I listened to Jean Houston on Oprah's Soul Series speak about the Heroes Journey...how we are asked to follow the lure of our souls...or die.
I understood this. I felt that I didn't have a choice but to follow where my soul led and it was leading me away from all that I knew...as Jean says, "somewhere over the rainbow..". What I did know, is that I had to follow or I would have died.
Not physically, but spiritually. I would have ceased to be engaged with life. I truly can't even begin to begin to visualize how my life would be today, had I not followed my inner voice and knowing into the unknown.
What she describes as the heroes journey, is that we meet aspects of our disenfranchised self. Our weakness and the places where we lost power and sense of self.
She references the Wizard of Oz....and how the tin man had no heart. My heart too was opened up following my own path. The yellow brick road isn't a road without challenges, but rather one that leads you to finding a stronger sense of self worth and self knowing and integrity. The path to being you.
I feel that I am a hero in my own life for going against the voices of many and doing that which my soul needed me to do. To walk away from family and church and so many beliefs that had distanced me from my body, mind and soul.
My heroes journey was reconnecting me with all aspects of me...bringing me back to me.
The line I had envisioned was "I am lost and I am going to go and find myself. I didn't even know that I was missing or what I look like." Heading out, out of what was comfortable for me into the land of the unknown...leaving behind all that I knew about me.
I believe, that we are all asked to take this heroes journey...but some will pass. And those that pass, are living lives in quiet desperation. And, some will have a life experiences that will catapult them onto the yellow brick road....that was me.
The heroes journey isn't to be a hero for others, but rather being your own hero. To stand up and save your self. Find your truth and speak it. Feel your feelings and give them a voice. Open your heart to your self and accept your unique value...to stop waiting for someone to come and complete you.
Following the lure of your soul...the desire and passion that calls to you....to leave behind what feels to be holding you down. It is.
I believe inside of all of us is the calling....it is up to each of us to stop listening to the outside voices and tune into our inner knowing. It is there.
The heroes journey is to follow your gut instincts, to listen to your inner child, to pay attention and be its servant. The heroes journey is to save your unique self.
And for me, it was to rescue me from the hold of the church and the affects of abuse. To find a way to free me and to find the aspects of myself that I had given away or distance myself from.
What Jean speaks about is to enhance the mind, open the heart and to go deep into the soul....a heroes journey is to explore your self and find out who you are meant to be. You doing what you were born to do.
(Jean Houston's new book - "The Wizard of Us")