The Call to Adventure:
Someone asks you to do something, an opportunity appears, or you see
something that needs to be done. You have a choice to accept the call
or to refuse the call. If you accept the call, you set a goal or make a
promise to yourself or someone else about what you will do.
Crossing the Threshold:
If you choose to accept the call to adventure, you will step into a new
role. This may mean leaving friends, familiar places, or comfortable
behaviors behind, and it may mean making new friends/connections. You
may have a sense that things will never be the same.
The Belly of the Whale:
You feel very confused and sometimes frightened. You want to get out
of the position you are in, and you may regret choices you have made
that got you to this position. Somehow, you find a way out, but while
you are in the Belly of the Whale, things look pretty dismal.
The Road of Trials:
You encounter a lot of challenges on the way to accomplishing your
goal or keeping your promise. You have to fight to get through these
trials, and often, you feel very alone.
Mentors/Guides:
Along the way to your goal, you will meet people. Some will help you
and give you good advice. Some may try to help but give you bad advice,
and some may intentionally try to distract you or encourage you to give
up your goal or break your promise. You have to choose your mentors and
guides very carefully, and it will not always be clear to you who is on
your side.
Gifts/Aids:
You may find gifts or aids that will help you along the way. Some of
these are inside of you, and some are outside of you. Choosing to accept
these gifts and choosing when to use them is challenging.
The Return:
After you accomplish your goal or complete your promised task, you
return back to your starting point. But you have changed during your
journey, and now you have more choices to make. You family may not
recognize you. Your friends may not accept the new you. Your decisions
when you return may start you on a new adventure.
