The Hero Cycle

The Hero Cycle

First Major Section of the Cycle

Departure

First Major Section of the Cycle

Departure

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!