The HERO'S JOURNEY - Joseph Campbell
Summary
TLDRThe video script delves into Joseph Campbell's 'Hero's Journey,' a universal narrative that underpins human stories, guiding individuals through self-discovery towards a fulfilled life. It outlines 12 stages of transformation, from the ordinary world to the special world and back, facing challenges and gaining wisdom. The journey is both an external adventure and an internal voyage into the unconscious, urging viewers to embrace their calling, confront fears, and live authentically, impacting others positively.
Takeaways
- 🌟 The 'Hero's Journey' is a universal narrative framework identified by Joseph Campbell, applicable to various human stories and self-discovery quests.
- 🔄 This journey is cyclical, involving stages of separation, ordeal, and return, reflecting both internal and external transformations.
- 🌍 The narrative is cross-cultural, seen in popular stories like 'Star Wars' and 'Harry Potter', as well as in personal life journeys.
- 👤 Stage 1: The Ordinary World - It's the starting point where the hero is an undeveloped version of themselves, often following societal norms.
- 📞 Stage 2: Call to Adventure - Represents opportunities to embark on a new quest that challenges one's understanding of self and reality.
- 🚫 Stage 3: Refusal of the Call - An initial resistance to change due to fear and the comfort of the known.
- 🧙♂️ Stage 4: Meeting with the Mentor - Encountering a guide who provides wisdom and direction for the journey ahead.
- 🚪 Stage 5: Crossing the First Threshold - A metaphorical step into the unknown, marking the beginning of self-discovery.
- 🛡 Stage 6: Tests, Allies, Enemies - Learning the rules of the new world and facing challenges that prepare the hero for greater trials.
- 🏰 Stage 7: Approach to the Inmost Cave - A critical decision point where the hero confronts their deepest fears or conflicts.
- 💀 Stage 8: The Ordeal - The peak challenge that leads to a metaphorical death and rebirth, granting the hero new power and insights.
- 🏆 Stage 9: The Reward - Gaining a prize after overcoming the ordeal, symbolizing inner change and personal growth.
- 🔙 Stage 10: The Road Back - The decision to return to the ordinary world, still facing residual challenges and temptations.
- ⚔️ Stage 11: Resurrection - A final confrontation with death and darkness, leading to a profound transformation of the hero.
- 🌱 Stage 12: Return with the Elixir - The hero returns to the ordinary world with newfound wisdom or power to effect change and heal.
- 📚 For deeper insights, the script recommends 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces' by Joseph Campbell and other personal development books.
- 🎥 The video also suggests that the hero's journey is not a one-time event but a continuous process of personal evolution.
Q & A
What is the 'hero's journey' as described by Joseph Campbell?
-The 'hero's journey' is a narrative pattern identified by Joseph Campbell that describes the stages a character goes through in a story, which includes self-discovery, transformation, and the pursuit of one's bliss. It's a universal motif found in myths and stories across different cultures and is also applicable to personal growth and self-improvement.
What are the three main parts of the hero's journey according to the transcript?
-The three main parts of the hero's journey are: Separation, which includes the call to adventure and the refusal of the call; Descent, which involves the hero facing challenges and the innermost cave; and Return, where the hero experiences resurrection and brings back the elixir to the ordinary world.
What does the 'call to adventure' represent in the hero's journey?
-The 'call to adventure' represents a pivotal moment in the hero's journey where the hero is summoned to embark on a new quest that will change their life. It often involves facing fears or the unknown and deciding whether to accept the challenge or stay in the comfort zone.
Why is the 'refusal of the call' a common part of the hero's journey?
-The 'refusal of the call' is a common part of the hero's journey because it reflects the natural human tendency to resist change and face fears. It shows the hero's initial reluctance to leave their comfort zone due to insecurities and the fear of the unknown.
What role does the mentor play in the hero's journey?
-The mentor in the hero's journey provides wisdom, insights, and guidance to the hero, helping them navigate the challenges of their adventure. They can be a physical person or symbolic figures, like authors or philosophers, who impart valuable lessons to the hero.
What does 'crossing the first threshold' signify in the hero's journey?
-'Crossing the first threshold' signifies the point where the hero leaves the ordinary world and enters the special world, marking the beginning of their adventure and self-discovery. It is a metaphor for stepping into the unknown and the unconscious.
What challenges does the hero face during the 'tests, allies, enemies' stage?
-During the 'tests, allies, enemies' stage, the hero faces challenges that test their abilities and resolve. They encounter new friends who support them and enemies who oppose them, all of which contribute to their growth and preparation for greater challenges ahead.
What is the significance of the 'innermost cave' in the hero's journey?
-The 'innermost cave' represents a critical point in the hero's journey where they confront their deepest fears or inner conflicts. It is a metaphor for the place where the hero must overcome their greatest challenges to achieve personal growth and retrieve the metaphorical treasure.
