THE HERO'S JOURNEY & THE MAGICAL POWER OF NATURE #2

THE MYSTERY OF THE NUMBER 4

4 WINDS & 4 RIVERS AROSE OUT OF EDEN TO ANIMATE ALL CREATION

We can enhance the Hero's Archetype by paying attention

to these Four Key Factors described in Kabbalah.

Four Seasons

Four Directions (and Power Animals in the Medicine Wheel)

Four Beings: Still, Growing, Wild, Talking

Four Elements: Air, Water, Fire, Earth

(To be discussed in future blogs)

Four Archangels

Uriel, Gabriel, Rafael, Michael

Four Colors for each direction

In addition we can include

Four BasicArchetypes: 

Healer, Teacher, Warrior, Visionary (who is usually the Hero/ine)

Four Phases of Life

Child, Adolescent, Adult, Elder or Crone.

During the journey it is optimal to spend a day

in each of these stages of life to see what issues in the past may

now be blocking one going forward.

THE FOUR DIRECTIONS 

"So the young man went North seeking the “Singing Stone.”After many adventures

he arrived in the North and found his grandfather sitting upon a stone

waiting for him. The Singing Stone is not to the North said the grandfather, it

is to the South. So he journeyed South and after many adventures

he found a dragonfly. The Singing Stone is not to the South sang the dragonfly

it is to the West. So he journeyed West and found a mouse.

The mouse answered, the Singing Stone is not to the West it is to the East.

So he journeyed East and after many adventures he arrived at a strange camp.

He headed towards the camp but pulled up short when he saw the paintings and signs

on the lodges were foreign. He decided to go ahead in spite of the

“Bow of Tension Pulled within Him.” Finally he reached the circle of lodges.

Then his sisters, mothers, brothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers,

uncles and aunts and all his relatives came out to greet him saying,

welcome to our Counsel Fire Singing Stone." H. Storm

 Arnold Van Gennep originally described initiation rituals (or the Hero Archetype

in indigenous peoples as occurring in three stages.

Separation, Threshold and Incorporation.

These were expanded and made more meaningful by Joseph Campbell.

The Hero's journey is a tortuous and convoluted one and may require more than one attempt.  

We can draw on Indigenous wisdom and the Four Directions (or six - Up and Down) to help us.

The Four Directions and the Medicine Wheel

were also part of the Vision Quest of the Native Americans which Westerners

have now copied and usually condense into Four Days

of fasting and going inwards to find one's purpose on the planet.

Although the Four or Six directions are not unique to the Native Americans - Isaiah

the prophet described them in a vision eons ago - they belong to everyone.

However, the Medicine Wheel with its directions are distinctly Native America.

This is a sensitive subject to many indigenous tribes of North America

who have been compromised by Caucasians and then find us adopting their culture

to help us with our own lives after compromising theirs'. If done with integrity, sensitivity

and respect for

its origins, this seems reasonable, though it may not be to its founders. 

Descriptions vary among the various tribes and I have expanded these principles

and the Hero archetype by combining them with understandings from Kabbalah and Yoga.

You will need to formulate your own, unique to you.

You may want to take a 'Medicine' walk' before your journey to formulate the polarities

on your way that can assist you. At the same time decide on what you really need for

the adventure, knowing that wants will get in the way of going inward.

The less we have between us an Nature the more powerful the connection.

Below can be a template for you, to design your own, according to

what feels right for yourself.

There are no rules except to have gratitude for their origins.

The Chakras, and the four basic Archetypes are added

to assist you in your own journey.

The different tribes have their own varying descriptions

of how to work with the wheel, so that nothing is cut in stone.

The Chakras and the Elements also coincide with

the increasing vibration that occurs as one travels clockwise around the wheel. 

We travel from the

South - Child - Earth - First Chakra - Survival - Healer - Summer - Red

(the wounded child of the south needs healing and often becomes a healer)

SEPARATION

to

West - Adolescent - Second Chakra - Water - Procreation/Digestion/Elimination

Teacher - Fall - Black

(the adolescent usually needs a skillful teacher to guide him/her to the North)

THRESHOLD

to

North - Adult - Third Chakra - Fire - Our Ego/Power Base - Warrior - Winter - White

(the chief of the tribe is also ideally a visionary who guides the tribe through

the challenges of providing for winter and also keeping them safe)

ALSO PART OF THRESHOLD

to

East - Visionary (Hero/ine, Elder, Crone) - Upper Four Chakras

- Air/Ether - Spring - Gold

The East represents New beginnings for becoming an artist, musician, guru, priest,

shaman, sage, healer, mystic... etc and the final phase of the Hero and

INCORPORATION

The snake shedding its skin and being 'reborn' again.

To keep its simple use the diagram below as a template and add or subtract

whatever suits. There will be other options you may want to add in later blogs.

'

I have omitted power animals which are for you to choose depending on what ecosystem

you best relate to. Your power animal may not necessarily be the animal you want to be

but the one you need to be eg. an ant for being more industrious

or rabbit or mouse for humility. They may come to you through the energetic

power of your guides - that manipulate them to you at the right time.

For that reason the Power Animal may not be behaving 'normally.'

