"The Hero's Inner Journey"
We have seen the “Hero’s Journey” play out and come alive in many popular movies and sequels such as Star Wars and The Marvel Comics series. The viewer is taken on an adventure, like a roller coaster ride, as the Hero hears the call of adventure and steps out of the safe place and into the unknown to then realize the prize. It is also important to note that the journey also plays out in our personal lives whether we experience it on a conscious or unconscious level.
The concept of the “Hero’s Journey” is a pattern of narrative identified by the American scholar Joseph Campbell that appears in drama, storytelling, myth, religious ritual, and psychological development. It describes the typical adventure of the archetype known as “The Hero”, the person who goes out and achieves great deeds on behalf of the group, tribe, civilization, or themselves.
For this Blog post I will focus on “The Hero’s Inner Journey” often referred to as the “Battle of the Self”. To be your own Hero and save your own day takes a great deal of courage, curiosity, and risk. Ultimately it is the gift on the other side that you get to realize… “Your Dreams, Your Destiny”.
In his book “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” Joseph Campbell described the steps (refer below) of the “Hero’s Journey”. The notion of a ‘Thousand Faces’ articulates the different parts or faces we play/wear in our own lives….
Below, I have summarized the steps or phases of the “Hero’s Journey (HJ)” and within each step I also provide a summary of the corresponding steps for the “Hero’s Inner Journey (HIJ)”. As you move through the stages of the “Hero’s Inner Journey” consider where you may have stopped yourself from moving forward in your own life or when you jumped freely into the unknown! NOW is the moment to step off the edge and into Mastery.
(Note: at the bottom of this Blog Post I have provided the diagrams in which Joseph Campbell used to portray the steps for both the HJ and HIJ.)
1. ORDINARY WORLD. The hero, uneasy, uncomfortable, or unaware, is introduced sympathetically so the audience can identify with the situation or dilemma. The hero is shown against a background of environment, heredity, and personal history. Some kind of polarity in the hero’s life is pulling in different directions and causing stress.
Hero’s Inner Journey: Begins with a ‘Limited awareness of the problem or issue”. The Hero is not fully aware of the circumstances and conditions happening in their life as they are pulled in different directions. It is as if they are unconscious or ignoring all that is occurring.
2. THE CALL TO ADVENTURE. Something shakes up the situation, either from external pressures or from something rising from deep within, so the hero must face the beginnings of change.
HIJ: Next the Hero begins to experience an increased awareness of need for change. The Hero has received a huge nudge through some level of adversity as things begin to spiral out of control.
3. REFUSAL OF THE CALL. The hero feels the fear of the unknown and tries to turn away from the adventure, however briefly. Alternately, another character may express the uncertainty and danger ahead.
HIJ: The Hero becomes doubtful of their decision making and begins to resist the changes of the unknown. Instead of listening to their inner voice/wisdom the Hero begins to buy into ‘collective thought’ (other people’s thoughts/opinions), or their ‘EGO’. This can create high levels of stress in the body as the fear of the unknown peaks.
4. MEETING WITH THE MENTOR. The hero comes across a seasoned traveler of the worlds who gives him or her training, equipment, or advice that will help on the journey. Or the hero reaches within to a source of courage and wisdom.
HIJ: An event or mentor appears before the Hero to support them in overcoming their fears. This may even be an irresistible call all of courage.
(Note: For me this was the moment in my life when I met my dear dolphin friends. Over the years they have become my angels and guides!)
5. CROSSING THE THRESHOLD. At the end of Act One, the hero commits to leaving the Ordinary World and entering a new region or condition with unfamiliar rules and values.
HIJ: The Hero has now accepted that change is inevitable and commits to the changes even though the changes may seem unreasonable and uncomfortable.
6. TESTS, ALLIES AND ENEMIES. The hero is tested and sorts out allegiances in the Special World.
HIJ: The Hero realizes that with commitment comes many tests as they experience the new conditions of the evolving changes. Life becomes a little unsteady as they begin to navigate through the tests. Note: this is the time in which the Hero may back away from the edge unwilling to take a leap of faith into the unknown.
