We Continue on the Hero’s Journey
Entering the Second Chapter
The "sandwich week" has passed, the Sun has moved into Scorpio, and this week brings another eclipse—this time a full moon in Taurus.
The emotional intensity will keep building, and the challenges will persist. How are you handling it so far? We're stepping into the most intense season of the year, and the invitation is clear: to turn inward, dive into Scorpio's emotional waters, confront our shadows, and bring them into the light.
Often, we try to hide from our shadows, pretend they're not there, or act like they don’t exist. But the truth is, we’ve misunderstood the secret: it’s not about avoiding the shadow but integrating it. Yes, integrating it—giving it space in your life, diving deep to understand where it comes from, what it wants to teach you, and embracing it. Embrace it fully because it’s a part of you.
How Do You Do That?
You might be wondering how to embrace your shadow—or maybe you think I’m crazy. Don’t just take my word for it; try it yourself. The shadow will follow you to the end of time—unless you’re Peter Pan, that is. It's always with you. So, what do you have to lose?
Because it’s so hard to see our own shadows, we often project them outward, blaming the world for everything that happens to us. The quickest way to find your shadow is to observe what you’re projecting onto others. What bothers you or makes you uncomfortable about the people or situations around you? That’s where your shadow hides.
Once you spot it, pull on that thread and trace it back to its root. Discover when and how it was created. That’s when your Hero’s Journey begins...
Be the Hero of Your Life
You’ve probably heard of Joseph Campbell and his iconic work The Hero’s Journey. If not, let me introduce it to you. This framework describes the stages we go through in life, and when you hear them, you’ll likely realize you’ve already lived parts of this journey without even knowing it.
The Hero’s Journey is divided into 12 stages, and I’ll walk you through them, one step at a time, so you can recognize them in your own life. These stages are the rhythm of human experience. Let’s dive in:
1. The Ordinary World
You have a life, a background, a past. We’re all born into a specific family, culture, and set of norms. We grow up adapting to those customs, often leaving behind any other plans our soul may have had when it chose this incarnation.
Do you ever feel like you’re a different person depending on where you are? At home with family, at work with colleagues, or out with friends—how do you show up in your relationships? What parts of yourself do you suppress, depending on the context?
For example, I used to be the life of the party when I was with friends. I loved organizing get-togethers, making everyone laugh, and ensuring everyone had a great time. But as soon as I got home, I’d be hit with a wave of unexplained bad mood or frustration.
2. The Call to Adventure
At this stage, something happens to disrupt your ordinary world. This call can take many forms—a challenge, a tragedy, a vivid dream. It’s an invitation to step out of your comfort zone and embark on an adventure that promises a reward.
Let me share my own experience with you. My call to adventure came in the form of a painful breakup. It could’ve been something else, but humans often ignore life’s subtler invitations until one comes along that shakes everything up.
For me, it was a call I couldn’t ignore. My life fell apart overnight, and I found myself spiraling into what felt like an abyss. That’s when the questions started:
What happened?
How did this go wrong?
What did I do?
Why me?
What now?
Can I keep going?
It was a dark time, and I was a very different person then. I remember calling my friend Emi in tears, saying I didn’t understand why my life had fallen apart. My home was gone, my world was upside down.
But then, something changed. It took a few months, but I eventually accepted the call. I decided to face it head-on and understand why this had happened to me. That meant diving into my shadows, where the answers were waiting. I had to accept that my friend couldn’t answer my questions for me and that my old life wasn’t coming back. It was time to take responsibility for myself.
This stage demands courage. It asks us to accept responsibility, deepen our awareness, let go of ideals of perfection, and open our hearts.
3. Refusing the Call
I mentioned earlier that my story could’ve been different. I didn’t listen to the smaller calls, so life had to shake me awake.
Life constantly invites us to align with our soul’s purpose, but we often ignore those invitations. We’re so entrenched in our routines and societal conditioning that taking the leap feels terrifying. Accepting the call means letting things fall apart so they can be rebuilt. That uncertainty keeps us stuck.
Sometimes, even when life sends a call that can’t be ignored, we reject it, turning to anger, resentment, or even revenge. But doing so only begins a process of self-destruction. Your soul will keep sending calls until you listen. Remember: the external world is just a projection of your unconscious mind.
A Lunar Eclipse: A Cosmic Call to Adventure
Eclipse season is a cosmic call to adventure. If you’re feeling one now, take it as your opportunity to say yes. Not just because of this week’s lunar eclipse, but also because Scorpio season amplifies the intensity.
Next week, I’ll share the next stages of the Hero’s Journey. But for now, I invite you to reflect:
What call have you been ignoring?
What shadows are you ready to integrate?
How can you take the first step into your adventure?
This is your chance to be the hero of your own life. Embrace the challenge, and let the journey transform you.