I was recently reminded of The Little Match Girl & the Inner Child on a This Jungian Life podcast episode that I wrote about here. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I do. I have included some Inner Child Journal Prompts after the story.
THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL a translation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “Den Lille Pige Med Svovlstikkerne” by Jean Hersholt.
It was so terribly cold. Snow was falling, and it was almost dark. Evening came on, the last evening of the year. In the cold and gloom a poor little girl, bareheaded and barefoot, was walking through the streets. Of course when she had left her house she’d had slippers on, but what good had they been? They were very big slippers, way too big for her, for they belonged to her mother. The little girl had lost them running across the road, where two carriages had rattled by terribly fast. One slipper she’d not been able to find again, and a boy had run off with the other, saying he could use it very well as a cradle some day when he had children of his own. And so the little girl walked on her naked feet, which were quite red and blue with the cold. In an old apron she carried several packages of matches, and she held a box of them in her hand. No one had bought any from her all day long, and no one had given her a cent.
Shivering with cold and hunger, she crept along, a picture of misery, poor little girl! The snowflakes fell on her long fair hair, which hung in pretty curls over her neck. In all the windows lights were shining, and there was a wonderful smell of roast goose, for it was New Year’s eve. Yes, she thought of that!
Her hands were almost dead with cold. Oh, how much one little match might warm her! If she could only take one from the box and rub it against the wall and warm her hands. She drew one out. R-r-ratch! How it sputtered and burned! It made a warm, bright flame, like a little candle, as she held her hands over it; but it gave a strange light! It really seemed to the little girl as if she were sitting before a great iron stove with shining brass knobs and a brass cover. How wonderfully the fire burned! How comfortable it was! The youngster stretched out her feet to warm them too; then the little flame went out, the stove vanished, and she had only the remains of the burnt match in her hand.
She struck another match against the wall. It burned brightly, and when the light fell upon the wall it became transparent like a thin veil, and she could see through it into a room. On the table a snow-white cloth was spread, and on it stood a shining dinner service. The roast goose steamed gloriously, stuffed with apples and prunes. And what was still better, the goose jumped down from the dish and waddled along the floor with a knife and fork in its breast, right over to the little girl. Then the match went out, and she could see only the thick, cold wall. She lighted another match. Then she was sitting under the most beautiful Christmas tree. It was much larger and much more beautiful than the one she had seen last Christmas through the glass door at the rich merchant’s home. Thousands of candles burned on the green branches, and colored pictures like those in the printshops looked down at her. The little girl reached both her hands toward them. Then the match went out. But the Christmas lights mounted higher. She saw them now as bright stars in the sky. One of them fell down, forming a long line of fire.
“Now someone is dying,” thought the little girl, for her old grandmother, the only person who had loved her, and who was now dead, had told her that when a star fell down a soul went up to God.
She rubbed another match against the wall. It became bright again, and in the glow the old grandmother stood clear and shining, kind and lovely.
“Grandmother!” cried the child. “Oh, take me with you! I know you will disappear when the match is burned out. You will vanish like the warm stove, the wonderful roast goose and the beautiful big Christmas tree!” And she quickly struck the whole bundle of matches, for she wished to keep her grandmother with her. And the matches burned with such a glow that it became brighter than daylight. Grandmother had never been so grand and beautiful. She took the little girl in her arms, and both of them flew in brightness and joy above the earth, very, very high, and up there was neither cold, nor hunger, nor fear-they were with God.
But in the corner, leaning against the wall, sat the little girl with red cheeks and smiling mouth, frozen to death on the last evening of the old year. The New Year’s sun rose upon a little pathetic figure. The child sat there, stiff and cold, holding the matches, of which one bundle was almost burned.
“She wanted to warm herself,” the people said. No one imagined what beautiful things she had seen, and how happily she had gone with her old grandmother into the bright New Year.
The Little Match Girl Journal Prompts to Help You Heal the Inner Child
- Reflect on the little girl’s experience of deprivation, neglect, and longing in the story. How does her story resonate with your own inner child’s experiences of unmet needs and emotional pain?
- Imagine yourself as the Little Match Girl. How would you comfort and nurture her in her moments of despair and loneliness? What words of love and support would you offer to heal her wounded inner child?
- Explore the symbolism of the matches in the story. How do they represent the little girl’s attempts to seek warmth, connection, and comfort? What activities or practices in your own life can serve as “matches” to ignite healing and transformation for your inner child?
- Reflect on the scenes the little girl sees when she lights the matches. How do they symbolise her desires, fantasies, and unfulfilled dreams? How can you use your imagination to create empowering and healing scenes for your own inner child?
- Dive into the theme of unconditional love and acceptance in the story. How does the presence of the grandmother represent the healing and nurturing aspects of the divine feminine? How can you connect with and embody these qualities to provide love and compassion to your own inner child?
- Explore the concept of resilience in the face of adversity. How does the Little Match Girl’s ability to find moments of joy and beauty amidst her hardships inspire you to nurture and strengthen your own inner child’s resilience?
- Reflect on the impact of neglect and emotional coldness on the little girl’s well-being. How have similar experiences affected your own inner child? What steps can you take to provide the warmth, love, and emotional support that your inner child needs to heal?
- Consider the theme of transformation and transcendence in the story. How does the little girl’s journey from suffering to a state of peace and connection with her grandmother reflect the potential for healing and growth within your own inner child?
- Explore the concept of self-compassion. How can you offer understanding, forgiveness, and gentleness to your inner child for the pain and hardships they have endured? What self-care practices or rituals can you integrate into your life to nurture and heal your inner child?
- Reflect on the hidden gifts and strengths that emerged from the little match girl’s experiences. How have your own struggles and challenges shaped your inner child’s resilience, empathy, or creativity? How can you honour and celebrate these gifts as part of your healing journey?
Remember to approach these prompts with kindness, patience, and self-compassion. Allow yourself to explore and embrace the emotions that arise, and consider seeking support from a therapist or counsellor if you need assistance in navigating your inner child healing process.
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If you are a therapist ready to train in Inner Child Therapy, you can read more about my training for professionals at Psychosynthesis.Online.
