The Writer's Journey...My Journey...Our Journey
I just posted some books I'd recommend on the Contact and Links page today. One of them is The Writer's Journey, by Christopher Vogler. It's an analysis of the writer's story arc based on Joseph Campbell's "Hero's Journey."
I had read Joseph Campbell many years ago when I was traveling in the south soon after my divorce. I remember reading it on the train heading into DC, the day I was going to see the Smithsonian. Back then, I read it as an overview of mythology, and in the process missed the real meaning.
I recently read Vogler while on my trip to India. Maybe it was the place, maybe where I'm at in life, but suddenly the light clicked on.
Vogler summarizes Campbell in twelve steps that a character takes, or should take, in every well written story. The Writer's Journey involves:
But the revelation from Vogler was that these steps can be used as an approach to life.
And he's right. Whether it's a specific problem you're trying to work through, or life itself, we all find ourselves on a personal journey. And if we try and skip a step, we're in trouble.
I realized that my life since my divorce a few years back perfectly matched this journey, but that I was hung up on the Resurrection. I think that's the point many of us get to, and then decide to turn back. It's the hardest point (I feel) in the process. But Returning with the Elixir, the final fulfillment of the dream, is on the other side.
Where are you at on your journey?
I had read Joseph Campbell many years ago when I was traveling in the south soon after my divorce. I remember reading it on the train heading into DC, the day I was going to see the Smithsonian. Back then, I read it as an overview of mythology, and in the process missed the real meaning.
I recently read Vogler while on my trip to India. Maybe it was the place, maybe where I'm at in life, but suddenly the light clicked on.
Vogler summarizes Campbell in twelve steps that a character takes, or should take, in every well written story. The Writer's Journey involves:
- The Ordinary World
- A Call to Adventure
- The Refusal of the Call
- Meeting with the Mentor
- Crossing the First Threshold
- Test, Allies and Enemies
- The Approach to the Inmost Cave
- The Ordeal
- The Reward
- The Road Back
- Resurrection
- Finally, the Return with the Elixir
But the revelation from Vogler was that these steps can be used as an approach to life.
And he's right. Whether it's a specific problem you're trying to work through, or life itself, we all find ourselves on a personal journey. And if we try and skip a step, we're in trouble.
I realized that my life since my divorce a few years back perfectly matched this journey, but that I was hung up on the Resurrection. I think that's the point many of us get to, and then decide to turn back. It's the hardest point (I feel) in the process. But Returning with the Elixir, the final fulfillment of the dream, is on the other side.
Where are you at on your journey?
Very interesting. I want to hear more about being stuck at the resurrection phase. From what I understand of the hero's journey so far, the culmination of everything is bringing the elixir back (or enlightenment) into the real world and somehow sharing it with others. It involves spanning both worlds--the material and the spiritual--and it always invovles service to others. Accomplishing this is what the journey was all about (although at various twists and turns along the journey that was not apparent and the meaning shifts at various stages). I think the fact that you made it to the Resurrection phase is remarkable--many people ignore the call or, having actually heard and answered the call, get lost along the way. One tragic pitfall is to keep the jewel for oneself--the quickest way to lose its magic. It must be given away, shared freely, or the very meaning evaporates. What compells one onward during the journey, I think, must be a connection to something greater, something bigger and, ultimately, to be on the right path means to be working in concert with the divine. I'm enjoying the blog--looking forward to future posts.
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Going off on an inspired tangent, your (enjoyable) post reminds me of someone who recently said that all people who try hard should succeed. I whole-heartedly disagree, and it goes right back to this whole heroic journey idea. It's the struggling and the failing, multiple times maybe, that forges character. Simply trying hard means little in the scheme of things. I'm reminded of Taran the Wanderer and the fact that his desire to sculpt pottery meant little in the face of his lack.
love the website & the blog! write on
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