Hero’s Journey: the basics
Think of Lion King, Hunger Games, and Lord of the Rings. The characters in these stories all have to face some core fear or challenge, derive a great strength from this ordeal, and use that to transform their lives into something new. This mirrors human life in many ways. Learning the cross-cultural pattern (see video below) underlying these types of stories - and then writing their own - gives students a safe, fictional space to navigate life’s trials and explore change as a natural, and necessary, part of being here on earth. With any luck, students walk away more open to facing conflicts in their lives and troubles in their minds, so that they can feel empowered and whole.
What we do
Students learn a universal pattern observable across nearly all human cultures (“the monomyth”), and write short stories that readers recognize and connect with, that flow naturally all the way through. They learn about archetypes and their symbolic power to connect deeply with all people through story, and then use them to help their characters evolve. They identify their hero’s shadow, discover where in the hero it comes from, how it shows up in the story’s world, how the hero faces/vanquishes it (or not), and the transformation that comes. Ultimately, they reflect on the what the Hero’s Journey teaches us in our own lives; we discuss how when we face fears and challenges, we discover wellsprings of potential and growth. Class culminates in journaling about what their authentic selves and lives might look like.
Pricing and Logistics
$85/hr. Discounts offered for purchases of 10, 20, 30 hr blocks
On average it takes 20 1-hr classes to complete
Online sessions are offered to clients worldwide through zoom. In-person sessions are available upon request in the Seattle area
Multi-day workshop available for groups and schools upon request