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The Power of Sturdy and the Hero's Journey
When you set your goal as a Hero’s Journey, you think that you’re prepared for all of the stages: your own initial resistance, the people who trip you up and push back at you, and what promises to be a long hard slog. You know there will be tests and trials. You know that’s part of the deal to be sure that you’re on a Journey for real. When you’re right in the middle of Tests and Trials,…
Pay Attention when the Animal Messenger Speaks
A few years ago I experienced several days in which some hawks were “stalking me.” I apologize if that term is too strong, but it felt like in those few days. I kept noticing hawks very close to where I was and when I was in my house. Two were in the neighbor’s trees, then one on the bird feeder hook, one on the flagpole at work, and more. Yes, I am aware that those were all in position to hunt…
Distraction or Not-yet-known Boon to your Journey?
Staying focused on your Journey doesn’t have to mean you ignore another person’s plea for help or digging into an interesting research topic. The trick is to be able to identify the difference between a distraction from your goal and a task that will benefit you. Sometimes a thing or a person is a distraction – true. But sometimes (and I think more often) it’ll be a boon to you on your Journey…
True
The word true is interesting as a carpentry term. It can mean level or that it will meet another board squarely. It means the board is straight: without warps or curves. So, most boards aren’t; it has to be worked some to be true. I just recently watched the PBS show American Historia by John Leguizamo. It’s a three-part documentary that covers the overlooked part of Latinos in American…
Turn your Tests and Trials into a Story
“Once upon a time there was a very clever girl. . .” While on your Hero’s Journey, sometimes you can’t see your way out of the stage of Tests and Trials because you’re inside of them. A clever way to trick your ego-mind is to create a story about what is happening. This story you create needs some key structural elements to work: You are the hero and main character of the story (protagonist) The…
Different Cultures Define Heroes Differently
I’ve just returned from a visit to Japan where I noticed many cultural differences from my US-American culture. I read a bit about Japanese mythology before I traveled. Because I was visiting several places in the south of Japan, I stayed for a while in Okayama, who has Momotaro (Peach Boy, defeater of ogres) for a hero representative. Taking the train through the mountains and tunnels toward…
Design of Your Journey
“Think of your life as full of parks, beaches, and mountain trails. I don’t mean this literally, but as metaphors for how you spend a day. Having windows and doors in your daily schedule, you won’t be confined because you will know now how important it is to cultivate emptiness.” – Thomas Moore on Awakin.org Perhaps you can think of your Hero’s Journey in the same fashion. Build in some actual…
The Larger Thing
We are companioned by that which is larger than our self. It’s a concept humans have both struggled with and to which they thought they had the answer. Our ego self always seems to see us as alone and unique. “Nobody understands me.” “I have to do this myself.” “I can figure this out.” What would be a helpful response is, to quote Byron Katie, “Is that true?” You can guess the answer. No, those…
Transformation is the Point
One of the effects of the Tests and Trials stage of a Hero’s Journey is transformation. You change. You are transformed as a result of the Tests and Trials; and that transformation is what enables a successful Hero’s Journey, not just getting through the stages. That’s the paradox of the Hero’s Journey. The person you are today sets out toward a goal. You get past the Guardians at the Gate, you…
Be the Ally You'd Want for Yourself
Mentors and allies are critical to a successful Hero’s Journey. However, being an ally can sometimes be tough when you’re helping a friend on her Hero’s Journey. Sometimes your part is easy–you just have to say, “Good job!” or “Hey! That’s great.” Sometimes you have to be encouraging or listen while your Hero rants about a demon. Sometimes you need only show up and stand by her side. Other times…
Bacteria and the Hero's Journey
I picked up John Green’s Everything is Tuberculosis as an adjunct to my family genealogical research. I had found “consumption” and “tuberculosis” and even “pthisis” on many ancestors’ death records, so I wanted to know more about this disease. Wow did I get a lesson! Everything is Tuberculosis is an easy read, short chapters, less than 200 pages, with a compelling personal story of one TB…
Lights and Shadows
I was thinking about the light we carry–the light we use–to illuminate our Journey. It’s what we need to see the next few steps in front of us. It’s a light inside of us that enables us to keep going when we’re on a dark road. As soon as I started thinking about writing a post on illuminating our Journey, the message of Shadow kept showing up in my life. This makes sense. You shine a light,…
You've Done it Before
When you’re right in the middle of a bad day and not making any progress toward your goal here’s something very important to remember. It’s so important maybe you should write it on a sticky note and put it on your bathroom mirror. . . “You have survived 100% of your worst days. You’ve made it through heartbreak, navigated unexpected plot twists, kept going despite failures, prevailed in a job…
Go into the Cave; It'll be Worth it
Joseph Campbell said, “Where you stumble, there lies your treasure. The very cave you are afraid to enter turns out to be the source of what you were looking for.” – Reflections on the Art of Living: A Joseph Campbell Companion. Also called “The Abyss,” this crisis stage of the Hero’s Journey hits all of us hard. It is quintessentially human to be afraid to go down into the dark place. About…
The Call to Adventure
Sometimes I forget that the key part of “The Call” stage of the Hero’s Journey is that it is a Call to Adventure. Adventure: an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks; an exciting or remarkable experience. Merriam Webster What comes to mind when you think about going on an adventure? Probably you have imagined an experience that’s way out of the ordinary day of your life. But…
Choices on your Hero's Journey
Your capacity for choice is integral to your Hero’s Journey. Choice: to treat your goal as a Hero’s Journey. Choice: be a mentor for someone on their Journey. Choice: decide to be an ally for someone on their Journey. Choice: deal with this obstacle right away or let it build up and (maybe) get stronger Choice: turn left or right; rest or keep plodding along; be loud or quiet, step in or hold…
Kindness is a Hero Skill
I am not easily kind. For me, it takes awareness, breathing, slowing down, and a deliberate intention. I almost wrote that I am not naturally kind. That could not possibly be true. I believe we are kind to each other naturally, but learn or train ourselves to be rude, snarky, or cynical. Mostly I was clever-rude, using a joke or word play to win every verbal encounter with another person. It is…