Informed by the ancients: Norse mythology and psychotherapy

The myth of Kvasir is presented, in part. Through hermeneutic discourse, a case is made that the ancient Norsemen had an understanding of the psychoth erapeutic arts which finds parallel in contemporary thought. The myth evide nces the distinction between: (I) the offering of needed information; and ( 2) the facilitation of personal, growth-oriented exploration. In contempora ry terms, this is the distinction sometimes drawn between "counseling" and "psychotherapy", respectively. More thorough and careful exegesis of the my th reveals the ubiquitous importance of the personhood of the therapist. It is through the "person of the therapist" that the therapeutic techniques a re given life. The ancient wisdom contained in the myth of Kvasir may serve as inspiration and guidance for the contemporary psychotherapist.