The Heros Journey
Part one: the call to adventure
Have you ever had an unexplained urge to do something or go somewhere out of the ordinary leaving the status quo, even to the point of risking everything? This is what Joseph Campbell called the “Hero’s Call”. It is the call to adventure, a call to leave the safe and comfortable and go out there and do something that is simply part of your DNA.
Most people who join WA here a call to adventure and are ready to begin the journey.
Campbell's notion greatly impacted me, because it put meaning around the “siren” that seemed to be going off in my soul. It’s a feeling the everything is okay, but you just know that you are way off course. At times I felt like my soul was dying.
Or sometimes a tragic event jolts you into realizing that this is not the life that you were intended to live. Perhaps a heart attack or near miss car accident jolts you to consider what your life is really about. The call to adventure has been a part of my life in various stages, I guess I’m lucky. But it comes with quite a price at time.
What led me to WA is a call and a pathway to communicate my true passions. Campbell's call is essentially, your niche--your passion. Finding that passion may be a journey in itself.
A call so powerful that to not follow it would lead you to T. S. Eliot’s "wasteland"—a life not being fully lived, and therefore wasted. A life based only on survival.
Sometimes people bury the call-they are either afraid to answer it or too busy with distractions that do not satisfy in the long run.
Do you have an urge that won’t quit?
Have you ever refused the call, and if so what were the consequences?
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Interestingly, and much to the head-shaking of a more reasonable mind, I have always viewed lifes' circumstance as a "why" and rather, pursued a more adventurous path.
Admittedly, this has held some consequences which I would not want to repeat. Though in all, most are special memories...
Realizing over the years too,that we do not live in a vacuum by which others are not affected by our choices, has helped to temper the sometime irresistible urge to off-road the "road less traveled."
...And still,given the choice to sit and lecture the impetuous on the merits of keeping a wary eye for the pitfalls of life, I say, embrace all that will challenge you; seek out where others might only dream...And oh, "get my coat, I have got to see this!
My first "hero's journey" is behind me. I call it, My Great American Journey" and it's a part of my website. WA is my second foray into the unknown and I'm enjoying it quite a bit... challenging as it may be.
Have I ever refused the call? Yes; several times. I refer to those as the times I've "shot myself in the foot". Those moments I look back on and wish I'd made a different decision. As Sinatra sang, "Regrets, I've had a few"
That is so well put Anne, thank you, we should all listen to that voice inside, sometimes I need to stop and think before I jump in at the deep end. I just take a deep breath and go for it.
The elusive voice inside is not something that society or schools train us to listen to, and yet it may be the way to transcend seemingly insolvable issues.
Breathing deep and going for it is the answer to the call.
So true, it certainly makes for an interesting life and like someone said life is for living to the max.
I think the refusal to answer the call is to doom yourself to just "being here on the planet".............not my idea of either fun or duty!
Good post Anne !
Thank you Steve! The refusal of the call is a dismal place and I think most of us know folks who don't want to hear it. That said, I have given up a comfortable lifestyle to pursue my true passions, and not sorry for it.
We both have done that Anne............and neither of us will have any regrets. And thanks for confirming that neither of us are crazy :-)
Stay well my friend.
Steve
Thank you for sharing this, Anne. My calls of music and writing are engaged...There are a few others-Perhaps travel and random adventure. I love adventure. Do You? :)
Rick simply loves "being in the world', and we are all better for him being here. He is also extremely modest and shy :-)
My adventures have revolved around islands and island living (even though it has a bridge). I love the lure of the sea.
There is no bridge and there is no ferry boat--at least that might be what the Buddhists would answer.
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Hi Anne,
Thank you for having brought awareness of this advanced subject into the WA community.
I am sure you very well know that the Hero Journey is a story pattern also very much used in movies.
As I find "journey" related subjects so much interesting and fascinating, would you know of any other type (perhaps all) of journey patterns available ?
Thanks.