The Hero and Heroine's Journey

At Third Realm Integration, all practices are in support of helping clients navigate and integrate The Hero or Heroine's Journey which are myths that embody masculine-feminine and/or solar-lunar energies. While most men identify with The Hero's Journey and most women identify with The Heroine's Journey, there is arguably room for crossover especially since everyone possesses some degree of all archetypes.

The Hero and Heroine's Journey are archetypal myths or motifs that provide a framework for understanding the natural arch of human psychological development. Joseph Campbell (1949) was most famous for his work on The Hero's Journey, which he described as the call to action, adventure, and self-sufficiency on a path towards personal triumph. The Hero matures and grows through the many trials and tribulations he encounters on his adventure and meets allies along the way that support his outer journey. He eventually makes his return as an evolved being with newfound wisdom.

The Heroine's Journey, on the other hand, is a more robust myth that includes many aspects of The Hero’s Journey in addition to some new elements. The Heroine also responds to the call, but makes her transformation through the inward journey that results in a collective transformation. Much like The Hero, she meets allies along the way who help her transform. However, The Heroine's allies grow alongside her through life's obstacles. They, too, benefit from The Heroine's inquiry into her soul's mission. Their evolution is just as vital to The Heroine's growth as she is. It’s only through her open heart that the Heroine can make her return back home as a mature leader with vital knowledge to share. 

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While Campbell never pursued an understanding of The Heroine's Journey, it's a myth that has been reflected in ancient traditions for centuries. Western culture was largely absent of literature about the feminine's path until 1990 when Jungian psychoanalyst and student of Campbell's, Maureen Murdock, began writing about The Heroine's Journey. When she asked Campbell why he never wrote about The Heroine's Journey, he stated "Women don't need to make the journey. In the whole mythological tradition, the woman is there. All she has to do is realize that she's the place that people are trying to get to” (Campbell, 1981). 

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While Campbell may have been correct, it is argued that his perspective possessed far too narrow of a scope of the feminine's role and value. For centuries, long before Murdock's work, ancient and indigenous cultures and religions have appreciated The Heroine and her Journey through worship of primordial deity goddesses like Inanna (Ishtar), Isis, Sekmet, Helen of Troy, Ma'at, and Kali. In Christianity, The Heroine's Journey is portrayed in the story of Mary Magdelene and others. In Buddhism, she is known as Kuan Yin, the goddess of compassion.

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Whether you identify more strongly with one journey over another, both paths showcase the process of psychological growth and development through life's challenges, or gates of consciousness. Each journey begins with a push, or nudge, from life that asks us to wake up, and show up.

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Are you ready to answer life's call?