In Native American tribes; the bear is commonly in the West - the Fall

since this is the time for bear to hibernate and 'go inwards.'

The West is often the dark night of the soul which occurs in the beginning of Threshold

when we face all our outer and inner fears.

In some Native American traditions

the white buffalo - the spirit animal of mastery - is in the North.

A raptor; eagle or condor with their site and insight is in the East

but these are predators and some may prefer a more spiritual rather than a warrior energy

for the East such as a water bird like a heron or another animal.

The Medicine Wheel applies especially to the seasons in the Northern hemisphere

but can be adapted to the Southern. The colors shown are arbitrary.

Isaiah's vision of the Four Directions (actually six, including up and down) also included

an archangel to guard it. Uriel is in the North (Eagle,) Gabriel in the West (Buffalo,)

Rafael in the South (Talking Beings) and Michael in the East (Lion.)

These angels also follow you in whichever direction you go, with

Uriel always in front, Gabriel on the left, Rafael behind

and Michael to the right. Uriel is light, Gabriel strength and courage,

Rafael healing and Michael lovingkindness.

Anyone can call on them at any time for support.

They are also associated with their respective Wild Beings.

Above is Panther stalking. Below is Bear for dreaming.

(Judgment in the North and Ego in the West only apply to the Tree of Life

which has corresponding directions in six of its Sephirot.)

 

THE HERO/INE'S JOURNEY

INCORPORATION #6

"I dont' know what your destiny will be, but the one thing I know; the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." A. Schweitzer

“Hold to your vision - be true to your myth.“  

J. Campbell

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs

Incorporation

"The priviledge of a life time is to become who you truly are." C. Jung

Now is the time to settle in and not take any serious risks until the experience

is reintegrated back into one’s life. Eventually it may lead to giving up a

partner, one’s job or selling one’s house but the supply lines for security must be taken

into account, If you are in survival mode you will be propelled out of actualizing

any meaningful change. Keep your day job and pursue your quest in your free time if needed.

Many of us have to learn to live in two worlds; the one that pays the rent

and the other that is our mission. One may have to carry out one's true purpose

for its own sake even without consideration for pay back.

That is perfectly ok as well as good karma.

It is important to take time out and look at one's life after the journey.

It's worthwhile having a skillful, trusted witness/es who can listen to your story, embellish, and expand it to help you find your archetype. Inner practice and group synergism or just one other person can be supportive. 

Indigenous peoples had a council of elders for this. 

Finding one's core strength and helping others can make one not only feel happier but also more powerful.

“Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes

you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people

who have come alive.” H. Thurman

After the journey and the sense of knowing or the aha, walk the talk do not talk the walk. Do not put your experiences on the mantle piece for those who do not understand

to invalidate.

If it's necessary, be polite, talk to them about context rather than content,

in words they can understand rather than challenge. 

These insights may be very subtle but vital. They usually are not like neon lights blazing

in the dark. Its all well and good if they are epic but its wise to be careful of these,

they can delude you and arise out of grandiosity.

If you cannot change what you do, maybe change how you do it. 

Beware the “fall” out of the grace you have received with all the hard work you have done. Many will lose the way and submit to the demands of life and the hypnosis of materialism.

Release yourself from what you are not accountable !

KISS - Keep it Simple, Stupid.

Attend to needs not wants and ask yourself what is it that I really need?

Maintaining a regular spiritual practice is essential. You have to find the one made for you. Just because some enlightened guru or person tells you this is the meditation for you, it does not mean that it is.

"Continuing with a spiritual practice that no longer works for you is like

carrying a raft on your back after you have crossed the river." The Buddha

For those more spiritually inclined:

One may find that there are recognizable inner experiences that confirm

you are opening up to the spirit world - such as;

synchronicity, coherence and "super-fluidity."

For some there may be nuances of remote viewing, telepathy, precognition and

clairvoyance, ... audience or ... sentience.

One's dream life may become more meaningful.

Downloads from ones guides or the "Field" can occur both in the awake or the dream state.

There can even be kundalini-like vibrations occurring during sleep or other

awakening experiences during your meditations. Validate, savor and honor them rather

than rationalize or trivialize them away. Oneness experiences when the Knower, the Known, and the Process of Knowing all fuse into one tell you your energy body, mind and soul are in sync with the cosmos at that moment but may not tell you what to do about it.

Remember that the messages that you h ave - no-one has all of these - will be the one or the ones that your guides or the Great Spirit know to be those most accessible to their guidance. Do not feel invalidated because others on the path have more splendid and spectacular insights.

It is wasteful of your time and to practice and try to master those that are not meant for you.

Seek congruence – who is the real you?

Be yourself. The spirit world does not endorse a copy cat destiny.

If you do not be uniquely you, who then, will ever be?

 

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.

Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” Goethe

The hero/ine's journey is ultimately about finding meaning in one's life.

 

“Once what you are living and what you are doing has for you meaning

it is irrelevant whether you are happy or unhappy. You are content,

you are not alone in your spirit, you belong.”    

L. Van der Post

There are four basic archetypes each with many diverse aspects.

