What Is The Hero's Journey?
Photo of arc of circles of light by Sebastian Voortman from Pexels
Updated 2021.01.06 and just as an fyi, this post includes affiliate links.
The hero’s journey has three basic aspects
1. A courageous figure (the hero) separates themself from those known and goes on a solitary journey of learning, adventure, some hardship, some fun.
2. Lessons are learned. Dragons are slain. Victory is had.
3. The hero returns to the land that he knows and shares what he has learned with his community.
On a Hero’s Journey, the hero leaves town, goes on a solitary journey, and returns to share what they learned.
The hero is the spiritual seeker.
And the Hero’s Journey is a spiritual awakening process.
The main character in any Hero’s Journey is someone who is strong and brave, and someone who follows their heart until they find the truth that they are seeking.
Have you been on a hero’s journey?
Here’s how to tell -
Did you separate from a life you once knew? A previous belief system, a way of living, a marriage or a location where you lived?
When you did that, did you find yourself on a path of spiritual and self exploration?
Did you get lost along the way, encounter primal energies? Did you overcome barriers and in that process, release some of your fears?
Have you returned to old friends and family members to heal old wounds and share your wisdom?
Are you actively advising others based on what you learned on your own path? Sharing your story? Teaching others?
If you've answered yes to half of these questions, you have completed a full Hero’s Journey.
The average Hero’s Journey takes 7 years to complete.
Spiritually, life is thought to be experienced in 7 year cycles.
Likewise, the most full hero journeys last equally as long. It takes some time to fully separate and prepare - journey - and return to the community to share the wisdom.
In the storytelling tradition, life is thought to be landmarked by 7-8 major events, and many of these major events are actually landmarks for the beginnings and endings of many different Hero’s Journeys that you have taken in your own lifetime.
That said, most people don’t even realize they've been on a journey until after it has come full circle and they then look at the meaning of their life path thus far.
If you have completed a Hero’s Journey, you have probably reached it to this spot, so congrats on making the full come around!
Hero’s Journeys are usually marked with starting points and ending points, and expect there will be more in your life.
When on the spiritual path, you can expect to undergo multiple mini hero journeys in your lifetime, making up one whole story, perhaps more depending on your soul contract.
For more content like this, start your 14-day free trial of The Membership!
Other Articles You May Enjoy:
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
