The HERO'S JOURNEY - Joseph Campbell

Summary

The 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

00:00

🧗 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.

05:01

🔥 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.

10:03

🌟 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.

Keywords

💡Hero's Journey

The 'Hero's Journey' is a narrative framework identified by Joseph Campbell that outlines the stages a character typically goes through in a story. It is a metaphor for personal transformation and self-discovery. In the video, the Hero's Journey is used to describe the universal path of growth that individuals can follow to realize their full potential, with examples from various stories like 'Star Wars' and 'The Matrix'.

💡Self-Discovery

Self-discovery refers to the process of understanding one's own identity, values, and potential. It is central to the video's theme, illustrating the idea that each person has an inner journey to undertake in order to find their true selves. The script mentions 'self-discovery' in the context of the Hero's Journey, suggesting that it is a key part of living a fully realized life.

💡Ordinary World

The 'Ordinary World' is the first stage of the Hero's Journey, representing the protagonist's initial situation before the adventure begins. It is where the hero is introduced in a relatable setting. In the script, the 'Ordinary World' is depicted as the starting point where individuals are living a life not truly their own, awaiting the call to adventure.

💡Call to Adventure

The 'Call to Adventure' is a pivotal moment in the Hero's Journey when the protagonist is presented with an opportunity to embark on a transformative journey. It signifies the beginning of change and the stepping away from the comfort zone. The script uses the example of Neo in 'The Matrix' receiving the message to follow the White Rabbit as a 'Call to Adventure'.

💡Refusal of the Call

'Refusal of the Call' is a stage in the Hero's Journey where the hero initially resists the adventure due to fear or a sense of inadequacy. It is a common human reaction to avoid the unknown. The video script discusses this concept, mentioning that many people never truly chase their dreams because they refuse the call to adventure out of fear.

💡Mentor

A 'Mentor' in the context of the Hero's Journey is a guide or teacher who provides wisdom and assistance to the hero. They help the protagonist navigate the challenges of the journey. The script cites Morpheus in 'The Matrix' and Obi-Wan Kenobi in 'Star Wars' as examples of mentors who provide guidance to the heroes.

💡Crossing the First Threshold

This stage represents the point of no return, where the hero leaves the familiar and enters the unknown, beginning the main part of their adventure. The script describes this as the transition from the 'Ordinary World' to the 'Special World,' marked by Neo taking the red pill in 'The Matrix'.

💡Tests, Allies, Enemies

This stage involves the hero encountering challenges, making allies, and identifying enemies in the new world. It is about learning and adapting to the rules of the journey. The script uses Morpheus teaching Neo in the training simulation as an example of how the hero is tested and learns to navigate the new environment.

💡Innermost Cave

The 'Innermost Cave' is a metaphorical place where the hero confronts their deepest fears or greatest challenges. It represents the core of the hero's journey and the point of maximum danger. The script describes it as a place where the hero must face their fears, like facing the dragon in mythology.

💡Ordeal

The 'Ordeal' is the climax of the Hero's Journey, where the hero faces their most significant challenge, often involving a form of death or extreme crisis. It is a critical test that the hero must overcome to continue their journey. The script mentions this as the point where the hero experiences a metaphorical death and resurrection.

💡Reward

The 'Reward' is what the hero receives after overcoming the ordeal, which can be a physical object, knowledge, or even love. It represents the gains made from the journey and the personal growth achieved. The script illustrates this with Neo's decision to reenter the Matrix to save Morpheus, which leads to a personal transformation and reward.

💡Resurrection

In the 'Resurrection' stage, the hero confronts death and darkness one more time before being reborn, transformed, and ready to return to the ordinary world. It is the final test before the journey's end. The script describes this as a moment of realization and empowerment, such as when Neo revives and defeats Agent Smith in 'The Matrix'.

💡Return with the Elixir

The 'Return with the Elixir' signifies the hero's return to the ordinary world with newfound wisdom, power, or a literal elixir that can bring about change. It represents the application of the journey's lessons to improve one's life and help others. The script emphasizes the importance of bringing back lessons from the journey to avoid repeating the same cycle of challenges.

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

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you of my next upload right now I'm in

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don't know how often or when I'm going

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that's pretty much it from me guys catch

on the next video peace