1. Siddhartha Gautama

2. The Hero’s Journey
What’s in it for you?

3. What is the Hero’s Journey?
It is the archetype (paradigm)
of all human experience through major life transitions, particularly the transition from adolescence into
adulthood.

4. Individuation (term, coined by Carl Jung)
It is the process of the development of the self, achieved by resolving the conflicts arising at life’s transitional stages, in particular the transition from adolescence to adulthood

8. Hero’s Journey - 3 Basic Elements
Call to Adventure – (followed by separation)
Transformation
(confronting the Shadow)
Revelation & Return
(= adult contribution to the
Community)

10. The Pattern of the Quest
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Return at a Higher Level
Challenges
Threshold
The Known
The Unknown
The Known

11. e.g., Harry Potter?
Recall from Book 7 (those who read it) the steps in the Hero’s Journey Harry fulfilled. Identify a time he journeyed into the unknown, faced big challenges/ was transformed and returned to the community (as a hero!)

13. Siddhartha Gautama

14. Siddhartha’s Journey
Why was Prince Siddhartha unhappy, even though he had everything?

15. CALL TO ADVENTURE -
What was Siddhartha’s quest all about?
TRANSFORMATION -
What was Siddhartha’s test?
i.e., What was Mara’s
temptation/ argument?

16. REVELATION & RETURN –
What was Siddhartha’s gift?

17. “The Buddha’s Journey” - Stages
Siddhartha’s life before Call
His Call to Adventure
Threshold of Adventure; Guardians
TRANSFORMATION: Challenges
and Temptations
Helpers; Mentor
Abyss (Mara)
Revelation & Return

18. The Hero Journey chart

19. Step 1 - The Call to Adventure
Would-be hero senses imbalance or disharmony when she is called.
The Call invites the initiate into the adventure; to cross the Threshold
(often assisted by a mentor or guide).
The initiate has something taken from her, her family or her society and her quest is to reclaim it (senses something is lacking in her life and must find what’s missing).

20. Step 2- Initiation & Transformation
Initiate begins the journey into the unknown. On the voyage she goes deeper into the unknown; requires risk-taking.
On the journey the initiate faces a series of challenges (temptations?) By meeting these successfully, over time, she is transformed.
These challenges reflect the initiate’s needs and fears and require her to face
‘the dark side’ in the Abyss.

21. Step 2- Transformation
When she reaches the Abyss, the “initiate” faces the greatest challenge of the journey; must surrender self completely and face fears alone.
Here, facing the dark side, is where she must “slay the dragon.”
In this part of the journey the child moves from dependence to independence. Some do not succeed and retreat temporarily.

22. Step 3 - Revelation and Return
After overcoming fears, transformation becomes complete.
Transformation:
From fear to courage
From ignorance to enlightenment
Dependency to independence and
personal power
Atonement: Initiate becomes at-one with her new self.

23. Step 3 - Revelation and Return
Transformation (through “crisis”) has brought the initiate into harmony with life and the world. In a real sense she has been “reborn.”
Revelation = Gift received (i.e., new level of skill and awareness)
Christian message: Die to ourselves so that we might be “born again.”

24. The Call Refused ?
“…If we turn away and oppose these forces of life, we push them deep into the unconscious.
“ From here these gods have a great deal of power.
“ To realize themselves in human consciousness, these gods will knock, in the shape of crises, at the door of our awareness.”
- Friedemann Wieland, The Journey of the Hero

25. Facing the Known (you can journal responses to these Qs)
What is your “Call to Adventure?”
(identify what excites you about your transition away from “home”)
Are there times when you want to
“refuse the Call”? (temptations/ tests?)
What will assist you in this transition?
(do you have a mentor? Some other
assistance?)

26. The Hero Journey chart

27. Facing the Unknown
What are your greatest fears about crossing the threshold to college?
Which, if any, of these is your
“dragon”?
What can you do to help alleviate
these fears?

28. Call Refused?
When someone refuses the Call, she is refusing to grow (but understandable, because growth results from stepping out of one’s comfort zone)
She is refusing the empowerment and freedom that result from each big risk.

29. Call Refused? (cont.)
The “journey” which would have liberated the hero, giving confidence and power, causes instead dependence and fear.
By rejecting growth, the non-hero surrenders her ability to act.

30. radiates a light by which others may see their
“The hero, in living her [his] own life, in being true to herself [himself];
radiates a light by which others may see their
own way.”
- Laurence G. Boldt

31. Carpe Diem!
Seize the Day!

32. Philosophers’ Stone
The “stone” sought by ancient alchemists which was reputed to turn all other metals into GOLD
Believed to grant immortality to the bearer (e.g., the Holy Grail)
Represents one’s soul’s Mission/ Dream/ Calling