The Hero’s Quest or Journey A journey in 12 stages

1. The Ordinary World The “would be” hero comes from a very ordinary lot in life Sometimes a rural setting The hero has not gone beyond his home surroundings

2. The Call to Adventure The hero receives some sort of call to action It may be to stop a threat to peace or something the hero stumbles into

3. The Refusal of the Call Initially, the hero refuses the call He/she may feel inadequate or scared or simply not want to go on this adventure

4. Supernatural Aid or Meeting with the Mentor The hero encounters a protective father-type figure Often elderly Provides encouragement, tools and advice for the adventure ahead

5. Crossing of the First Threshold The hero must cross the boundary between the world he is familiar with and that which he is unfamiliar with

6. The Road of Trials The hero is challenged to survive a series of obstacles (tests and ordeals) In so doing, he gains greater awareness of the larger world around him He may receive supernatural aid or some other help along the way

Encounter with Goddess/Temptress After overcoming the Road of Trials, the hero often encounters a goddess-like woman: beautiful, queen-like, or motherly In some Hero's Quests, the hero will encounter the goddess, but before he can unite with her, he must prove his worthiness by overcoming the temptation of the Woman as Temptress

Atonement with the Father The hero may encounter a father-like figure of patriarchal authority 'Father' and 'son' are often pitted against each other for mastery of the universe To understand the father, and ultimately himself, the hero must reconcile with this ultimate authority figure

7. Descent into hell or the abyss The hero descends into the underworld and retrieves that which he has set out to find (literally or figuratively) Helps hero understand himself better

8. Apotheosis The hero has an epiphany The hero is changed, has a new awareness The hero may sacrifice himself (literally or figuratively) and be reborn

9. The Ultimate Boon The hero is ready to obtain the object of his quest May be an item, a new awareness, wisdom or truth Magic Flight: A mad dash is made by the hero to return with the prize

10. The Crossing of the Return Threshold The hero completes the quest and goes back home He reflects on the journey Sometimes he refuses the return (does not want to go back) Things will never be quite the same because the hero has changed

11. Master of Two Worlds The hero is rewarded Sometimes the hero is now a part of two worlds: the divine and the human He is able to be comfortable in the inner and outer worlds (the physical and the spiritual)

12. Freedom to Live The hero is energized and ready to face the world Life continues as it had before the quest but the hero is a changed person The hero can share his new wisdom with his fellow human beings