It was mid-late January of 1995; I was in my late 20’s and nearly a decade into my healing journey, when a series of serendipitous events lined up. I was in my final year of graduate school with a work-study placement and pursuing my calling as a storyteller and story-teacher at the county’s council on alcoholism and substance abuse. I was sitting at my desk just 24 hours after an introductory meeting with a prevention specialist from a neighboring county when my phone rang, and on the other end of the line, was the excited voice of my prevention counterpart. Within seconds she launched into the reason for her call.
“Prior to meeting you, I had never heard of anyone using storytelling for prevention and I have been working in this field for a while… Within days of our conversation, I receive an announcement for a national prevention conference… and you are not going to believe the title of it!”
After a brief, suspenseful pause, she continued with, “Are you ready? It is the national, “Storytelling: Culture as Prevention” conference. It sounds amazing and I think this was meant for you. Give me your fax number and I will fax it to you,” she said. From the moment I received her fax, events and resources clicked into place in ways I had never before experienced. It felt surreal and with each step I became more convinced that my colleague was right.
Dr. Annabelle Nelson and her organization, The WHEEL Council, had received a 5-year demonstration grant for the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention for their innovative evidence-based prevention work that utilized the power of storytelling.
The first program, Storytelling for Empowerment, utilized stories to teach decision making skills, provide social-emotional learning, and support resiliency, as well as explore and reframe lived experience. The second program, How to Tell Your Story to Impress Others, helped adolescents explore and apply the key elements of story, legend, and myth (i.e., archetypes, symbols, metaphor, and hero’s journey framework) as tools that can help them grow and succeed.
Together with her staff, Dr. Nelson guided students through a reflective and creative process where they began to look at their personal life story through a mythic lens. This process invited students to select archetypes to represent themselves and potential helpers; they also chose metaphors and symbols to represent their challenges, gifts, and strengths. Simply explained, archetypes are “… a personification, symbol, or object that creates a pattern of recognizable characteristics.” (Nelson, 2014. p.34)
All of these elements were then woven together through the core components of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey framework – Separation, Initiation, and Return. Joseph Campbell’s research discovered this framework across time and cultures (Campbell, 1949); visibly apparent in many of our modern-day films, stories, etc.
Here is a brief overview of the three stages:
Separation – The journey begins when the individual prepares to leave the known or ordinary world for the unknown world. Joseph Campbell explains that the hero/heroine receives a call to adventure that they often refuse at first. There are also traumatic life events that may take place where there is no choice involved, one is simply catapulted into the unknown. Either by choice or circumstance, one crosses a threshold into new and uncertain territory. The hero/heroine is alone and separated from their supports and the familiar.
Initiation – Initiation signifies a period tests, trials, and challenges. This is extremely difficult and often depicted in fairytales (that were not written for children) with dismemberment, symbolizing the emotional fracturing and suffering that often takes place. Magical helpers appear along the way, providing gifts, special powers, and wisdom that support the hero/heroine in their quest. With success in achieving what they set out to do, they often receive a gift that acknowledges their accomplishment and serve as a reminder that they had what it took all along.
Return – The hero/heroine receives the call to return home. They may initially refuse that call, but begin their journey home. A final serious challenge or test occurs, providing an opportunity to witness or experience their strength and capacity. With their newfound confidence, they cross the threshold and return to the ordinary world. Upon completion, they experience their successful mastery and transformation, knowing they are no longer who they once believed themself to be. They return to their community as who they are now; able to offer support, wisdom, and assistance to others.
The Hero’s Journey Framework can help us move away shame, remorse, isolation, and stigma. We can begin to see our lives and struggles through a lens of strength, courage, and determination; we can scan the horizon looking for the helpers who presented themselves to us, as well as begin to identify the gifts we had but were not aware of at the time.
I have shared this framework with countless youth and adults. The work has remained deeply rewarding and impactful for participants. It has been life changing for me, serving me throughout my healing journey and transformation. I invite you to watch this short video to hear about this in greater detail.
If you have any additional questions or would like to have a conversation, please feel free to contact me at storywizdomworks@gmail.com.
References
- Campbell, Joseph. (1949).The Hero with a Thousand Faces.Princeton University Press.
- Nelson, Annabelle. (2014). Archetypal Imagery and the Spiritual Self: Techniques for Coaches and Therapists. Singing Dragon.