Healer

Teacher

Warrior or Leader

Visionary

The Visionary stage can arise from a Hero's journey which in turn can help us find

our destiny.

“A vision without a task is a dream
A task without a vision is drudgery
But a vision with a task can change the world.”
Black Elk

Many have talents in all four archetypes so it may be difficult to know

which to choose. There is usually only one core or signature strength

where your potential and power reside. The others must serve the one.

If you have doubts head in the direction of the one or ones you want to explore

and rule them out by a process of elimination to find the one that most fits.

In time you will know if this is it or not.

There is no loss - you have gained knowledge and skills from the experience.

The more tools you have in your tool box the more they can serve

the power of the one meant for you. If you are unclear which to choose its best to focus

on spiritual practice and obtaining knowledge for transformation.

With all your strength get knowledge that enlightens.

Knowledge, wisdom and inner practice are the wings that will help fly

you to your true purpose. Alternatively you may pursue the spiritual life

and the realization of Self through any one of the four yogas; Karma (service,)

Bhakti (devotion,) Jnana (spiritual knowledge) and Raja yoga (control of the mind.)

"May the hero awaken from forget-fullness and transcend all anxiety and sorrow."

Upanishads

  

 

THE HERO/INE’S JOURNEY # 5

(Again apologies for how Google reformats the text.)

“Be willing to give up who you are - the old familiar

- for who you might become to reach that which is beyond you.” Rev Nachman 

THRESHOLD

“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.” Kahlil Gibran

The Hero/ine now enters the Sacred Space of the Threshold.

Nature offers many open doors and windows to spirit.

 

“The meeting of oneself is, at first, the meeting of one's Shadow.” C.J. Jung

 

In Threshold we usually will encounter the dark night of the soul where we have to confront our inner fears.

The 'grail' is given by grace or less dramatically one comes back with an

enlightened idea or an aha as how to better proceed with one’s life.

For this reason, there are many hero’s journeys, some profound and some more subtle

as we slowly fine tune our paths.

Find your own means of access, the sacred space that will work for you. 

Set an inner intention but let go of specific goals - allow what comes to arise on its own.

 Do it all for its own sake, not for reason of outcome other than to allow change to happen. 

Keep it simple; do not let “stuff” like a camera, books or paraphernalia

get in the way of the experience. Keep a journal to record even the most subtle of events.

Attend to needs not wants. Provide the basic necessities only.

Allow for alone time or even go alone. 

Avoid Hard Skills. Tune in to the “Soft Fascinations;” the sun and moonsets and their risings, the scenes, the scents and aromas, the sounds or mantra of the bush, the daily

and even the monthly cycles. Connect with the Magic of the Ordinary with nature that is all around us and with the Magic of the Extraordinary if you are in wilderness.

Use any form of inner practice to support and balance you.

Inner techniques can include drumming, journaling any peak event or

dream so as to retain the details of any 'aha.' 

Avoid performance behavior and time restraints (if possible.) Five days is ideal. Stay inward not outward.

Avoid the “Need to Know” the cognitive things in order to allow the inner experience

to emerge.

REENTRY

 

"We do not go into the desert to escape people but to learn how to find them:

we do not leave them in order to have nothing more to do with them

but to find out the way to do them the most good.” Thomas Merton

The breath that created us is the same breath that created the worm and the stone

and thus we share a oneness.

Human interdependence is absolute - now more than ever.

"We are all in the same boat in a stormy sea

and we owe each other a terrible and tragic loyalty." Chesterton

The return can be jarring.

“We return to our places these kingdoms, no longer at ease here in

the same dispensation, with an alien people clutching their gods.” Journey of the Magi

As one emerges out of sacred space one may have a reentry depression

which can last a few weeks. This state is a testament to the power of the journey

as well as the insights both profound and subtle that have occurred.

It may be aggravated by the fact that one now has to return to the frustrations

of ordinary life and a place which is not ideal for reentry. Often the harder the home and work circumstances, the greater the depression. Paradoxically this depression occurs in the face of a demonstrable restorative effect. The re-entry depression seems to be a result of having been in an altered state of consciousness and upon the return there is a dramatic shift as one is propelled back into a normal state of awareness.

The alfa relaxed vibration one has been in on the journey often gives way to

sensory overload on return.  Intensifying one's spiritual practice will help

manage these fluxes. The depression is temporary and 'normal,' lasting

about three weeks.

Inner Effects

Being or feeling more like one’s true Self. An appreciation of awe, oneness, wonder, transcendence - peak or oneness experience (unity consciousness.) 

Humility and a realization that any control one thinks one has over nature or life is an illusion. 

You cannot control results only your actions. You cannot predict outcomes only your choices.

Becoming more pleasant and affable with others. 

Feelings of connection and comfort in nature even if nature was not the catalyst. 

A sense of renewal, and aliveness, feeling less cluttered, more mindful and focused. 

An appreciation of alone time.

Experiencing major life style changes on returning. Release from unskillful habits and addictions of the past from minor to major. 

Previously there may have been a greater sense of duality and on the return this duality is lessened especially if spiritual practice is maintained.

"The fundamental delusion of humanity is to pretend that I am here and you are out there." Y. Roshi