The Hero’s Journey – should Obama win

The Hero’s Journey is a mythical journey described by Joseph Campbell in his book ‘The Hero with a Thousand Faces.’ Campbell studied myths and legends from many, vastly different cultures and abstracted certain patterns which he used to construct the Journey.

Many consider the stations of the Hero’s Journey as universal, reflecting patterns woven by life itself. The Journey in all its details may thus teach us lessons to understand and master the challenges that life puts before us.

Here follows an application of these stations to the life of a fictional Moonie whose value system may be challenged by the upcoming presidential elections. The story is entirely fictional, does not refer to any living or dead people, does not represent official views of the movement or describe any concrete situations that took place anywhere in time and space - at least not in a dimension that this writer is aware of.

I apologize in advance for any feelings I might stir up – if any.

1. Ordinary World

Joseph Campbell’s Hero starts out in a more or less stable, but not necessarily pleasant situation.

The average Moonie normally has conservative views meaning: He/she probably votes Republican. That probably originates in the past when the fight against communism had high priority and the movements anti-communist views were mostly shared by conservative forces in America and elsewhere. Also the movements focus on family values and its position on related issues resonate best in conservative circles. Apart from that the positions are all over the place.

The younger generation of Moonies is more diverse in terms of their political leanings – and any leanings for that matter. While I estimate that 80 % or more of the first generation of Moonies vote Republican (just a feeling) I root for a 50:50 situation for the younger generation (a.k.a. second generation.)

The older, first-generation Moonie (heretofore called our hero) has grown used to the fact that society is riddled with unpleasant situations that contradict what he imagines to be the ideal – a set of concepts deeply rooted in religious views, not necessarily all originating from the teaching of the movement.

Let our hero be a member of that first generation. Let him also be a male. That will do away with he/she issues.

Our hero knows has to fight the ‘forces of evil’ that manifest in liberal agendas and a general decline of culture, family values etc. He is used to disappointment and frustration when observing day-to-day, year-to-year developments. He is distressed by the harmful influence on his children (the second and third generation). He does his best or hopes for the best, but it doesn’t look good.

Obama is the last thing he needs and wants.

2. Call to Adventure

Campbell’s Hero now experiences an event that upsets the balance of his ordinary world, confronting him with the need to change.

Over the months leading up to the election things haven’t looked good for McCain, the Republican candidate. Sure, polls are polls and votes are votes and we will only know for sure after November 4.

However, when contemplating the developments in a rare moment of internal peace, over a cup of coffee or tea or a bottle of alcohol-free beer our hero does consider – though not in any detail - the very, very remote possibility that McCain may not win the election and that the next president of the United States of America might be Barack Obama.

Something tells him that could very well happen. If it doesn’t something will happen later. Something has to happen, things can’t go on this way. And deep down inside he knows that change is necessary, also for himself. The fuss around the election just makes him aware about this dilemma.

3. Refusal of the Call

This cannot be. Obama is <fill in rhetoric, facts, truth, half-truth, rumors etc.> Obama will destroy America. Obama will unleash the forces of evil that have been waiting and preparing for this hour. If he wins the election that will be America darkest hour, the beginning of the end, the beginning of hell on earth. Okay, I’m pushing it a bit.

Obama must not win. And seriously, he won’t. Right. The polls have been wrong before. Look at Truman, Reagan. Right? And there is this one – zogptlzkrk or what’s it called – that got it right: McCain leads over Obama by 1 percent. Thank God. But then, the polls have been wrong before. What if ...

Now our hero contemplates consumption of a bottle of non-alcohol-free beer. Perish the thought.

Not always does Campbell’s Hero refuse the call. Some follow willingly; welcome the call – as if they just waited for it. Campbell calls these willing heroes ‘seekers.’ However, in myths and legends a hesitation or initial refusal of the call is helpful to expose the dangers of the endeavor, what the hero has to lose and – not the least – the hero’s flaws.

