Cessfully Meeting the Challenges of the In- Itiation, the Initiate Takes the Journey's

and duration of the experiences will vary  the initiate wants to save or restore from one person to another. Here are the honor - her own, her family's, or her basic elements in The Hero's Journey: country's. Separation (from the known) The Great AdventureThe Threshold cessfully meeting the challenges of the in- - The Call In mythology,Once heroes called take to greatthe adventure, jour- itiation, the initiate the initiate takes the journey's fi- - The Threshold (with guardians,neys: help- to slay Medusa,must to pass kill overthe minotaur, the Threshold.nal step, Thethe return to his world. When he ers, and mentor) to find the goldenThreshold fleece, to is rescuethe “jumping the sun. off point”does, hefor will the find that he is a more confi- Initiation and Transformation But The Hero's Journeyadventure. (or ItQuest) is the isn't interface just dent,between perceptive, the and capable person. a pattern from myth. It's the pattern of life, - The Challenges known and the unknown. InA themap knownto experience growth and experience--for all of us. We - The Abyss world, the initiate feels secureWhy because study she the Hero's Journey? Why learn see it reflected everywhere, from a simple - The Transformation knows the landscape and thea rules. pattern Once that dates back to before re- television comedy to the great works of - The Revelation past the threshold, however, thecorded initiate history? en- The answer is simple: we classical literature. - The Atonement ters the unknown, a different worldshould full study of it because it's the pattern of The Return (to the known world)Parallels the Ritedangers of Passage and challenges. human experience, of our experience, and 7he essence of the journey Often at the threshold, the initiate may - The Return (with a Gift) The Journey has the same three stages as we will live it for the rest of our lives. is the same in every life, encounter people, beings, or situations whether it is lived in the the Rite of Passage. First the initiate faces In a sense, every challenge or change It's important to remember that the which block her passage into the journey. Stone Age or the 20th separation from his own, familiar world. we face in life is a Journey: every “failing journey is a process of separation, transfor- These “threshold guardians” have two century, in the jungles Once separated, he undergoes initiation in” or “falling out,” every birth or death, mation, and return. It is a process where functions. They protect us by keeping us of Africa or the barrios and transformation, where the old ways of every move to a now town or school-- each stage must be completed successfully from taking journeys before we are ready. ifof the Los initiate Angeles. is Theto become pat- a hero.thinking To turn and acting are altered or every situation which confronts us with However, once we are ready to meet the backtern would is common, mean onlythat thethe initiatedestroyed, is rejec- opening the way to a new level something new. Some journeys are longer challenge, they step aside and point the ing herscenery own need changes. to grow. Unlessof awareness, the initi- skill and freedom. After suc- and more difficult than others, but they are way. More importantly, to pass the guard- ate sets out again, he may be locking all journeys we must face throughout life. ian is to make a commitment, to say: “I'm himself into unending adolescence and As with any process of change, jour- ready. I can do this.” giving up the benefits, freedom and fulfill- neys can be confusingThe Journey and is painful, like being but Early in our lives, our parents function ment of adulthood. every challenge taken brings apart opportunities and reassem- for as our threshold guardians. They try to discovery and growth.bled. During The struggle the process, helps keep us from doing things which would The Separation us develop confidence,ineffective perspective parts of our and cause us harm. As we get older, our par- The Call understanding. It is acharacter process ofare self-dis- ents' job becomes more difficult. They The Call invites the initiate into the ad- covery and self-integration,discarded, of maintaining must both protect and push, measuring our venture, offers her the opportunity to face balance and harmonyand stronger,in our lives. more capa- capabilities against the challenges we want the unknown and gain something of physi- Understandingble the elements Journey emerge. pattern can to face. cal or spiritual value. The initiate may help you understand the literature you read, choose willingly to undertake the quest, or the movies you see, and the experiences she may be dragged into it unwillingly. which shape your life. By recognizing the In general, the Call comes as a realiza- Journey's stages and how they function, you tion of an imbalance or injustice in her life. will develop a sense of the flow of your The Call can take many forms: own experience and be better able to make • the initiate has had something taken decisions and solve problems. More from her, her family, or her society. importantly, you will begin to recognize Her quest is to reclaim it. your own points of passage and respect the significance they have for you. • the initiate senses that there is something lacking in her life, and she must Eight-step transformation find what is missing. We usually divide the Journey into eight steps, but you must remember that the • the initiate realizes that something is not,permitted to members of her so- journey is an individual process of growth ciety, and she goes out to win these and transformation. The sequence rights for her people. 10 Copyright C) 1995, Ariane Publications Copyright C 1995, Ariane Publications anaft

