Hero Myths

Hero Myths Enlighten our Lives

Mythological stories have existed as long as man has existed. As long as there have been mythological stories there have been stories of heroes. Most of us were introduced to the hero’s journey through mythology and other heroic tale sources, such as in cinema and literature, have been inspired by mythology. Myths provide the oldest and truest outline for heroic stories. Each culture has its own myths and each of these myths tend to share a common design. Myths often use transcendental events or characters to explain the nature of humanity and the universe. The stories are often narratives about divine or ordinary people that are passed down through the generations intended to inspire and advise the listener or reader. Why should we care about mythological heroic figures? The underlying principles of heroic adventures are reflective of our own journeys and adventures in life. Every challenge or change we face in life is an adventure and we are the heroes in the story.

Every situation which confronts us with something new or which forces us to reevaluate our thinking, behaviour or perspective, is the journey or adventure the mythological hero must also face. By understanding the journey of the hero we may begin to apply the story to our own lives and challenges. The first stage in a hero’s adventure is facing the interface the known world, and the unknown world. The known world is familiar and we are accustomed to its layout and rules. The unknown world, however, is the world of unfamiliarity and challenges, which can be confusing. In the unknown world we can get lost. Our adventure to the unfamiliar world may be outward into a physical unknown or inward into a psychological unknown or most likely both. In mythology the hero is often provided with someone or something to advise or help them in the unknown world. In the real world we have these guides as well: a classmate in a new school, a coworker in a new job, and even our parents who guide us early in our lives but still offer guidance and advice to avoid discrepancies as we grow older.

Mythological heroes often face temptation on their journey. This temptation may be personified or otherwise. Temptation strikes the hero where and when he or she is most vulnerable. Heroes may encounter temptation as a lustful witch or a devilish character offering something extraordinary. Tempters use fear, doubt or desire to distract the hero from his or her mission. We may be distracted by a tempter and they may seek to lead us down a path seemingly desirable however harmful to our own journey. Tempters may take the form of a friend, co-worker, or even someone as intimate as a girlfriend or boyfriend. They offer or manipulate us into an alternative lifestyle, which is seemingly amicable but may actually be harmful. Many do not overcome temptation and are lost in the form of substance abuse, or an abusive relationship. Our tempters may even pretend to be a friend in an effort to divert our energy to their own needs. We, the heroes, are most vulnerable because they appeal to our emotions or weakened judgment. We need hero myths to teach us that only by overcoming our weakness do we overcome the temptation. We are then allowed to benefit from overcoming temptation and continue with the adventure as a stronger person.

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