So, in the last post, I went into detail about the Hero’s Journey. We talked about Joseph Campbell and his research into the various different world mythologies, as well as Carl Jung’s similar anthropological approach, but from a more psychological perspective. (summarize previous post here) There’s a lot wrong with our society; nobody with their right sense would fight me on that. The real debate is why that is, and what needs to be done about it. One of the reasons why I think we are living in the sickest society in the history of western civilization, is essentially because people don’t embark upon their own Hero’s Journeys anymore. People are too content to ride the waves of comfort handed to them by society, and to accept the conventional model of living that they’re programmed to believe is the only option. Even when they feel the longing within them– that sweet and subtle whisper of their daemon – to set out on their own way, they bury it in recreational distraction, drugs, alcohol, and, worst of all, the illusory reprieve of sympathetic commiseration. People look out into the world outside of themselves, and see their own feelings mirrored in the temperament and demeanor of those closest to them. They think, “If everybody else is feeling this way, then surely this meaningless void is just natural, right?” I truly and wholeheartedly believe that the most poignant answer to this dilemma, the only course of action one can take in the face of this despair, is to set out on your own Hero’s Journey.
Living out your own Story
While reading the stories of old and new, the best narrative outpourings of the human heart always inspire our souls to soar forth in romantic flight. They give us glimpses of feeling beyond the confines of our everyday life, and arouse our yearning in ways we can’t explain in words. Likewise, our lives also have the potential to unfold in a similarly epic and galvanizing fashion. If the Hero’s Journey archetypal pattern is truly built into the human psyche, doesn’t it make sense that we are all also called to embark on such an adventure?
I’ve come to believe this to be a universal fact; in my life, I’ve come to believe that active participation in our own personal Hero’s Journey is paramount in the building of the Good and Fulfilled Life. The path for the journey is already there – it’s just waiting for you to walk it. The undertaking of your personal quest might be the most important action one can take in life; it instills a wisdom that had previously been lacking and cultivates the energy required to conquer the unknowns of life with courage. Even though our personal quest may not have the same dire immediacy as those in myth, this in no way diminishes its significance to our personal lives.
Traveling the World to Write your own Myth
Once one acknowledges the need to heed the call their spirit has felt for so long, how might one go about that? How is one supposed to manifest in physical reality – and into their own lives – the vaulted yet transient images of Ancient greek demi-gods, or spirit-world-dwelling travelers? These are just made up stories, and they’re nothing more than words to bring us some comfort and recreational enjoyment, right? NOOOOOO, THERES MOREEE. For the past 4 years, I’ve endeavored to bring these myths and stories into my life and to discover their meaning for myself as intimately as possible. I’ve sincerely striven to live my life as a testament to the feelings that they evoke in me. And so, I’ve learned to view my own Call to Adventure as a wanderlust to travel, and I hope I may inspire you to do so as well.
Traveling as a Hero
Setting off on a backpacking adventure is, in my opinion, the most accessible option in our society for going on our own Hero’s Journey. It is the most personal plunge into the unknowns of the world, as well as a streamline to direct experience of all the archetypal energies from which the greatest myths are composed. At first glance, one might assume that I have a pride and egoic grandeur that surpasses anybody they’ve previously known. I mean, really, the state of the world is such an utter shitshow; how can ANYBODY in their right mind truthfully claim that their global galavanting and disregarding of responsibility to be an act of heroism? You’re right to think that… in a sense. I mean, as right as my parents were (still are…?) in thinking that some thought, and as right as I am in the midst of my darkest moments of self doubt on the road. What I’ve come to realize though, is that we mustn’t fall into that trap. Mythologizing our lives ignites us with passion and excitement, and lights the spark we need to cultivate our sense of meaning and purpose.
The Story that you Tell Yourself Matters
We all know by now how influential our thoughts are, and how our patterns of belief and concepts of the world sew the very fabric that our lives are woven out of. In the same vein, the story we tell of our lives – and our globetrotting escapades – molds our direct experience of it, and attracts the circumstances and events that are in alignment. And so, with that in mind, why do you shy away from the imaginative and fantastical? I urge you to paint the story of your travels with this same whimsical nature in mind, and to channel the magic of your childhood into the picture you currently envision yourself in. A subtle change in intention now can have monumental effects down the line, so just grant yourself the freedom to be wild and silly and as idealistic as you want to be.
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