What happens during the 'ordeal' stage of the hero's journey?
-During the 'ordeal' stage, the hero faces the biggest challenge of their journey, often a metaphorical death and resurrection. This is where they experience a transformation that grants them the power and insight necessary to fulfill their destiny.
What does the hero receive as a 'reward' after overcoming the ordeal?
-After overcoming the ordeal, the hero receives a 'reward' which could be a physical object, knowledge, or love. This reward symbolizes the achievements of inner change and personal growth that the hero has undergone during their journey.
What is the importance of the 'return with the elixir' stage in the hero's journey?
-The 'return with the elixir' stage is important as it signifies the hero's return to the ordinary world with newfound wisdom or a metaphorical elixir. This allows the hero to implement change in their life and help others, thus completing the cycle of personal transformation and growth.
Outlines
🧗 The Hero's Journey: An Intrinsic Path to Self-Discovery
This paragraph introduces the concept of the hero's journey, a narrative framework that transcends cultural and historical boundaries. It is presented as a universal pattern found in myths, religious stories, and even in the lives of individuals. The journey is characterized by a sequence of 12 steps that the hero undergoes, beginning with the ordinary world and progressing through stages such as the call to adventure, meeting a mentor, crossing the first threshold, and facing tests and enemies. Each step represents a phase in the hero's transformation, culminating in a return to the ordinary world with newfound wisdom or power. Examples from popular culture like Star Wars and The Matrix are used to illustrate these stages, emphasizing the journey's applicability to both external adventures and internal psychological growth.
🔥 Facing Challenges and Rewards: The Deeper Layers of the Hero's Journey
This segment delves deeper into the hero's journey, focusing on the challenges and rewards that the hero encounters. It describes the approach to the innermost cave, where the hero confronts their greatest fears, symbolized by mythical creatures like dragons. The ordeal, or the hero's darkest moment, is highlighted as a pivotal point where the hero experiences a metaphorical death and rebirth, leading to a significant transformation. The paragraph also discusses the hero's reward, which can be a physical object, knowledge, or love, representing the inner change achieved. The road back and the resurrection are explored as the hero faces final tests before returning to the ordinary world with the elixir, a symbol of the growth and wisdom gained. The importance of bringing back this elixir to effect change and help others is emphasized, suggesting that the hero's journey is a cyclical process of personal growth and transformation.
🌟 Embracing the Hero's Journey for Personal Transformation
The final paragraph serves as a call to action, encouraging viewers to embrace the hero's journey as a path to personal transformation. It suggests that the journey is not a one-time event but a continuous cycle of facing challenges, gaining wisdom, and growing. The paragraph ends with a personal note from the speaker, who shares his current location and hints at the irregularity of future uploads due to personal business. The speaker also invites viewers to engage with the content by liking, sharing, and subscribing, and to leave comments or video requests. The paragraph concludes with a recommendation for further reading on the hero's journey and a list of books that can enhance one's life, reinforcing the idea that the hero's journey is a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal development.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Hero's Journey
💡Self-Discovery
💡Ordinary World
💡Call to Adventure
💡Refusal of the Call
💡Mentor
💡Crossing the First Threshold
💡Tests, Allies, Enemies
💡Innermost Cave
💡Ordeal
💡Reward
💡Resurrection
💡Return with the Elixir
Highlights
The hero's journey is a universal narrative of self-discovery and transformation, applicable to every human story.
The journey encompasses a path of separation, descent, ordeal, and return, reflecting a full circle from the ordinary to the special world and back.
The hero's journey includes 12 steps that a hero must go through for self-transformation.
The 'ordinary world' represents the starting point where the hero is a lesser version of themselves, influenced by societal norms.
The 'call to adventure' signifies destiny's summoning of the hero, often involving confronting fears or the unknown.
Many people refuse the call to adventure due to fear and the desire for security, leading to a life of unfulfillment.
The hero encounters a mentor who provides wisdom and guidance essential for the journey.
Crossing the first threshold marks the transition from the ordinary to the special world, signifying the beginning of the self-discovery adventure.
In the 'tests, allies, enemies' stage, the hero learns the rules of the new world and faces challenges that prepare them for greater trials.
The 'innermost cave' represents a significant challenge or inner conflict that the hero must confront.
The 'ordeal' is the hero's biggest challenge, often involving a metaphorical death and resurrection, granting them new power.
The hero receives a 'reward' after triumphing the ordeal, which could be an object, knowledge, or love.
The 'road back' involves the hero deciding to return to the ordinary world, facing remaining challenges and temptations.
During 'resurrection,' the hero encounters death and darkness one more time before being conquered, leading to a transformation.
