories.
- I was a very imaginative child, I could get lost in my own little world for hours.
Someone asks “How are you?” but they seem genuinely interested in how you’re really feeling, not just expecting a generic response. What’s your actual answer?
- I’m doing well! Thanks for asking.
- I’m feeling a little overwhelmed, but I’m hanging in there.
- I’m feeling grateful.
Which of these fairytale scenarios would you enjoy the most: attending a grand ball in a magical kingdom, embarking on a quest for a legendary artifact, or solving a puzzling riddle that holds the key to breaking a curse?
- Attending a grand ball. Dancing the night away in a beautiful gown sounds like a dream come true!
- Embarking on a quest, adventure is calling!
- Solving a puzzling riddle. I love a good challenge!
What keeps you up at night about the state of the world and the challenges we face as a society?
- The climate crisis is something that weighs heavily on my mind.
- The rise of hatred and division in the world.
- The lack of empathy and compassion in the world.
How confident are you in your ability to navigate life’s challenges and make decisions that lead to a positive outcome?
- I’m pretty confident in my ability to handle whatever life throws my way.
- I’m still learning and growing, but I’m trying to trust my instincts more.
- I often second-guess myself, but I’m working on it!
What aspect of fairytale and fantasy stories makes you the most happy, whether it’s the magic, the romance, the adventure, or something else entirely?
- The hope they offer! No matter how dark things may seem, there’s always a glimmer of hope and the possibility of a happy ending.
- The sense of wonder and possibility, anything feels possible when you step into a fairytale!
- The escape they provide, it’s nice to take a break from reality every now and then.
How do you handle setbacks or failures, especially when you’ve put your heart and soul into something and it doesn’t turn out the way you hoped?
- I try to learn from my mistakes and use them as an opportunity for growth.
- Failure is a part of life! I allow myself to feel my feelings and then I try again.
- I have a strong support system of friends and family who help me through tough times.
Do you have a strong sense of intuition and inner guidance, like a magical compass pointing you in the right direction?
- I absolutely trust my gut, I can always tell when something feels right… or wrong!
- I’m working on developing my intuition more.
- I tend to overthink things and talk myself out of trusting my gut.
You have one day to spend in a magical fairytale world. What do you do?
- I’m having a picnic with the fairies in an enchanted forest!
- I’m off to meet a dragon, hopefully, a friendly one!
- I want to explore an ancient castle and uncover its secrets!
Which of these best describes you: a brave and resourceful hero like Jean, a kind and compassionate soul like the Fisherman, or a wise and powerful being like Kovlad?
- I’m definitely more of a Jean, always up for an adventure!
- I resonate with the Fisherman, I strive to be kind and helpful to others.
- I’d love to possess the wisdom and knowledge of Kovlad!
In a perfect world, what would your relationship to fairytales and folklore look like as you continue to grow and evolve as a person?
- I hope to always carry a sense of wonder and magic with me, no matter how old I get.
- I want to share my love of fairytales with others.
- I plan to keep learning about different cultures and their folklore.
How do you determine your personal goals and aspirations each year, do you use any rituals or practices like setting intentions under a new moon?
- I’m a big believer in the power of manifestation, vision boards, journaling, the whole nine yards!
- I try to set realistic and achievable goals that are in alignment with my values.
- I’m a work in progress!
What comes to mind when you think about the power of fate and destiny, especially in the context of fairytales where characters often face seemingly insurmountable odds?
- I believe we all have a path to follow and that the universe has a plan for us.
- I think we create our own destiny through our choices and actions.
- It’s a little bit of both, I think we have free will but there are also forces beyond our control.
Tell us a little about your current perspective on life and how it relates to the themes of fairytales and folklore.
- I’m a big believer that life is a journey, not a destination, and I’m trying to enjoy the ride.
- I’m learning to embrace the unknown and see challenges as opportunities for growth.
- I’m trying to find the magic in everyday moments and cultivate a sense of wonder.
What is the trickiest part about staying true to yourself in a world that often pressures us to conform?
- Tuning out the noise and listening to my own inner voice.
- Remembering that my worth is not determined by what others think of me.
- Setting boundaries and learning to say no to things that don’t feel aligned with my values.
What is most likely to make you feel down about the current state of fairytales and folklore in popular culture?
- When they’re over-commercialized, it makes me sad when the magic is lost.
- When they’re used to push agendas that don’t feel true to the heart of the story.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you encounter a problem or obstacle in your life?
- How can I solve this? I’m a natural problem solver.
- What can I learn from this experience?
- Is there someone I can ask for help?
What affects you the most—the emotions and struggles of fairytale characters, or the symbolic meanings and messages embedded in the stories?
- I connect with the characters on an emotional level.
- I love analyzing the symbolism and deeper meaning of the stories.
What’s your idea of a perfect fairytale ending, whether it’s for yourself or for the world as a whole?
- A world where everyone lives happily ever after, of course!
- I think a more realistic perfect ending is one where we’ve all learned something valuable and grown as a result of our experiences.
What is your strongest quality—bravery, kindness, wisdom, or something else—and how does it help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of life?
- I’m a very determined person, I don’t give up easily.
- My empathy allows me to connect with others.
- I’m very adaptable.