Monomyth

Departure

The Call to Adventure- The hero starts off in a dull situation of normality from which some information is received that acts as a call to head off into the unknown.

Refusal of the Call- Often when the call is given, the future hero refuses to listen to it.

Supernatural Aid- Once the hero has committed to the quest, consciously or unconsciously, his or her guide and magical helper appears, or becomes known.

The Crossing of the First Threshold- This is the point where the person actually crosses into the field of adventure, leaving the known limits of his or her world and venturing into an unknown and dangerous realm where the rules and limits are not known.

Belly of The Whale- The belly of the whale represents the final separation from the hero's known world and self.

Initiation

The Road of Trials- The road of trials is a series of tests, tasks, or ordeals that the person must undergo to begin the transformation.

The Meeting With the Goddess- This is the point when the person experiences a love that has the power and significance of the all-powerful.

Woman as Temptress- This step is about those temptations that may lead the hero to abandon or stray from his or her quest.

Atonement with the Father- In this step the person must confront and be initiated by whatever holds the ultimate power in his or her life.

Apotheosis- When someone dies a physical death

Return

Refusal of the Return- Having found bliss and enlightenment in the other world, the hero may not want to return to the ordinary world to bestow the boon onto his fellow man.

The Magic Flight- Sometimes the hero must escape with the boon, if it is something that the gods have been jealously guarding.

Rescue from Without- Just as the hero may need guides and assistants to set out on the quest, oftentimes he or she must have powerful guides and rescuers to bring them back to everyday life, especially if the person has been wounded or weakened by the experience.

The Crossing of the Return Threshold- The trick in returning is to retain the wisdom gained on the quest, to integrate that wisdom into a human life, and then maybe figure out how to share the wisdom with the rest of the world. This is usually extremely difficult.

Master of Two Worlds- The person has become comfortable and competent in both the inner and outer worlds.

Freedom to Live- Mastery leads to freedom from the fear of death, which in turn is the freedom to live.