The hero returns to the ordinary world with the 'elixir,' a treasure or new understanding that can implement change and help others.
The hero's journey is a cyclic path of personal transformation, where challenges and resistance help in constant growth and wisdom acquisition.
The video recommends 'The Hero with a Thousand Faces' by Joseph Campbell for an in-depth understanding of the hero's journey.
Additional book recommendations include 'The 50th Law' by Robert Greene and 'Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism' for personal growth.
Transcripts
embedded deep in the human psyche lies
the narrative of what Joseph Campbell
called the hero's journey this is more
than just a mere mythological narrative
this is a deep truth that applies to
every human story this is a journey
about self-discovery living a fully
realized life or as camp belt would
simply state following your bliss the
hero's journey was his all embracing
metaphor for the deep inner journey of
transformation that heroes in every time
and place seemed to share a path that
leads them through great movements of
separation descent ordeal and return it
is going full circle from the ordinary
world to the special world and back
again this same narrative spans across
all cultures errors religions and tales
including not only your favorite stories
like fouls and Harry Potter but within
the lives of every human being on the
planet the journey stages may be avoided
repeated or shifted depending upon the
needs of the individual story the hero's
journey can be just as much as an inner
voyage into the unconscious mind as it
is an external adventure there are a
number of steps that a hero must go
through for self transformation
typically there are 12 steps that
usually go in the following order step 1
the ordinary world this is where we all
start in the ordinary world where the
hero is a lesser version of himself in
the beginning just like all of us most
fall into the trap of society's doctrine
and end up following the status quo like
everybody else we do what our family
friends Society tells us to do which
leads us into living a life that's not
our own but deep down we know that
there's more to life that there's an
exciting adventure waiting for us in
Star Wars you see Luke Skywalker being
brought to death as a farm boy before he
tackles universe the special world which
is a metaphor for stepping into chaos
uncertainty the unknown or as young
would call the unconscious step to call
to adventure the call to adventure
signifies that destiny has summoned the
hero as we go about our lives we will
encounter multiple call to adventure
opportunities to embark on a new quest
which will change everything we thought
we knew about ourselves and reality
typically this will involve delving deep
into our fears or the unknown we will be
faced with the
challenged to let go of what we know
it's up to us whether or not we accept
that call in the matrix the call to
adventure is when neo gets the message
to follow the White Rabbit sadly most
people don't get past this stage they
live their life according to others
never really chasing their dreams
because they'd rather play it safe and
stay in the illusion of certainty this
often leads them to feel unfulfilled and
stagnant they never accepted that call
to adventure step 3 refusal of the call
the hero will almost always refuse the
call at least in the beginning due to
fears and Security's resistance and the
unwillingness to change and this is
totally understandable I mean scary
facing our fears right in the matrix
Morpheus calls neo and tells them to
cross the ledge the neo refuses and gets
taken away by the agents the hero's
journey is just as much an inner voyage
as an external adventure refusing the
call to adventure in modern life many
times refers to avoiding our issues
right now unconscious mind this could be
a fear that we haven't faced internally
or an opportunity we didn't take because
it's too risky so we don't do anything
and wonder what could have been step 4
meeting with the mental the hero
encounters a mentor who gives them
wisdom insights and guidance that will
help them on their journey in the matrix
it was Morpheus who mentored neo in Star
Wars it was obi-wan Kenobi to Luke
Skywalker nor the Rings it was Gandalf
to proto just remember that meeting a
mentor doesn't necessarily have to
happen physically even though many times
this does happen eventually as you
progress through your hero's journey
even a Schwarzenegger Elliott Hulse
Robert Greene or B Marcus Carl young and
Jordan Peterson just to name a few have
all been amazing mentors to me even
though I haven't met any of them in my
life yet they have helped me
tremendously on my journey with their
experiences wisdom and valuable insights
step 5 crossing the first threshold this
is when the hero goes from the ordinary
world to the special world this is a
metaphor for going into the unconscious
into the unknown this is where the
adventure of self-discovery
truly begins this is also the point of
no return
after the hero crosses the first
threshold life will never be the same
this is the stage where neo takes the
red pill and wakes up from the matrix
crossing the first threshold in your
hero's journey may be receiving a piece
Vincent
that changes your perspective on life
forever or quitting your job and moving
to another country step six Tests allies
enemies the hero learns the rules of the
new world challenges walls conflicts
arises you meet new friends have new
experiences but at the same time face
more challenges the most important
function of this stage in this story is
the testing of the hero to prepare them
for the old deals that lie ahead this is
when Morpheus teaches near the training
simulation or when Harry adjusts to life
in Hogwarts step 7
approach to the innermost case the
innermost cave may represent many things
in the hero's story such as an actual
location in which lies a terrible danger
or an inner conflict which up until now
the hero hasn't faith yet in many myths
the hero has to descend into hell to
retrieve a loved one or into a cave to
