1. The Mythological Journey
A reflection
on a moment of change

2. Mythological Journey 1. YOU 2. Literature
A moment of change in your life
Told in the 1st person point of view
A moment of change in a literary character’s life
Told either in the 3rd person point of view…or in the 1st person (your retelling)

3. Who experiences this change?
All people experience this journey
You may be on a journey right now
Many journeys will occur during your lifetime
The way in which you deal with your journey shapes you into who you are

4. 4 Stages of the Mythological Journey
Innocence
what you were like before the change (your beliefs!)
Initiation
the moment your life will change
Chaos
the difficulties you face when you are
forced to change
Resolution
how your life & beliefs change

5. Santa Claus
Santa is a mythological creature
He does not exist.

6. Innocence usually involves these thoughts…
Stage 1 - Innocence
Innocence is your belief system before a change occurs. It is what you believe in until something forces you to change your mind about your beliefs.
Innocence usually involves these thoughts…

7. What does innocence look like?
There is no evil in the world.
All is good.
If you do good deeds, no harm or evil will come to you or your loved ones

8. What does innocence look like?
People will be healthy and live forever

9. What does innocence look like?
Love is a wonderful experience that lasts forever and brings nothing but happiness

10. What does innocence look like?
You are the most important person and others will care about your well-being

11. Santa-Innocence (1) Brings gifts to children Write him a letter
Be on the nice list
Leave him cookies

12. Stage 2 - Initiation Is not so!
Initiation occurs in a split second. It is that moment in time when you realize that what you had always believed to be a truth…
Is not so!

13. A moment anything that causes a big difference in your life, from an unexpected move…to the death of someone

14. Santa-Initiation (2) Your parents told you A friend told you
His beard came off

15. Stage 3 - Chaos
Your whole world is turned upside down. You now must struggle with what you formerly believed...and what new truth you may not wish to face.

16. What does chaos look like?
Emotional upheaval, irritability or a withdrawal from others

17. What does chaos look like?
A constant desire to return to the belief of innocence…
denial in facing what you now know to be the truth

18. What does chaos look like?
Either a loss or
increased
appetite
Engagement of “negative” behaviors or actions

19. What does chaos look like?
A battling back and forth…..trying to return to innocence, but also trying to reach a new resolution.
You have a desire to accept what has happened, but it’s really hard to reach that acceptance

20. Santa-Chaos (3) Return to a time when you believe
Have to keep the secret from your brothers and sisters

21. Some never leave chaos….but if you do

22. Resolution – Stage 4 If you finally accept the change and
You have a new belief…you will have reached resolution
Your resolution can be positive….

23. Resolution
You recognize that death is a part of the cycle of life and sometimes a new life can help you move on

24. Resolution
Perhaps your relationship failed but you now realize you can meet someone else

25. Resolution
Perhaps the family has a new look, but it is a life change you can live with

26. Santa-Resolution (4) Santa is a happy story
Santa isn’t the thing that makes Christmas so great
Family/food is what is really important

27. Sometimes you reach a negative resolution
You may choose to lead your life in a way that will give you loneliness...
angriness...
uselessness…
But it is still a resolution

28. Santa-Negative Resolution (4)
You become distraught about Santa not being real.
You refuse to be around anything Santa because it reminds you of the lie.

29. Santa-No Resolution. Chaos forever.
Professor

30. Home Group Look back at your warm up
Figure out who had the best “Santa” story
OR make something up
Grab a box of art supplies at the from the front
Write out the Santa story (longer version of the warm up)
8+ sentences
Write each of the 4 steps of the mythological journey in a different color
Example: Up until I turned 10 years old, I always believed in Santa. I would sprinkle the “Reindeer Dust” on my grass in December because I thought that Rudolph would be able to see the glitter from the sky. One day, I noticed that the presents in the garage were wrapped in the same kind of wrapping paper Santa uses every year. But, those gifts were not going to be from Santa-they were just the gifts that my parents gave me!