4. Meeting with the Mentor

After refusing the call, Campbell’s hero meets the Mentor. The mentor teaches him something, helps him to see other perspectives, to face his fears and ultimately accept the call to adventure.

What if? Will life end? No, it will go on. It must go on. What do we do then? Are we going to dig into the trenches? Fight a guerilla war for four years?

That’s a possibility. It just doesn’t feel good. It doesn’t feel right. His movement’s teaching talks about love, unification (hence the name Unification Movement), about embracing others, leading by example, taking ownership. It created the term ‘headwing’ – embracing the entire spectrum of views and opinions and leading toward a win-win situation for all participants of the great scheme of things.

So the mentor says ‘Go for it. Squeeze your teaching for a solution. Squeeze your world view for new set of concepts that allow you to not only survive but to move forward. There must be more than going underground for four years. Hero, it’s your job to find the answer. Stand up on your feet. Use your brain, your heart.’

And our hero does so.

5. Crossing the First Threshold

The hero willingly commits to the adventure and crosses the point of no return. This can be induced by an external event, but ultimately the hero must commit himself. Otherwise he’s not a hero.

John McCain loses the election. The next president of the United States of America will be Barack Obama.

No matter what our hero thinks about it – the dies are cast. This is it. He passed the point of no return, crossed the bridge, the river, the ocean and for now there is no way back.

Movies now enter act two.

6. Tests, Allies, Enemies

After entering the new world Campbell’s Hero has to familiarize himself with the new environment that is vastly very different from the world he comes from (the ordinary world of step 1). He is challenged by its inhabitants, the different laws and unknown dangers. He doesn’t like the people, the food, the weather in this new world. And people don’t like him. Many are out to stop him or worse.

Our hero’s views – honestly expressed – are not well received by people that rejoice at Barack Obama’s victory.

These inhabitants of the new world that even appear hostile. After their victory they speak boldly, confidently plan the assault on the hero who feels frightened at the view of their liberal agenda. He is not at home in this realm, a fish out of water.

Still, in the past our hero has learned humility – a useful skill if used wisely. He knows when to hold back with his opinion. He practiced that skill frequently with his Korean elders, presidents and directors. He learned to submit to pastors and leaders on all levels above him in the name of unity for a higher purpose.

He now uses these skill to survive and - maybe - make friends. Later he may find an opportunity to use them for goodness, maybe even turn them around, free them from their liberal delusions.

He goes to places he never went before. He makes friends with people whose views he considered offensive in the past. He tries to understand their views - if only to later win back lost territory when the time is ripe.

Sun Tzu said: ‘If you  can’t kill the enemy then don’t shoot. Know your enemy.’ So now the hero remains silent, as if in hiding, preparing for the day that his time comes again. Later, he will turn them around. Save them or destroy them. Now he must survive, infiltrate, plot in secret.

But he also realizes that the people aren’t evil - at least not as evil as he thought. Some of his liberal enemies are idealists believing in a secular ideal that’s not all that different from his ideal of a Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. They have compassion. What about his compassion? Is it okay that his sense of justice and righteousness is more dominant than love for his neighbor?

He founds an organization that ..say works to expose and abolish child prostitution in some Asian countries. This wins him friends that think alike. They bond, they commit - to the cause and to each other. They win and fail, have their fill their share of losing.

Then one of his friends comes out as being a homosexual. Shock.

But the hero must not care, not express his objection and thus he doesn’t.

But  what difference does it really make? Until now it wasn’t relevant. What now? Let it be, correct it later. This is not the time to be bold, this is the time to smart. Plot in silence. And thus the friendship grows. The hero finds access to new circles, meets new people that think alike.

And in the process, his horizon widens and without him realizing it - the hero begins to change.

7. Approach to the Inmost Cave

Campbell’s hero is now acquainted with the rules of the new world. He knows how to get around and makes further plans, prepares for the big fight.

Our hero as well has grown used to the fact that he lives in a world that is no longer characterized by black and white views. He has learned to express an opinion that is compatible with the dominant views of the new world. And he has carved out a niche expressing his views, challenging others in constructive ways. He has his share of acceptance but also rejection.

