Stage 1: Call to AdventureStage 1: Call to AdventureA A heraldherald or or announcerannouncer appears appears
OftenOften [but not [but not alwaysalways] someone dark, loathly, ] someone dark, loathly, terrifying, and/or unordinaryterrifying, and/or unordinarySometimes a beastSometimes a beast
The call is typically heard The call is typically heard someplace someplace remoteremote—for example, in a dark forest, near —for example, in a dark forest, near a great tree, beside a babbling spring, etc.a great tree, beside a babbling spring, etc.The call promises The call promises both treasure and both treasure and dangerdanger..The call requires The call requires traveltravel to a distant land, to a distant land, forest, or kingdom somewhere underground, forest, or kingdom somewhere underground, beneath the waves, above the sky, on a beneath the waves, above the sky, on a secret island, atop a lofty mountain—even secret island, atop a lofty mountain—even into a profound dream state.into a profound dream state.
Stage 2: Refusal of the CallStage 2: Refusal of the CallStage 2: Refusal of the CallStage 2: Refusal of the CallAll true heroes All true heroes at firstat first refuse the adventure. refuse the adventure.The consequences of finally The consequences of finally acceptingaccepting the the call:call:
The person gains The person gains self-awarenessself-awareness and and controlcontrol..The person responds only to the deepest, highest, The person responds only to the deepest, highest, richest answers to problems faced in life.richest answers to problems faced in life.
The consequences of always The consequences of always refusingrefusing the call: the call:The person The person loses the power of affirmative loses the power of affirmative actionaction and becomes a victim to be saved. and becomes a victim to be saved.According to Campbell, the person’s “According to Campbell, the person’s “flowering flowering worldworld becomes a becomes a wastelandwasteland of dry stones and his of dry stones and his life feels life feels meaninglessmeaningless.”.”
Stage 3: Stage 3: Super-natural Super-natural
AidAid
Stage 3: Stage 3: Super-natural Super-natural
AidAidUsually [but not Usually [but not always] always] masculinemasculine in formin formTypically a wizard, Typically a wizard, hermit, shepherd,or hermit, shepherd,or smith—someone smith—someone peripheral peripheral to the to the communitycommunitySupplies the Supplies the amuletsamulets and and adviceadvice that the hero that the hero will require to beginwill require to begin
ThresholdThreshold
Great Unknown
Great Unknown
Stage 4:Stage 4:Crossing of the First ThresholdCrossing of the First Threshold
Stage 4:Stage 4:Crossing of the First ThresholdCrossing of the First Threshold
Sphere of Sphere of KnowledgeKnowledge
I am so I am so out ofout of here!here!
I am so I am so out ofout of here!here!
Stage 5: The Stage 5: The Belly of the Belly of the
WhaleWhale
Stage 5: The Stage 5: The Belly of the Belly of the
WhaleWhale
Crossing the Crossing the threshold is a form of threshold is a form of self-annihilationself-annihilation. .
The The bellybelly = the = the adventure, where the adventure, where the rules are rules are differentdifferent..
The hero is to be The hero is to be born againborn again, undergo , undergo a a metamorphosismetamorphosis, , shed his old character shed his old character for a for a new onenew one..
Second Major Section of the Second Major Section of the CycleCycle
InitiationInitiation
Second Major Section of the Second Major Section of the CycleCycle
InitiationInitiation
Stage 6: The Stage 6: The Road of TrialsRoad of TrialsStage 6: The Stage 6: The Road of TrialsRoad of TrialsThe hero must put The hero must put aside pride, virtue, aside pride, virtue, beauty, and life.beauty, and life.He must He must bowbow and and submitsubmit to the to the absolutely absolutely intolerableintolerable..Dragons must be Dragons must be slain, victories won, slain, victories won, barriers passed, barriers passed, ecstasies ecstasies experienced, etc.--experienced, etc.--usually in series of usually in series of threesthrees..
Stage 7: Stage 7: Meeting withMeeting with the Goddess the Goddess
Stage 7: Stage 7: Meeting withMeeting with the Goddess the Goddess
Usually depicted Usually depicted youngyoung and/or and/or beautifulbeautifulTeaches the hero an Teaches the hero an important lessonimportant lesson..Does not have to be a Does not have to be a goddessgoddess [such as the [such as the Greek Athena or the Greek Athena or the Egyptian Isis]. Any Egyptian Isis]. Any strong femalestrong female or or feminine forcefeminine force meets the meets the requirements for this requirements for this stage.stage.
Stage 8: Woman Stage 8: Woman as Temptressas Temptress
Stage 8: Woman Stage 8: Woman as Temptressas Temptress
Woman is the metaphor Woman is the metaphor for the for the physicalphysical or or material temptationsmaterial temptations of life.of life.A temptation tries to lead A temptation tries to lead the hero the hero offoff his path of his path of adventure.adventure.The “woman” can be a The “woman” can be a femalefemale, a , a strong strong feminine forcefeminine force, or a , or a temptationtemptation representing representing lustlust, , comfortcomfort, and/or , and/or lack of lack of spiritualityspirituality..
