The hero with a thousand faces

The first stage of the mythic path of human life is when the "hero" within all of us feels a Call to Adventure. The hero must then separate from home and journey through the dangerous circumstances of life often portrayed in myth as a night sea journey or a dark forest or night of the soul in stage two. The hero undergoes many trials or rites of initiation during which opposing dragons or forces are overcome in stage three so that the new fire of consciousness is stolen from the gods that symbolize resources of the unconscious. Finally in stage four the hero returns to his home with a important gift or power that will contribute to a renewal, resurrection or rebirth of the individual, family and society.