Folk Tales for Health and Wellbeing

Adam Bushnell gathers and retells folk tales from around the world, linking traditional stories with questions of personal growth and wellbeing. The collection includes material associated with Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Taoism, alongside classical Greek stories such as Orpheus and Eurydice and Icarus.

Across these brief narratives, recurring concerns include interconnectedness, co-operation, spiritual strength, emotional wellbeing, staying calm during adversity and the pursuit of happiness. Bushnell presents the tales as sources of reflection, drawing attention to the lessons they may offer about listening to trusted advice, enduring loss, finding peace and responding thoughtfully to life’s difficulties. The result is a folklore collection shaped by mindfulness, meditation and the continuing moral force of traditional storytelling.