Whether one is reading Shakespearean sonnets, speculative fiction, philosophy, mysteries or fairy tales, there is one luminous, never ending but constant tale one encounters again and again in human literature, a tale which suggests that more experiences await humanity than we will ever in our wildest dreams be able to imagine, experience, understand or write down for those who come after us.Humanity's myths have always been its greatest creative inspirations, for myth is the doorway through which all the grandeur and the mystery of the cosmos enter into human expression and thought. Our creative efforts in the fields of art, music, literature, science and technology; the fancies which creep into our days and the dreams which disturb our slumber - all bubble up from the deep and magical well of mythology.
Human history, mythology and folklore contain a host of heroic figures such as King Arthur, Merlin, Cuchulainn, Odin, Siegfried, Gilgamesh, Roland, Jason, El Cid, Beowulf, Boadicea, Hercules, Odysseus, Theseus, Joanne of Arc, and others too numerous to mention who were called to embark upon the hero's journey. There are many "rising and dying" vegetation gods such as Balder, Tammuz and Osiris who have undertaken the hero's journey, and who occupy honoured places among the ranks of mythic heroes, and let us not forget the heroes of contemporary speculative fiction, film and television, characters like Bilbo, Frodo, Gandalf, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Matrix, Xena, and Anomander Rake, the remarkable warrior mage of Steven Erikson's Malazon tales.
The underlying message of the hero's journey is that here is a pattern or template for humanity, whoever one happens to be, young or old, male or female, rich or poor, whatever one's station in life. The world is full of wondrous possibilities, and the future hero of a tale may be anyone at all, a pampered princess, an unworldly scribe, a weary housewife, or even an assistant pig keeper. That is why the hero's journey is always described in such general terms. One has only to discover one's own place in the scheme of things and embrace that inner knowledge for it to assist one in conquering the obstacles in one's path and moving beyond them into adventure and enlightenment. Who are the dragons, chimaera, ogres and other monsters, and in what realm do they dwell? They are simply manifestations or reflections of the doubts, unsolved mysteries and paradoxes of our own existence.
The essential meaning of the hero's journey is the pivotal myth which unites the spiritual adventure of the ancients with humanity's modern search for meaning. The archetypal hero sets forth from his own prosaic world of rooted and sensible perceptions and the drudgery of ordinary reality into realms wherein dwell titanic forces, demons, angels, dragons, and spirits either malicious or benevolent. After many ordeals, and after a fierce battle in which he triumphs over the the powers of darkness, he returns from his mysterious adventure bearing gifts of knowledge, wisdom, or fire (represented by technology in modern tales), which he bestows on humanity and on the earth.
In his wonderful book, "The Hero With a Thousand Faces", the noted American mythology scholar Joseph Campbell defined the thirteen common elements of the hero's journey as:
The Sage said, "A thousand mile journey begins with a single step." May you have many adventures on your own journey.Mysterious, unusual or miraculous circumstances of birth. A sequestered or hidden childhood attended by surrogate parents. A hidden or concealed identity known to only a few, sometimes only to one person. Education with a very old and very wise teacher. The call to adventure or to a quest for identity and the realization that the hero or heroine has special duties or responsibilities in this world. Revelation of the nature of the hero or heroine's true identity and birthright and their special responsibilities. The discovery of personal virtues and strengths and usually at least one great weakness. The discovery and development of special powers which are unique to the hero or heroine. These are often gifts from the gods or other powerful beings whom the hero or heroine has assisted, and such gifts usually compensate for the weakness. An arduous physical or psychological journey fraught with trials, testings and temptation. Ultimately the hero or heroine must rely on his or her own strength, wits and resources to emerge victorious. The journey ascends to a high spiritual plane and returns or descends into darkness and returns The journey leads to an incandescent transformation or to self realization. Something of great importance or lasting value is discovered or created. The hero or heroine conquers death or the fear of mortality and often ascends to become immortal.
