Roots and Routes: Heroes and the Journey Back to Self
There is a difference between experiencing something and merely talking about it. A true experience engages more than just one sense: it’s felt, lived, and embodied.
The same distinction applies to communication. Talking is one thing, but propaganda is an art designed to target multiple senses, much like cinema sometimes, but often with different intentions.
Few people recognize the power of quiet leadership. In a world drawn to loud voices and emotional triggers, many mistake intensity for safety.
But let’s step away from the noise of influence and come back to ourselves. What does it take to lead ourselves?
Clarity in our internal dialogue. Sometimes, that clarity comes from silencing outside distractions. Other times, it emerges through meaningful conversations—listening, exchanging perspectives, and deepening our understanding of ourselves.
Recently, I had a fascinating discussion with a deeply philosophical friend about last week’s article on the heart chakra. He introduced me to Zen philosophy’s approach to love. Saying I love you is discouraged because it creates separation, making love feel transactional rather than an essence that simply exists and it’s against the flow of life.
This led us to a bigger question: If life is a Hero’s Journey, what makes someone a hero?
Curious about different perspectives, I turned to ChatGPT for a straightforward take on archetypes. I’ll share that discussion with you below.
The Hero Archetype & The Hero’s Journey (Jung & Campbell)
The Hero archetype, as described by Carl Jung, represents the part of us that seeks growth, courage, and self-discovery. The Hero is a figure who faces challenges, overcomes obstacles, and transforms through their experiences. This archetype is deeply embedded in myths, literature, and modern storytelling.
Traits of the Hero Archetype:
Brave but sometimes reluctant
Faces and overcomes adversity
Guided by a mentor or wise figure
Often experiences a personal transformation
Represents perseverance, sacrifice, and destiny
Examples:
Harry Potter (Harry Potter series)
Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
Frodo Baggins (Lord of the Rings)
Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)
The Hero’s Journey – Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth
Joseph Campbell, inspired by Jungian psychology, identified a universal narrative structure found in myths, legends, and movies: The Hero’s Journey. This framework consists of three main stages and 12 detailed steps.
The Three Main Stages:
Departure (Separation) – The Hero leaves their ordinary world.
Initiation (Transformation) – The Hero faces trials and undergoes change.
Return (Integration) – The Hero returns, transformed, bringing wisdom or gifts.
The 12 Stages of The Hero’s Journey
I. Departure (The Call to Adventure)
The Ordinary World – The Hero begins in a familiar, normal life.
Example: Frodo lives peacefully in The Shire.
The Call to Adventure – Something disrupts the Hero’s world, demanding action.
Example: Harry Potter receives his Hogwarts letter.
Refusal of the Call – The Hero initially resists out of fear or doubt.
Example: Simba refuses to return to the Pride Lands.
Meeting the Mentor – A guide or mentor provides wisdom, training, or tools.
Example: Obi-Wan Kenobi teaches Luke Skywalker about the Force.
Crossing the First Threshold – The Hero leaves the familiar world for the unknown.
Example: Neo swallows the red pill and enters the real world in The Matrix.
II. Initiation (Transformation & Challenges)
Tests, Allies, and Enemies – The Hero faces trials, meets friends, and encounters foes.
Example: Harry makes friends (Ron, Hermione), meets rivals (Draco Malfoy), and faces his first tests at Hogwarts.
Approach to the Inmost Cave – The Hero nears a major conflict or revelation.
Example: Frodo reaches Mordor; Luke enters the Death Star.
The Ordeal (Death & Rebirth) – The Hero faces a great crisis, often symbolizing death and rebirth.
Example: Gandalf "dies" in battle with the Balrog, allowing the Fellowship to move forward.
The Reward (Seizing the Sword) – After surviving the ordeal, the Hero gains knowledge, an item, or personal power.
Example: Luke Skywalker learns the truth about his father.
III. Return (Integration & Mastery)
The Road Back – The Hero begins their journey home, facing new challenges.
Example: Simba fights Scar to reclaim the throne.
The Resurrection – A final test purifies the Hero, solidifying their transformation.
Example: Neo is shot but resurrects, realizing he is The One.
Return with the Elixir – The Hero brings back wisdom, power, or a lesson to benefit the world.
Example: Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts as a stronger wizard.
Pain as Purpose
Roots and Routes began with the story of Sisyphus, a reminder that every life comes with its own trials. Some are tested through love, some through money, and others through health. We are each given a specific boulder, not as a burden, but as a revelation. Its weight carries a message, it holds the key to your purpose.
There is a calling for your healing, if you are willing to listen. And when you find that healing, it isn’t meant to be kept, it’s meant to be shared. Your story has the power to guide others, but that requires self-expression.
This is where your throat chakra comes in. The bridge between your heart and the world, shaped by everything you have heard, felt, and lived.
We must be mindful of the stories we inherit and the stories we create about who we are.
Are you the hero or the villain of your own story?