1. The Makings of a Hero

2.  Humans need heroes to show pathways to success The Big Idea

3.   Joseph Campbell proposed that almost all ancient myths contained common elements and archetypes. He felt the most evident example of that was the “Journey of the Hero,” the path or process of becoming a hero that most legends have as a formula. Joseph Campbell (1904 – 1987)

4.   Traces the story of the hero’s journey through virtually all the mythologies in the world, revealing one archetypal hero in them all, called the monomyth. The Hero with a Thousand Faces

5.   Human beings all want and need the same things, and our heroic stories reflect this need. Campbell’s conclusion:

6.   Departure  Initiation  Return The Hero’s Journey: Three Main Stages

7.  1.The Call to Adventure 2.The Refusal of the Call 3.Supernatural Aid 4.The Crossing of the First Threshold 5.The Belly of the Whale Departure – 5 parts:

8.   An unexpected world is revealed, drawing the hero in.  The world may be revealed accidentally, through mistake, or even through something eye-catching.  A messenger appears, calling the hero to adventure  The force to attend becomes so strong that the summons cannot be denied.  The hero seems to outgrow the old life; the time for moving on is at hand Departure: The call to adventure

9.   The hero tries to ignore the call and pursues other interests.  By refusing the call, the hero makes the adventure seem negative.  Life begins to feel meaningless.  Ultimately, the hero goes forth willingly on the adventure. Departure: The Refusal of the Call

10.   The hero encounters a figure who provides the adventurer with protective amulets against evil  fairy lore = a little fellow of the wood, an old crone, some wizard, hermit, shepherd, or smith who appears to supply the amulets and advice the hero will require  higher mythologies = great figure, a teacher, a ferryman, a conductor of souls to the underworld  Each supernatural event represents the protecting power of destiny – reassurance that all will be OK in the end. Departure: Supernatural Aid

11.   The hero crosses a threshold (figurative doorway) into the unknown, darkness, and danger.  The regions of the unknown (woods, desert, jungle, deep sea, alien land, etc.) are filled with deceitful and dangerous presences not experienced in the normal world.  The crossing of the threshold is the first step toward self-understanding, yet the action is tremendously risky – often life or death. Departure: The Crossing of the First Threshold

12.   Some time after crossing the threshold, the hero, instead of conquering or giving in, is swallowed by evil/the enemy and may even die.  The passing of the threshold is a possible life sacrifice, making the hero a new person.  After shedding fear of sacrifice, the hero is free to pass back and forth across the horizons of the world, traveling in and out of space and/or time. Departure: The Belly of the Whale

13.  1.The Road of Trials 2.The Ultimate Boon 3.Atonement with the Father 4.Apotheosis Stage 2: Initiation – 4 Parts

14.   The hero moves through a landscape in which places and life forms are strange and unknown.  The hero must survive a series of increasingly difficult tasks.  The hero is assisted by the advice, amulets (good luck tokens), and secret agents of the supernatural helper.  A chance is provided for the hero to purify the self and think about salvation. The hero must be willing to put aside pride, virtue, beauty, and/or life. Initiation: The Road of Trials

15.   The final heroic task is usually accomplished with great ease, signifying the hero as a superior man – a born king.  The ultimate boon is the ultimate treasure won by the hero.  The boon can only be received by the hero after all personal limitations are gone. Initiation: The Ultimate Boon

16.   The hero must reconcile with a “father” figure who has been an opposing figure.  The father can be a figure whom the hero has loved or even hated.  This coming together after complete self-sacrifice is called atonement = “at one ment”. Initiation: Atonement with the Father

17.   The hero transcends to a place of bliss.  In a more ordinary sense, it is a period of rest and fulfillment before the hero begins the return. Initiation: Apotheosis

18.  1.The Magic Flight 2.Rescue from Without 3.The Crossing of the Return Threshold 4.Master of the Two Worlds 5.Freedom to Live Return (May include one or more)

19.   The Return: The adventurer must return with the life- changing trophy (boon).  Refusal of the Return: The hero might not want to share the boon.  The Magic Flight: Sometimes the hero must escape with the boon, if it is something that the gods have been jealously guarding.  Rescue from Without: The hero is aided on the journey home by supernatural forces.  The Crossing of the Return Threshold: The hero brings the prize and stories of wisdom from the journey back home.  Master of Two Worlds: The hero is able to live in the material and spiritual worlds.  Freedom to Live: The hero does not fear death, but lives in the moment. Stage three: The Return