THE HERO’S JOURNEY
Transformation in eight easy steps!
The hero’s journey is divided into eight steps. Although there are many steps, remember that the journey is one single process. The hero must take this adventure to achieve growth and transformation. There is no “correct” formula for moving through the steps. Every hero is different, thus the sequence in which the hero will move through this or her journey will vary from one hero to another. Keep in mind that the length of time spent at each step will also differ between heroes.
THE HERO’S JOURNEY IS COMPOSED OF:
Separation (from the known)
The Call
The Threshold (with guardians, helpers, and mentor)
Initiation and Transformation
The Challenges
The Abyss
The Transformation
The Revelation
The Atonement
The Return (to the known world)
The Return (with a Gift)
Remember that the hero’s journey is a process of separation, initiation, and return. Each stage must be completed successfully if the character is to become heroic. The hero must fulfill his or her journey to reach the emotional and spiritual growth that is waiting; to turn back is to reject the natural need and desire to grow.
The Separation
1. The Call
The Call invites the hero into the adventure. It offers the hero the opportunity to move from the known into the unknown world. The Call will allow the hero to gain something of physical or spiritual value. The hero may choose willingly to undertake the quest, or s/he may be dragged into it unwillingly.
The Call may be a sudden, often traumatic, change in the hero’s life. The Call can approach the hero subtly, rearing its ugly head when the hero is feeling unhappy or uncomfortable with his or her life. The Call can take many forms:
· A quest to reclaim something that has been stolen from the hero or her family
· A journey to find that “missing piece” in the hero’s life
· A mission to restore honor
· A fight to ensure everyone has the same rights and priveleges
2. The Threshold
Once called to the adventure, the hero must pass over the Threshold. The Threshold is the "jumping off point" for the adventure. It is the space between the known and the unknown.
In the known world, the hero feels safe, loved, and known because he is familiar with his surroundings. Once past the threshold, however, he enters the unknown, a world filled with challenges and dangers. In the unknown, the hero is no longer safe, loved, or known.
The beanstalk provides a physical threshold for Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk. The moment in “School Spirit” when Arnold places his lips on the tuba’s mouthpiece is another physical threshold.
Threshold Guardians
Often at the threshold, the hero encounters people, beings, or situations which block his passage. Oftentimes, the hero’s threshold guardians are parents and teachers. These "threshold guardians" have two functions. Firstly, they prevent the hero from engaging in dangerous or unhealthy behaviors. However, once the hero is ready to meet the challenge, the threshold guardians engage in their second role- they simply step aside and point the way. The hero is then prepared for the unknown adventures ahead.
An example would be when you learned to ride a bike. At first, your threshold guardian, or parent, protected you and eased you into the entire bike experience slowly. Maybe your guardian placed training wheels on your bike, or maybe your guardian cautiously held onto the back of your seat. However, after much practice, the time finally came for you to ride on two wheels by yourself. You committed yourself to the endeavor of riding on just two wheels and you asked your parents to let you “do it yourself”. At this point, your threshold guardian stepped away and let you ride by yourself.
Guides, Helpers, Mentors
Also at the threshold, and very often later in the journey, the hero will encounter a helper. Helpers provide assistance or direction. Often they bring the hero a divine gift, such as a magical charm, which will help the hero through the ordeal ahead.
The helper in Jack and The Beanstalk is the wizard who gives Jack magical beans.
The most important form of helper is the mentor or guide. The mentor keeps the hero focused on his/her goal and keeps the hero stable and grounded. The mentor makes the hero feel calm and protected in times of danger.
Helpers and guides may appear throughout the journey. Fortunately, they tend to appear at the most opportune moments.
Think of those movies you have seen where someone walks in at just the right moment to save the hero from a gruesome accident or an embarrassing moment.
While the mentor and the helpers can assist the hero, they do not own the journey. The hero must take full responsibility for his or her actions and must have the final say in all situations. Remember, the hero is on this journey to grow into a more responsible person.
The Initiation
3. The Challenges
Once past the Threshold, the hero begins the journey into the unknown. The voyage can be outward into a physical unknown or inward into an emotional or spiritual unknown. Whichever direction the adventure takes, the hero becomes more and more at risk.
On our quest, the hero faces a series of challenges or temptations. The early challenges are relatively easy. Think of Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk. At the start of the journey, he steals objects while the ogre is sleeping. By meeting these challenges successfully, the hero builds maturity, skill and confidence. As the journey progresses, the challenges become more and more difficult, really testing the hero. Jack’s last challenge is to steal the golden goose. This is a test because the goose could squawk to alert the ogre of the theft. In order to successfully beat these challenges, the hero must change and grow.
Tempters
A tempter tries to pull the hero off of his path. Tempters use fear, doubt, or distraction. A tempter can be someone urging the hero to use drugs, cheat on a test, or steal money. A tempter knows the hero’s vulnerabilitites, thus making it difficult for the hero to defend himself. The hero must stand up to this person to successfully continue on his journey.
4. Into the Abyss
When the hero reaches the Abyss, he faces the greatest challenge of the journey. At this point, he must surrender himself completely to the adventure. During the abyss, the hero has to face his greatest fear, and he must face it alone. The abyss can also be called “the belly of the beast”- the most trying and dangerous portion of the entire journey. The hero needs to summon all of his physical and emotional strength to get through this point in his life.
If the hero is unprepared to face this challenge or if he has a flaw in his character, the challenge can ultimately defeat him. If the hero cannot successfully complete this trying portion of the journey, his life will become filled with remorse and regret.
5. Transformation and 6. Revelation
As the hero conquers the Abyss and overcomes his fears, his transformation
becomes complete. The hero’s transformation is the moment when his life
changes. A part of him must die so that another part can live.
EXAMPLES:
Jack’s dependence on his mother dies and his independence is born.
In “School Spirit”, Arnold’s search for “a quick fix” dies so that his desire for
authenticity can live.
Part of the hero’s transformation process is a revelation. When a hero experiences her revelation, she undergoes a sudden, dramatic change in the way she views her own life. This change in thinking is critical because it makes the hero truly a different person.
7. The Atonement
After the hero has been transformed, he goes on to achieve atonement. Atonement is when the hero is "at-one" with his new self. The hero has incorporated the changes brought on by his heroic journey into his life and he now feels comfortable with his own identity. Coming to terms with his new self causes the hero to be “reborn”. At this point, the hero realizes how he fits into the world surrounding him. The hero no longer feels awkward or dissatisfied with his life.
The Return
8. The Return
After the transformation and atonement stages, the hero embarks upon the final stage of his journey- he returns home, to his everyday life. Upon the hero’s return, he realizes his gift. This gift is something that has been given to him based on his new level of skill and awareness. The hero may become richer or stronger, he may become a great leader, or he may become enlightened spiritually.
The main purpose of the return is to begin contributing to society. In the hero’s journey, the hero returns to society to make it a better place and to help others on their journeys.