“When you look into the abyss, the abyss The Disney film The Lion King offers fears, for it is only by directly facing these another example of a threshold guardian: the also looks into you. " weaknesses that they can be overcome. If they king's advisor, Zazu. Zazu seems to be a busy- can't be overcome, the initiate can't go on: the Friedrich Nietzsche body, but he is actually trying to protect the adventure ends and the initiate must turn back. over-eager Simba from taking on challenges he Into the Abyss is not ready to assume. When he reaches the Abyss, the initiate Also at the threshold (and very often later faces the greatest challenge of the journey. The during the journey), the initiate will encounter a challenge is so great at this point that our helper (or helpers). Helpers provide assistance or initiate must surrender himself completely to direction. Often the help comes in the form of a the quest, lose himself in the adventure and divine gift, such as a talisman, which will help become one with it. In the Abyss he must her through the ordeal ahead. overcome his greatest fears, and he must face The most important of these helpers is the them alone. Here is where he must "slay the mentor or guide. The mentor keeps the initiate dragon," which often takes the shape of focused on her goal and gives her stability, a something he dreads or needs to resolve. psychological foundation for when the danger is There is always the possibility that the greatest. initiate is not ready or has a flaw in his Helpers and guides may appear throughout character, and the challenge beats him. Or the journey. Fortunately, they tend to appear at perhaps he can't surrender himself to it and the most opportune moments, just when the must retreat. In any case, unless he sets off to initiate is about to be killed, for example. We call this fortunate timing 'synchronicity.' try again, life becomes a shadow of what it should be, and he will become dissatisfied and The Initiation bitter. The Challenges Transformation and Revelation Once past the Threshold, the initiate As the initiate conquers the Abyss and begins the journey into the unknown. The overcomes his fears, his transformation becomes voyage can be outward into a physical unknown complete. Often the final step in the process is a or inward to a psychological unknown. moment of death and re-birth: a part of the Whichever direction the voyage takes, as the initiate dies so that a new part can be born. Fear initiate goes deeper into the unknown, he puts must die to make way for courage. Ignorance himself more and more must die for the birth of enlightenment. Depend- at risk, emotionally and physically. ency and irresponsibility must die so that On his quest, the initiate faces a series of independence and power can grow. challenges or temptations. The early challenges This part of the journey is similar to are relatively easy. By meeting them the Rite of Passage, where the child moves successfully, he builds maturity, skill and from dependence to independence, from selfish confidence. As his journey progresses, the to giving; he accepts his independence and the challenges become more and more difficult, responsibility it brings. testing him to the utmost, forcing him to change Part of the Transformation process is a and grow. Thus begins the process of Revelation, a sudden, dramatic change in the transformation. way one thinks or views life. This change in thinking is crucial because it makes the initiate The journey's challenges always seem to strike the initiate's greatest weakness: his a truly different person. The Revelation usually poorest skill, his shakiest knowledge, his most occurs during or after the Abyss, but sometimes vulnerable emotions. Challenges always reflect it may actually lead the initiate into the Abyss. the initiate's needs and The Atonement ends, but it is still around us today. It is the basis After the initiate has been transformed, he for almost all of the books and plays we read. We goes on to achieve Atonement, that is to see it in television programs such as “Dr. Quinn, say he is “at one” with his new self and Medicine Woman”, “The Adventures of Lois and with life. He has absorbed all the changes Clark”, and occasionally-believe it or not-in “The brought about by the Journey and he is Simpsons.” Even the movies we enjoy- Forrest fully “rebom.” In a spiritual sense, the Gump, Groundhog Day, Labyrinth, Field of Transformation has brought the initiate Dreams, Ferris Beuller's Day Off, Cliffhanger, into harmony with life and the world. The The Lion King--are fictional depictions of the imbalance which sent him on the journey Hero's Journey. has been corrected-until the next call. The The Journey gives you a means for un- initiate is now truly a “hero” and he is derstanding and benefiting from these fictional content at last. adventures. Even if the characters aren't real, the Here he receives a "boon," a gift which journeys they take and challenges they face are is bestowed upon him based on his new reflections of the real journeys and challenges we level of skill and awareness. He may be- all face in life. As you watch them move through come richer or stronger, he may become a their quests, you can learn from their expe- great leader, or he may become enlight- riences. ened spiritually. Perhaps most importantly, though, the Journey is the pattern that we follow in our own The Return lives as we face challenges and move from child After Transformation and Atonement, to teenager, from teenager to adult, from adult to the hero faces the final stage of her jour- old age, and from old age into death. ney: her Return to everyday life. The es- The adventures you face will be chal- sence of the return is to begin contributing lenging and exciting. They can open the doors to to one's society. In mythology, the initiate knowledge and understanding. If you understand may return as a great hero because she has the Journey pattern, you will be better able to saved or renewed her community in some face difficulties and use your experiences to way. Other mythological heroes return to create a city, nation, or religion. become stronger and more capable rather than Sometimes, however, things don't go fearful and defensive. Understanding the pattern smoothly. For example, she may return can help you achieve wisdom, growth, and in- with a great spiritual message, but find that dependence. The Journey helps us become the "Heroism is a matter of her message is rejected and that she is os- people we want to be. integrity-becoming more tracized or even crucified for her ideal. The and more at each step hero also runs the risk of losing her new ourselves.” understanding, having it corrupted by Joseph Campbell putting herself back in the same situation or environment she left earlier. Because she is on a higher spiritual level than her people, the hero may become disillusioned or frustrated and leave society to be on her own. On the other hand, many Return at a Challenges and higher level great heroes such as Buddha and Jesus have Temptations sacrificed the bliss of enlightenment or "heaven' to remain in the world and teach others. The Journey is a Map We know the story of the Journey The Known The Unknown The Known originated with the ancient myths and leg- Copyright C 1995, Ariane Publications 13