buy the dragon and receive the treasure
the dragon in mythology represents
everything you fear which guards the
most precious treasure this is a
metaphor for life it's when you break
through the other side of what you fear
most that there's the biggest reward and
growth but this isn't easy by any means
like when the Oracle tells mirror that
Morpheus or he will die and that neo has
the power to choose who or when the
Green Goblin arcs spider-man to join him
but Peter refuses it is at this stage in
the hero's journey which the hero has to
make a very tough decision
step 8 the ordeal this is usually the
biggest challenge a hero must face such
as a beat in the crisis or hitting rock
bottom only through the form of death
can the hero be reborn experiencing a
metaphorical resurrection that somehow
grants him greater power inside
necessary in order to fulfill his
destiny this is the high point of the
hero's story and where everything he
holds dear is put on the line if he
fails he will either die or life as he
knows that will never be the same again
step 9 the reward after triumphing the
ordeal in the innermost cave the hero
receives a reward whether it's a
physical object knowledge or even love
the true all healing elixir is the
achievements of inner change neo blamed
himself for Morpheus being captured so
he decides to reenter the matrix to save
him on the lion king when mufasa's ghost
tells Simba he must return to the pride
lands and everyday life the reward could
be settling a conflict with a family
member or the shadow soul or even
healing at
drama which gives you a much better
understanding of yourself allowing you
to live a much happier fulfilled life
step 10 the road back after the hero
gains a reward we move into act 3 the
hero isn't out of the woods just yet
this stage marks the decision to return
to the ordinary world the hero realizes
that the special world must eventually
be left behind and there are still
dangerous temptations and tests the head
before mirror can leave the matrix agent
Smith killed him
Simba returns to the pride lands and
faces scar if the hero has not resolved
the issue with the conquered villain in
real life this refers to the shadow it
comes after him with a vengeance in
psychology this refers to neurosis bad
habits old addiction and dark pasts
coming back to Porter's like an
ex-girlfriend for example after we
thought we were done with them forever
step 11
resurrection during the resurrection
death and darkness are encountered one
more time before being conquered the
good danger is usually at the peak of
the entire story and the threat is to
the entire world
not just the hero the stakes are at
their very highest the hero uses all
lessons learned on the journey and is
transformed into a new being with new
insights this is my favorite part in the
matrix when Trinity tells neo that she
loves him so he must be the one
so then Mia revives and kills agent
Smith this could represent an ego death
for example which triggers an
enlightening experience or it could be
going through the darkest depths of our
psyche during the high school Depression
hitting rock bottom extracting that
wisdom and transcending it all with that
fire in the belly which makes us
peerless that helps push us forward on
our self-development
this is a critical point in the hero's
journey where he or she realizes that
they had the power within them the whole
time step 12 return with the elixir once
the transformation is complete the hero
returns to the ordinary world with the
elixir a treasure or a new understanding
returning with the elixir means the hero
can now implement change in his daily
life and use the lessons of the
adventure to heal his wounds and help
others in the ordinary world this is
important because unless something is
brought back from the ordeal in the
innermost cave the hero is doomed to
repeat the adventure until the lesson is
learned which many of us stay stuck in
it's like this painful karmic cycle that
keeps hitting us time and time again
each time more painful than the last
until we finally learn our lesson in
life the elixir can be a metaphor for
growth love wisdom freedom or knowledge
which we can use to help others even if
assist our close friends and family the
hero's journey isn't a linear path that
you reach once and finish forever it is
a cyclic journey personal transformation
where you constantly face challenges and
resistance ie the shadow which helps you
constantly grow and gain wisdom but this
is easy facing yourself is the most
terrifying and challenging thing you
will ever do in life but it's the only
way to truly transform in a meaningful
positive way which will make a huge
impact in other's lives and this all
starts with accepting that call to
adventure facing your fears walking your
path to self-discovery and living your
truth so what are you waiting for
adventure awaits
what's up guys hope you enjoyed the
video if you want to know more in depth
about the hero's journey then I invite
you guys to check out the audio book
version of a hero with a thousand faces
by Joseph Campbell you can get into a
free by going to audible.com/veritasium
books that can greatly enhance your life
some that I personally recommend would
be the 50th law by Robert Greene and one
that I'm listening to right now is
called cutting through spiritual
materialism which is mind-blowing yeah
go check out that link it does support
this channel and if you did like this
video please remember to like and share
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you of my next upload right now I'm in
Chiang Mai Thailand just taking care of
some important personal business so I
don't know how often or when I'm going
to upload so yeah that let you know when
I will upload if you have any criticism
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video then don't forget to comment below
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that would be much appreciated but yeah
that's pretty much it from me guys catch
on the next video peace
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