He enjoys his accomplishments but lets face it: the goal of the journey is to win the war against evil, to gain the reward, take the sword (step 9) and return to the ordinary world with the elixir that heals the land, whatever that may be (step 12.) Internally he must not compromise. At least to himself he makes his priorities clear, he prays harder, tithes, worships, ...whatever.

But he and his peers, which no longer consist of Moonies, face new obstacles. People that feel threatened by their activities oppose them with all means at their disposal. In the particular case of fighting child prostitution in certain Asian countries (see above) high level political connections result in legal and funding problems at home. A local office in a foreign land is closed by the police. Employees in that country are threatened. They fight back, they find new allies, they gain recognition locally and they grow closer, some become real friends.

8. Ordeal

Our hero realizes that he is the only Moonie in his circle of friends. He realizes that these friends are real friends, some of the best he ever had. They don’t comply with the standards of the old world, the ordinary world where he started out. Some are homosexual, another one has problems with the law, some have sexual relationships outside their marriage. There are outlandish political views. One who drinks too much investigates UFO sightings in his spare time. The list goes on. But these are friends.

Our hero wonders how far his standard has lowered since the days of clarity in the ordinary world. He is shocked, to say the least. One thing causes his utter dismay: He no longer agrees with those values from the ordinary world. He no longer wants them. He rejects them. And he knows what that means: death and eternal damnation.

How could that happen to him? What happened in the first place? But there is no way back. He will live this life to the fullest, because that is one thing he learnt even before he entered that bygone ‘ordinary world’, long before he grew used to the mind-numbing clarity of a value system painted in black and white: live a wonderful, exciting dream. How could he forget that? Why does he remember that now? How come that only now, that he seemingly abandoned those values of old, the promise of fulfillment seems all the more real.

In Campbell’s Journey of the Hero the ordeal is the central event of the story. There are other ordeals but this is the most important one, the one that confronts him with the ultimate villain, the central and ultimate challenge. If he fails here, all is lost. Sometime it is called the Supreme Ordeal.

Often the hero faces death at this stage – his own, that of an ally, an enemy or all of the above.

However, our hero here experiences the most agonizing of all ordeals: a change of heart.

9. Reward

The Supreme Ordeal can occur in the middle of the story or later, but it defines everything that follows. After this Campbell’s hero finally goes to get what he came for. He comes out and attacks the enemy forces, crossing another point of no return. All he learned until now, all the allies he made are now mustered for the great fight.

Our hero, having experienced and survived a change of heart feels liberated. He realized he more truly understands what happens around him and the world in general. The world in all its variety, complexity even chaos is less frightening, less confusing. Not interpreting life and death into every situation has freed, has removed him from harmful, confusing emotional involvement in issues he cannot change.

He accepts his friends and fellow human beings more deeply, more fully, more easily - no matter how outrageous some of their views may be. He relates to them with honesty, he has become authentic, genuine. Even his enemies respect him for that.

He decides to finally come out himself. He decides to tell some of this friends that he is a Moonie – not one of those that the newspapers write about, but well… see… can’t say… thing is... somehow he finds the old man (Sun Myung Moon) quite interesting and some of the movement’s teachings are useful for his own worldview. Not really worth mentioning actually, but why hide it. Right?

Right.

However, the responses are mixed. Some give a shit, some never heard of the Unification Movement, some are shocked and have to think about it, become distant and one – deeply religious – is disgusted, turns against him. He pulls some of the others to his side, uses the information to create problems. Our hero loses his day job. Within the organization he created his leadership and motivation are questioned. Some of his members leave, two try to remove him from position of influence stating dubious reasons.

But our hero fights and wins, deepening the respect of his friends and making new ones in the process. One of those new friends is a member of the government in a country where his organization was fighting child prostitution. The help he now receives leads to a breakthrough. A major prostitution ring is broken up, big news in papers with scores of resignations and indictments in high government levels and the society at large. Our hero receives world wide recognition. He has contributed to substantially to change a part of his world.

