In a passage from the novel The Steppenwolf, by Hermann Hesse, a man plunged into an existential crisis, between uprooting, aggressiveness and loneliness, discovers a mysterious door at the end of an alley. On the door is a large sign.
MAGIC THEATER: THIS TICKET IS NOT FOR EVERYONE
In the same way, perhaps you, who have just gone through the stages of the hero's journey with me, think that this is not a journey for you. You may find it difficult to identify with the metaphorical language of princesses and dragons and heroes. If so, listen: the hero's journey is an invitation for everyone, at any age, to the adventure of living, that is, of knowing yourself, of fighting your dragon (whatever it is), of seeking the treasure that you enclose and share it with the rest of the world, consciously and daily. Taking the hero's journey means knowing yourself, discovering yourself and surpassing yourself, being more master of your life, more "captain of your soul", gradually and patiently learning to manage your impulsiveness, to be less reactive, to express yourself better, to overcome your fear of ridicule or change ... Those are the hero's weapons on his journey! Whoever you are, the hero's journey is for anyone, at any time and at any age.
In a somewhat more prosaic and everyday reinterpretation of the hero's journey, Jungian psychologist Craig Chalquist suggests that the hero's journey may simply be a journey to regain illusion, to relearn the capacity for wonder and curiosity with which we are all born. , and which wears out throughout adult life ... He calls it the "journey to re-enchantment" and divides it into these inspiring and universal stages:
STAGE 1. THE MAGIC OF CHILDREN
We all come into the world with this, even if our circumstances are difficult. Dolls and plants speak to us. There are bugs hidden under our bed. Dreams and everyday life have blurred borders.
STAGE 2. DISENCHANTMENT, FORGETFULNESS AND ADAPTATION
As we get older, we learn to adapt to the outside world. The birds stop talking to us. Imaginary friends leave.
STAGE 3. THE SEPARATION OF THE MAGIC
Creativity retracts in favor of commuting, paperwork, practicality and daily survival (as if losing the ability to wonder was something practical ...).
STAGE 4. RUPTURE AND LOWERING THE SUB-WORLD (IF YOU ARE LUCKY!)
When we stray excessively from the luminous (the supernatural, the mysterious or the spiritual) and intuitive of life, this area of life struggles to make itself heard through our unconscious, through symptoms, nightmares, or simply, a dull and prolonged dissatisfaction ... This is the life that warns us: "You were made for something else." Those who really have to consider themselves unfortunate are those who do not receive any kind of signal.
STAGE 5. THE FIRST SEARCH
We started the search, discontented, confused, but determined to find some meaning to what is happening to us. We question values instead of accepting things blindly.
STAGE 6. RETURN TO EMERGER, GRADUALLY OR BRUSCALLY
This stage generally concludes with a feeling of relief. Our vital energy flows again. Life is renewed, the will to live returns, although there is no important prize in sight...
STAGE 7. CONTINUE THE SEARCH
We continue to seek and learn new truths, mentors and relationships, turning away from toxic people who weaken us, and discovering new interests. Maybe things weren't as black as they seemed ...
STAGE 8. FINDING THE MAGIC DOOR
We awaken to the wealth of our internal resources and our imagination and intuition. Things take on a deeper meaning. What was isolated and fragmented begins to connect. Life makes more sense. Your heart wakes up.
STAGE 9. LEARNING TO LIVE IN THE TWO WORLDS
This is what in psychology is called «individuation», that is to say, to better integrate the wealth and wisdom of the unconscious in our conscious mind. To do this, we get to know each other better and take advantage of the talents we lock up. We learn to live in a more subtle zone between cultures, identities, more aware of our unconscious impulses. We are trying to reach an agreement between the "ordinary world" consensus and the secret garden of intuition and dreams. We have overcome the need to reduce and simplify life to one dimension.
STAGE 10. OPENING THE DOOR TO OTHER PEOPLE
Thanks to our past experiences, we are better prepared to mentor each other through informal conversations, writing, making presentations, participating in community projects ... Thus, explicitly or implicitly, we can help other people find their own way.
"You must be willing to leave behind the life you had planned in order to find the one that is waiting for you."
Joseph Campbell
On the hero's journey, you'll find inspiration and helpful hints to navigate these changes. Its stages will help you not only to remember how common and unavoidable the changes and crises that are before us, but to visualize each change as a stepping stone in a journey that you can undertake, knowing that you have within you the forces necessary to overcome your dragon and come to fruition. And on the following pages, to accompany you and inspire you on your hero's journey, I invite you to discover the journey that some of my favorite travelers have taken in their search for happiness, a heritage of wisdom and love that they have wanted to share with the world. .