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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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)

15. 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