Movies now enter the third act.

10. The Road Back

Few heroes decide to stay in the new world. Usually the hero now now returns to the ordinary world at the start of his journey, bringing his reward back to the point of origin.

Our hero has changed. His substantial change of heart has made him a person that can live in both worlds and thus live better in each of them. He developed compassion, genuine understanding, he learnt to give without regret, he has seen the goodness in every human being while becoming wise enough to know his friends and enemies well but still accept all without judgment. He learnt to love with conditions attached.

Now is the time to return to the ordinary world to bring that love to those that he left behind.

11. Resurrection

On the road back to the ordinary world, Campbell’s hero faces another ordeal. It is shorter than the Supreme Ordeal of stage 8, but usually occurs on a broader level and might still bring about an unfortunate end of the journey.

Our hero approaches some old friends in the ordinary world of his past. Some of them made a career in the movement and it seems logical to approach them and share some of the lessons learnt, suggest projects, discuss views and perspectives, share experiences, hopes and dreams.

However, our hero is surprised at the response. He is not welcome. Some reject him entirely. None of his tales is seen as an example to follow. Nobody wants to receive the gifts he brings from the other world.

Yes, he may contribute here and there. Yes, his connections might be useful for the outreach of the movement. He may pass the contact info, may speak for the movement to his friends, mobilize them to participate in the movement’s activities. He may give any amount of financial support should not attach any strings to it. However, talking to the membership at large – that wouldn’t be appropriate.

His visits to centers of the movement are discouraged, followed with suspicion. The pastors stay in close proximity when he talks with members. He is not invited to serve in the movement, when he speaks his times is reduced to minutes and his reports met with faint praise. Credits for results go to the hierarchy.

When he speaks out at an important meeting, opposing the plan of a regional director he is asked to leave. In a later private meeting the local pastor tells him that he better not come to church and worship services any longer.

But our hero has learnt his lesson. He does not retaliate. Neither does he retreat. He returns as he wishes, goes wherever he desires. It is his right, he does not doubt it. He became a man great in his freedom.

While the leaders oppose him they cannot reject him openly. Too obvious is his accomplishment to the membership at large. Too persuasive his example, too attractive his freedom. Too much does his life and work resemble the outline that the old man (Sun Myung Moon) - in word and deed - has put before all members of movement – for all to follow.

12. Return with the Elixir

Campbells hero now brings the healing elixir to those in the ordinary world. He applies the lessons learnt, changing his life or the life of others, healing wounds. Final rewards and punishments are given etc. The story still can end with a surprise, all essential questions are answered, some new ones may be raised. Life goes on forever.

No longer does our hero want position or power, no longer does he need the acknowledgment of those that don’t really care. He has tasted real life in the new world and he will live it here to the fullest. He will give to those who can receive without surrendering control. He will love the movement as he has learnt to love the world. His love is the elixir that heals the land.

Adjust as you please.

Barack Obama’s win of the presidency was the initial spark for our hero’s journey but he grew beyond and above all that. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. At least in a hero’s journey.

Should Obama not win the elections - a distinct possibility according to zogptlzkrk’s poll - then let’s hope that another spark ignites our hero’s ordinary world and sends him on off to foreign lands and that he abundantly distributes the healing elixir upon his return.
 

The Highlander

P.S.
Not all Hero’s Journeys visit all the twelve steps described above. Some follow them in a slightly different sequence. Some events - for example the meeting of mentors - may be repeated. Still, the patterns of the journey and the archetypes it uses are quite powerful.

Another book, ‘The Writer’s Journey’ presents a more lightweight version of Campbell’s Hero’s Journey applied to the task of writing movie scripts. If you’re into that it’s definitely a suggested read. If you want to broaden your theoretical background, take a look at C. G. Jung’s book on archetypes. (Hero, Mentor and many others are names of archetypes.)

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