Mini-Courses on Mondays!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be the Hero of your own story? Too often, we find ourselves “stuck” in negative situations or feel excluded, overlooked, and voiceless. “Glass ceilings,” sexism, patriarchal structures, and situations beyond our control can leave us imagining we are powerless victims. This, in turn, can erode our self-image, our confidence, and even our ability to grow.

The truth, however, is that when we trust our inner power, all things are possible; simply by changing our mindset, we can transform not only ourselves but our circumstances.

In this mini-course, we will explore Joseph Campbell’s six stages of The Heroic Quest. Our starting point will be The Call to Adventure where we will identify where life is inviting us. Then we will cross The Threshold of Adventure, overcoming the many blocks that prevent us from responding to the call. Next comes The Road of Trials, where we encounter tests, setbacks, and challenges. With the gift of Helpers Along the Way, we begin to experience The At-One-Ment or what Carl Jung described as “individuation.” The final stage is The Return, where we begin to give back to the world what we have learned on our journey.

Whether we are conscious of this or not, we are driven or guided by inner forces or “archetypes” – that is, by universal patterns of behavior that occur in the world’s myths and literature. Familiar patterns include The Hero, The Inner Child, The Leader, The Teacher, The Savior, The Warrior, The Adventurer, The Lover, The Caregiver, The Inventor, and The Magician. When archetypes are in balance, they function as guides, helping us become our best selves; however, when one archetype is dominant, it can become tyrannical, even destructive, to ourselves and others.

The archetypes that surface in our narratives reveal much about our values, hopes, fears, and challenges. Each archetype has its own energy, but it can have both positive and negative aspects. Images of Heroes, Saviors, Tricksters, Teachers, Artists, Fools, Warriors, Caregivers, Lovers and Magicians not only populate the world of literature and art but also our imaginations. For better or worse, they are guiding forces, either bringing out the best in us or else leading us into grandiosity, cruelty and other regrettable character defects.

Sometimes, the archetypes that surface are bridges into a new future: we may see ourselves as Wanderers about to embark on a voyage into the unknown, or as Heroes defeating monstrous dragons, or as Magicians who can transform a nondescript life into a spectacular, passion-filled adventure. At other times, the archetypes may reveal sinister forces – addictions, soul-destroying relationships, emotional baggage that has yet to be dealt with, self-doubts, fears, bad habits, dangerous inclinations… These may surface as Evil Emperors, Wicked Witches, Vampires, Tyrants, Sorcerers, Assassins and other manifestations of The Shadow.

In this experiential workshop, participants will identify and decode the archetypes they live by and assess whether they are trustworthy guides or out-of-control tyrants! We will learn how to find balance by cultivating new archetypes; some archetypes may need to become more active while others may need to lessen their grip. For each person, the journey will be different, but the goal of achieving a healthier, happier Self will be the desired outcome for everyone!