Perhaps you have heard or read the following?
Today, I walked down a street which had a large hole in it. I didn’t know about the hole and fell in it.
The next time I walked down the street, I knew where the hole was and still fell in it.
The next time, I took a different street!
This story reminds me a lot of the journey called life. Sometimes, we spend much of our time living a similar pattern – reacting to events and repeating our mistakes over and over until we start examining our actions more closely and begin making changes.
Note: We didn’t necessarily fall in all these holes in the street in just one life and therefore it can often take us several lifetimes to get back out again. This is one reason we have been given the gift of reincarnation!
Fortunately, there is another way to move past these holes or ruts. It has been written about and experienced by hearty souls throughout the ages. We will call it the Hero’s Journey!
The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure.
– Joseph Campbell
In 1949, a man by the name of Joseph Campbell wrote a famous book entitled The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Through extensive travel, study, and experience Campbell had noticed a common theme underlying most religions and classic stories. He described the narrative pattern as follows:
A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.
Numerous literary works follow the theme of the Hero’s Journey including classics by Herman Melville, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, W.B. Yeats, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and many others. Indeed, George Lucas credited Joseph Campbell's work as influencing his Star Wars saga.
A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself
– Joseph Campbell
What are some of the characteristics you will want to have and develop on your adventure? Here are some important ones:
Courage
As you progress further on your journey, you will begin to see less climbers, the air becomes thinner, and the path will narrow. It will take great courage and determination to make it to your destination and not turn back.
Wisdom
In the Star Wars series, Yoda imparted much wisdom to many including Luke Skywalker, a hero-in-becoming. Here are a few examples:
“Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.”
“Truly wonderful the mind of a child is.”
“In a dark place we find ourselves, and a little more knowledge lights our way.”
“Named must your fear be before banish it you can.”
Love
If you want to be successful on the journey and return with the power to “bestow boons” on your fellow man than your desire to love and serve humanity will need to be great. In addition, you will need to understand that to “forget self” points to the higher way.
Violet Flame's role in the Hero’s Journey?
The violet flame helps us to accelerate through karma. When we make the choice to accelerate we become much like a boat, which when it speeds up, skims across the waves more smoothly rather than absorbing the full brunt of every wave.
Following are some violet flame mantras, meditations, and affirmations you can give to assist in your adventure. You can find additional ones at our violet flame resources page
May you achieve a decisive victory and return home successful from your Hero’s Journey!
“Always pass on what you have learned.” - Yoda
Find other violet flame blogs from Violet Flame World here.
Footnotes and Other Information:
picture credit: student beginning journey on the path - with thanks to Summit University Press
book: The Hero with a Thousand Faces (The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell)
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