I’ve read Campbell’s book in bits & pieces, though I’m aware of the hero’s journey & how he’s laid it out. I look to the tarot, specifically the major arcana, as a template to the hero’s journey (or in this case, the fool’s journey). Seeing a map & finding where you are on it can be incredibly helpful. It can also help you to think of ways to chart your journey -- or not!
Thank you. Care to have a seat, a cuppa of something of your choice and a chat?
In other words, thank you for your words and the wonder, curiosity it gave me.... worthy of feeling and consideration of it through this day. The sun has not yet lit the day here.
Love this, Priya. It’s so resonates with my own experiences. I’ve mapped previous life events to the stages of the Hero’s Journey, which was illuminating. What I like about the Heroine’s Journey is its cyclical nature. I can find myself anywhere in the cycle and gain insights. If I had to name a step that gives me the most difficulty, it would be “refusal of the call”. I have a history of resisting saying yes to opportunities, or even of not recognizing them.
Hello Julie, I love the cyclical nature of these journeys too. As it happens, my life has been defined by a refusal of the call. My experience is it then starts another journey, and sometimes, the same fork in the road appears again. Thanks!
I found Campbell in my early 20s, and it’s fair to say it informed a great deal of that decade of my life. I think what killed my appreciation of it was the commodification of it for Hollywood (eg Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey), and a growing understanding that it’s not the only path through a story, or through our inner lives. Which is a long way of saying, no, there’s no monomyth. But I appreciate any map that helps people sort out what they are going through - the Hero’s Journey, tarot, Myers-Briggs - they are all the same in that they hold the meaning that you bring to them.
I don’t subscribe to the “mono” of the term but definitely agree on the power of myth. Especially in today’s dislocated modernity, we need narratives to push through ruts in our lives.
It was good to read you got on the this journey (no pun intended), Priya. It’s always nice to get a window into one of your favourite writers motivation for writing what she writes :)
I really related to/enjoyed these two lines:
“I am almost convinced the latter is worse.” —. I agree!
“If we don’t see our stories reflected in broader society, it can make us feel like they are invalid or don’t exist.” — such a good point!
I’ve read Campbell’s book in bits & pieces, though I’m aware of the hero’s journey & how he’s laid it out. I look to the tarot, specifically the major arcana, as a template to the hero’s journey (or in this case, the fool’s journey). Seeing a map & finding where you are on it can be incredibly helpful. It can also help you to think of ways to chart your journey -- or not!
Thanks for reading, Shinjini, and sharing your perspective. I’m new to tarot and am enjoying learning the different interpretations of the cards.
Thank you. Care to have a seat, a cuppa of something of your choice and a chat?
In other words, thank you for your words and the wonder, curiosity it gave me.... worthy of feeling and consideration of it through this day. The sun has not yet lit the day here.
Alixandra, thank you for reading and for sharing your thoughts! I’m always ready for a cup of tea and a chat! I’m glad the post resonated with you.
Love this, Priya. It’s so resonates with my own experiences. I’ve mapped previous life events to the stages of the Hero’s Journey, which was illuminating. What I like about the Heroine’s Journey is its cyclical nature. I can find myself anywhere in the cycle and gain insights. If I had to name a step that gives me the most difficulty, it would be “refusal of the call”. I have a history of resisting saying yes to opportunities, or even of not recognizing them.
Hello Julie, I love the cyclical nature of these journeys too. As it happens, my life has been defined by a refusal of the call. My experience is it then starts another journey, and sometimes, the same fork in the road appears again. Thanks!
I found Campbell in my early 20s, and it’s fair to say it informed a great deal of that decade of my life. I think what killed my appreciation of it was the commodification of it for Hollywood (eg Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey), and a growing understanding that it’s not the only path through a story, or through our inner lives. Which is a long way of saying, no, there’s no monomyth. But I appreciate any map that helps people sort out what they are going through - the Hero’s Journey, tarot, Myers-Briggs - they are all the same in that they hold the meaning that you bring to them.
Stace, I totally agree, we bring meaning! Thank you for reading and commenting!
I don’t subscribe to the “mono” of the term but definitely agree on the power of myth. Especially in today’s dislocated modernity, we need narratives to push through ruts in our lives.
Hello, Justus! I agree that myth can also give us both structure and a sense of belonging! Thanks for reading!
It was good to read you got on the this journey (no pun intended), Priya. It’s always nice to get a window into one of your favourite writers motivation for writing what she writes :)
I really related to/enjoyed these two lines:
“I am almost convinced the latter is worse.” —. I agree!
“If we don’t see our stories reflected in broader society, it can make us feel like they are invalid or don’t exist.” — such a good point!
Thanks Priya :)
Michael, your support is much appreciated! Thank you for taking the time to read and share your thoughts!