Heroes A Journey Through Life

“Each of us has a Hero, a Sage, a Mercenary, a Princess within. Each of these pulls and pushes as we journey through the story of our life. We need all of these energies to pursue life’s adventure….”

As the Hero journeys the ‘road of trials,’ and we pursue the trials of our everyday lives. The Heroic task is to “integrate these parts or energies and win the prize--our individuality, our sense of place, our sense of purpose...”

“The Call to Adventure lifts us out of our everyday life where we focus on our individual problems and our individual life, into an engagement with larger problems….”

In Star Wars Luke sees the hologram of Princess Leia and the hero learns he is not the only one in trouble, society is in trouble.

In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy has a problem--she is an orphan and does not have a sense of place on the farm. The Farm and by extension, society also has a problem-- it is the depression.

Neo in The Matrix receives a message from Trinity, calling him away from his life as a computer programmer and hacker. He learns of the appalling problems that face everyone and his own petty problem is forgotten.

Harry Potter has a visit from Hagrid and receives his letter announcing his acceptance into Hogwart’s and learns of his famous past and his parents death. Once at school Harry realizes the larger problems in the wizarding communities.

Frodo Baggins is visited by Gandalf and learns of the dangers the ring will bring to the shire as well as all of middle earth.

“The final Confrontation is where the hero must face their greatest fear…”

In Star Wars, Luke duels with Darth Vader. In the Matrix, Neo faces Agent Smith in the subway station. In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy faces the Wicked Witch. And Harry Potter battles Lord Voldomort.

“Adventures lead to a great confrontation between good and evil….”

“We each discover that we can survive ordeals we did not think we could survive…”

The character discovers that he/she can survive ordeals they did not think they could survive…

If we have learned the lessons up to this point, we have learned how to work with our allies. We would also have learned how to master the many conflicting elements within ourselves…”

They would also have learned how to master the many conflicting elements within themselves…

“Movies [and books] begin with a regular person and the situation begins as mundane. The familiar everyday circumstances let the movie audience know extraordinary things can happen in ordinary everyday lives…”

Tragedy often sets the story into motion. This is the summons, the call to adventure, the quest, and inner calling…”

“The Heroic Man or woman, having done that which seemed impossible, has returned with a level of integration. In the end there is a big celebration…”

The many different characters in attendance representing the various aspects of a highly integrated individual who is now aware of all of those energies…”

“The traveler comes back to ordinary life with the boon, the elixir, the wisdom, or skill. The challenge then is to give it away. It doesn’t belong to the adventurer alone…”

“Ultimately, the most satisfying life turns out to be making a useful contribution to others. The sense of fulfillment is extraordinary at that point. Such people have amazing energy.” -Joseph Campbell