Stage 9:Stage 9:Atonement with the Atonement with the
FatherFather
Stage 9:Stage 9:Atonement with the Atonement with the
FatherFatherAtonement = Atonement = atat ++ oneone + + mentmentThe hero encounters his The hero encounters his biologicalbiological father, a father, a father father figurefigure, a , a strong male strong male presencepresence, or someone or , or someone or something with something with incredible incredible powerpower..At first, the “father” At first, the “father” represents what the hero represents what the hero despisesdespises or or disagreesdisagrees with.with.The hero is killed during the The hero is killed during the encounter--either encounter--either literallyliterally or or symbolicallysymbolically--so that a --so that a new selfnew self can come into can come into being.being.
apotheosisapotheosis n. n. Exaltation to Exaltation to divine rank divine rank or stature; or stature; deification; deification; Stage 10Stage 10
apotheosisapotheosis n. n. Exaltation to Exaltation to divine rank divine rank or stature; or stature; deification; deification; Stage 10Stage 10
Stage 11:The Ultimate
Boon
Stage 11:The Ultimate
BoonAll previous steps All previous steps have have preparedprepared and and purifiedpurified the hero for the hero for the boon.the boon.A A difficult taskdifficult task is is accomplished with accomplished with great easegreat ease..The boon is The boon is sometimes the sometimes the goalgoal of the adventure--a of the adventure--a magical elixir, the magical elixir, the holy grail, a golden holy grail, a golden fleece.fleece.
Third Major Section of the Third Major Section of the CycleCycle
R e t u r nR e t u r n
Third Major Section of the Third Major Section of the CycleCycle
R e t u r nR e t u r n
The hero-quest The hero-quest requires that the requires that the hero hero returnreturn. The . The responsibility has responsibility has been been frequently frequently
refusedrefused..
The hero-quest The hero-quest requires that the requires that the hero hero returnreturn. The . The responsibility has responsibility has been been frequently frequently
refusedrefused..
Campbell says this about Stage 12, Campbell says this about Stage 12, the the refusal of the returnrefusal of the return::Campbell says this about Stage 12, Campbell says this about Stage 12, the the refusal of the returnrefusal of the return::
The The final stagefinal stage of [the of [the hero’s] adventure is hero’s] adventure is supportedsupported by all the by all the
powers of his powers of his supernatural patron … supernatural patron … or or complicatedcomplicated by … by … magical obstruction.magical obstruction.
The The final stagefinal stage of [the of [the hero’s] adventure is hero’s] adventure is supportedsupported by all the by all the
powers of his powers of his supernatural patron … supernatural patron … or or complicatedcomplicated by … by … magical obstruction.magical obstruction.
Campbell says this about Stage Campbell says this about Stage 13, 13, magical flightmagical flight::Campbell says this about Stage Campbell says this about Stage 13, 13, magical flightmagical flight::
The world may have to come and get him.
Society is jealous of those
who remain away from it, and will come
knocking at the door.
The world may have to come and get him.
Society is jealous of those
who remain away from it, and will come
knocking at the door.
Campbell says this about Stage 14, Campbell says this about Stage 14, rescue from withoutrescue from without::Campbell says this about Stage 14, Campbell says this about Stage 14, rescue from withoutrescue from without::
Stage 15:Stage 15:The Crossing of the Return ThresholdThe Crossing of the Return Threshold
Stage 15:Stage 15:The Crossing of the Return ThresholdThe Crossing of the Return Threshold
Old Sphere of
Knowledge
The Now Known Unknown
The Now Known Unknown
Hero’s ReentranceI’m I’m
back!back!I’m I’m
back!back!
Freedom to Freedom to pass pass backback and and forthforth across across
the world the world division … is division … is the the talenttalent of of the the mastermaster..
Freedom to Freedom to pass pass backback and and forthforth across across
the world the world division … is division … is the the talenttalent of of the the mastermaster..
Campbell says this about Stage 16, Campbell says this about Stage 16, freedom to livefreedom to live::Campbell says this about Stage 16, Campbell says this about Stage 16, freedom to livefreedom to live::
Old Sphere of KnowledgeOld Sphere
of Knowledge
The Now Known Unknown
The Now Known Unknown
The Hero-Now-Master
The Hero-Now-Master
Master of the Two WorldsMaster of the Two WorldsMaster of the Two WorldsMaster of the Two Worlds
WhereverWherever, , wheneverwhenever, I am , I am
freefree to to act!act!
WhereverWherever, , wheneverwhenever, I am , I am
freefree to to act!act!