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Written by Joan Eison
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If the mythical vision of a hero is a singular glowing, celebrated feat
overcoming perilous odds, then the journey of the hero within is
evolutionary, gradual and progressive as is the opening of a
flower. Discovering the hero within is to recognize personal
definition, the I AM. As we paint our portraits of existence we
define ourselves in many ways, such as: secure, loved, sister,
father, citizen. These distinctive words do not fragment the
self, rather they articulate different arrangements of I AM. A rose is
not just a rose; rather, it is a flower, a rose, an essence.
The personality as a whole is called the psyche, from the Latin
originally meaning "spirit" or "soul." The psyche functions as a guide
embracing all thought, feeling and behavior, both conscious and
unconscious. The great Swiss psychoanalyst, Carl Jung, gave us many
valuable gifts of thought and one of the most pivotal was the primary
idea that a person is a whole to begin with. Therefore, the
journey to the hero within is the confirmation of our oneness.
Wholeness is our birthright and our journey is to develop and
differentiate with the greatest harmony possible guarding against
separation and conflicting systems. The most desirable path is
one of synthesis.
To discover the hero within is to expand beyond the boundaries of the
ego making way for the "individual" self opening up to oneness with the
natural and physical worlds. The flowering of individuation
results in a renewed sense of wonder and oneness with the cosmos
reclaiming celebration, dreaming and magical thinking. This is
individuation, which is to know oneself as completely as
possible. It is a progression of self-consciousness, expanding
consciousness and living consciously. The more conscious we are, the
more aware we are of perceptions, memories, thoughts and
feelings. We are "in touch," in the physical, the sensory, the
extra sensory and the emotional.
If the psyche is the spirit or soul (unconscious), then the ego is the
organizer of the conscious mind. Although it occupies only a
small portion of the psyche, it plays an important role. Life’s
journey is a deluge of experiences and stimulation; therefore, it is
indeed beneficial that the ego filters much of it before it becomes
conscious and overwhelms us. However, it is because of the ego
that we feel ourselves to be shaped into the same person today and
tomorrow. The ego allows some experiences to become conscious and
others to remain unconscious influenced by the make-up of the
individual and level of anxiety evoked by the experience. The
two-way traffic between conscious and unconscious is constant as
evidenced when we store away names and directions until they are
needed. And the personal unconscious certainly plays an important
role in the manufacture of our dreams and visions. Accessing the
hero within is to realize the joyful harmony between individuation and
ego.
The heroic journey is more spiral than linear moving through all or
some archetypical passages. Characteristics of heroism might include
these basic traits:
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Profound respect for the value and dignity for a multitude of aspects of life
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Faith in one’s self coupled with a strong sense of personal choice
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Stepping beyond what others think into originality and creativity
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Physical and mental courage
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Making an impact - public or un-public
These characteristics are not equally evident in every heroic life or
act. But, they can provide a basis for viewing heroism in its
ordinary guise without dragons, swords, or balls of fire.
Mythical images, gods and goddesses aside, most mortals who have faced
heroic challenges also had ordinary days. And, in the instant of
solving and resolving we, nor they, may have recognized the lightening
flash that designated a given event as heroic or legendary.
Indeed, in the aftermath, a sip of Jessamine tea and a comforting word
may have been far more meaningful.
We are whole extraordinary beings, living extraordinary lives.
All aspects of the journey are meaningful, though some feel more
strenuous than others. There are an infinite number of
destinations before us in each hour and each day, accessible to
everyone as we adapt and integrate choosing to live more
consciously. The path to individuation is traversed one step at a
time heroically endowed with the spirit and strength to celebrate
oneness.
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