7. APPROACH. The hero and newfound allies prepare for the major challenge in the Special world.
HIJ: With a sense of new found awareness the Hero chooses to step up, adopt to these new events and prepares for major changes and challenges ahead.
8. THE ORDEAL. Near the middle of the story, the hero enters a central space in the Special World and confronts death or faces his or her greatest fear. Out of the moment of death comes a new life.
HIJ: As the Hero moves through these major challenges and adjustments, they begin to confront the effects of their old ways/habits to then realize how powerful their new life truly is. They do whatever is necessary to have this new life be permanent even if it means the old life dies. (Note: This would be on par with getting out of a destructive relationship to then realize you saved your life.)
9. THE REWARD. The hero takes possession of the treasure won by facing death. There may be celebration, but there is also danger of losing the treasure again.
HIJ: The Hero then steps into acceptance of all their new life has in store and commits to never allowing the situations from the old life to happen again. “The bell has rung!” “Destiny stands before them”
10. THE ROAD BACK. About three-fourths of the way through the story, the hero is driven to complete the adventure, leaving the Special World to be sure the treasure is brought home. Often a chase scene signals the urgency and danger of the mission.
HIJ: The Hero begins to realize that it takes work and dedication to stay the course as they meet one last challenge. This may appear to be similar like circumstances from their old life rearing its ugly head. The Hero then rededicates themselves to their commitment to reap the rewards of the new life and says goodbye to the old one.
11. THE RESURRECTION. At the climax, the hero is severely tested once more on the threshold of home. He or she is purified by a last sacrifice, another moment of death and rebirth, but on a higher and more complete level. By the hero’s action, the polarities that were in conflict at the beginning are finally resolved.
HIJ: Not so fast… there are final attempts, last-minute dangers ahead as the Hero is given one last test or sacrifice. This is the time in which the Hero finally realizes they are a spiritual being having a human experience and chooses to bond with their “Objective Psyche” (wise self, intuitive self, enlightened self). Never to return to the old ways again the Hero is free to move on!
12. RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR. The hero returns home or continues the journey, bearing some element of the treasure that has the power to transform the world as the hero has been transformed.
HIJ: The Hero has reached “Mastery” with great wisdom of who they are as well as realizing exactly what the journey took from them and all they have gained! Destiny has finally arrived!
For me a movie that accurately depicts the “Hero’s Inner Journey” is "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial". In the film, Elliott, a middle child of three raised by a single parent, is told that his voice and input is not important. His older brother and younger sister dominate conversations and family decisions. Several times, Elliott in frustration stays silent so as not to create a tiff between him and his siblings. Then one day, he meets ET which shocks him right to his core. For me, ET represents Elliott's higher self, who wants him to realize how significant he is and that his voice, feelings, matter.
Through the movie, Elliott slowly begins to step up and fight for the life of his whole self, and then, when he thinks he has lost the battle, his inner hero comes up with a plan. In the end, he stands at the precipice, either choosing to slide into the abyss or live his life as a whole spiritual being having a human experience. Before ET left, he points to Elliott’s third eye on the forehead, which is rooted in the pineal gland and its higher wisdom, and said, "I will be right there" if Elliott needs it.
ET, in my experience, was an amazing metaphor to drive home the battle of self, “The Hero’s Inner Journey”, from the position of what's at stake if we are not willing to take the risk to live out our lives as wise spiritual beings.
To be your own Hero is to stand in ‘Mastery’ which is ultimately way outside your current comfort zone. The place where you have limited awareness of all that is happening in your life. It also takes listening to your “Objective Psyche” – your wise self – so that you move through the (HIJ) steps to ultimately reach the place of “Your Dreams”, “Destiny”.
‘Collective Thought’ or the voices in the “Ordinary World” want to force you to think and do things a certain way. It’s your EGO attempting to create fear and resistance to natural change. Your inner wisdom is the call to consider new conditions in your life and to accept the consequences and dedicate yourself to living a full, happy, healthy spiritual life.
GO FOR IT!!! Be your own HERO!!! When do you can then be the Example/Hero for others!!
My books are available now on Amazon - “It Was ME all Along, the Path to FREEDOM” - and -“The Dolphin Lady, the Story of a Unique Relationship” -
