The Hero and Heroine s Journey A Framework for the Process of Healing and Becoming Whole Leslie Shelton, Ph.D. This series of learning activities is based on a synthesis of the Hero s Journey as researched and described by Joseph Campbell in his books, The Hero with a Thousand Faces and The Power of Myth. I used this framework to bring closure to the Journey to Wholeness course. The Purpose of this Activity I wanted to place the lifelong struggle of becoming literate into a different context - to shapeshift the experience from victim to hero, from struggle to adventure. The Hero/ine s Journey allows a person to step out of one s personal mythos (life story) and into the greater mythos of human potentiality. From this perspective, it offers a way to reframe the experience of educational wounding. The Hero/ine s Journey or adventure is about... discovering one s gifts and talents and higher nature and serving others, connecting to a higher purpose. The Journey has Three Phases Departure Initiation Return Wondering how I could make this information both meaningful and understandable for the learners, I had a great idea pop into my head. Why not make the journey into a Sand Tray that would help lay out the main characters and each stage of the journey. This made the learning fun and engaging. The Circle Path of the Journey
The Journey Begins As we prepared to begin the journey, I suggested that the learners consider their experiences since entering the literacy program as well as their process of discovery and change over the previous month of the course. Answering the Call The adventure usually begins with something being taken from someone or when someone feels something is lacking in the normal experience permitted to members of his/her society So the person takes off on a series of adventures to recover what is lost discover life-giving elixir (helping potion) It is always about finding the deeper parts of the self. It is usually a circle of going out and returning. Our Adventurer steps on to the Path A variety of situations can trigger the Call to Adventure: serious illness, births, death of a loved one, change or loss of a job, perceived loss of skills Group Activity: Reflection and Discussion How did you answer the call? - ie. What brought you to seek help at Project Read? Finding Your Allies Often a supernatural being and other helping allies will show up as resources that can be called upon during the journey. The Refusal of the Call Sometimes we don t respond to the call. Group Discussion What can get in the way of following the call? Examples: too scary, friends / family, comfort, feeling stuck, victim mentality, hopelessness. These allies can be - People - Animals - Ancestor spirits - Mythical beings
Meeting the Ogres As soon as the Hero sets off he or she comes to the first obstacles -The Ogres - Beasts - Demons who guard and block threshold. You have a choice, you can put on a big struggle... but they are not to be slain, must be outwitted. You can dance around them, sing to them, charm them, tickle them, use humor in order to get around them. Group Activity Reflection and Discussion What people or situations in your life might be ogres - that block you as you set out on your journey? Act Out - How to Tame the Ogres In Pairs - one pair play ogres guarding the hallway and another pair tries to trick or outwit them to get to the other side. Into the Darkness Falling into the Belly of the Whale (This is when the Journey becomes more dangerous.) Our Adventurer crosses the Threshold Just when you are feeling great about getting across the bridge and think you ve got a clear road ahead OOOPPPS! you fall into the belly of the whale and you re surrounded by darkness and become disoriented. This is the place where you appear to die - you disappear to the outer world and the journey becomes an inner journey (This is a place of rebirth) The old self or outer self ceases to exist. Like a snake shedding its skin, you can t go back. Reflection: When have you felt like this in your life? How does one manage in this state? Successful hero s... Remember their allies Ask for help or send prayers.
The Road of Trials Stage 2 - Initiation The hero moves into a dreamy landscape where you must survive a series of trials and tests. They may be mental, physical, spiritual, emotional - or any combination. This is where the perceptions or senses are cleansed and humbled. What can cloud our perceptions or vision? Assumptions, feelings, beliefs Our Adventurer stumbles into the rocks and briars. Activity: Listen to the story of the Black Nubian Woman. How does she manage her trials? Finding the Boon This means finding the gifts or bounty that comes from successfully navigating the trials - usually means finding one s new or extended talents. Discovering new parts of the self. Group Discussion How does the Black Nubian woman succeed? (She licks the sores of the Old Woman in river.) We have to be willing to do what may seem distasteful, to recognize the hidden allies or gifts of a difficult or ugly situation, and be willing to do what we are asked to do that is difficult... This journey is about finding the Self that is Indestructible. What part of your self is indestructible? (Remember story - That Which Never Dies from the Faithful Gardner) Joseph Campbell talks about this as finding your Bliss. This can be felt as an experience of ecstacy or limitlessness. An example can be seen in the ecstatic poetry of Sufi mystics such as Rumi. - Listen to poem by Rilke - Der Schwan (About being carried by something greater)
Choosing to Return Stage 3 - The Return Home There is always a vehicle waiting to speed our return home. Just as the Adventurer must choose to set off on the journey, you must choose to come back and bring the new self back in order to share what you have learned / found as a gift for others. Some people stay lost in the boon, nirvana, the good life, and don t come back to share their boon with others. But the hero/heroine always comes back to share what they have found in order to serve others. Group Discussion: What have you gained from your journey over the past month? What new self have you discovered, or who have you become? Activity: Make a clay object that represents the new self that has emerged over the past month. Even though you appear to have succeeded in your journey, you still come back to the bridge or threshold and must use your new powers to return to the world again. You meet the Ogres one more time and must trick them or outwit them again in order to get across the threshold. Master or Mistress of Both Worlds When the Adventurer returns, at last, you bring your new skills and new self back to both your inner world and outer world. NOTE: This is the place where you commit to an action to apply your new learning in your life. What will you commit to doing? 5 Journey to Wholeness Class * The Hero / Heroine s Journey* Leslie Shelton 6/2000