Discovering Joseph Campbell’s life’s story-structure: “The Hero’s Journey” has been an absolute godsend for me!
That’s because, I could see how it related to my life’s story and would give me insights as a person with disabilities, from the “Journey’s” four parts:
(1) “The Everyday World” (2) “Departure & Separation” (3) “Initiation” and (4) “Return”.
I came across the universal story-structure while doing my autobiographical PhD. My study was called “The wounded artist’s learning journey to wellbeing after brain surgery.” Sadly, after twelve years (and 90,000 words later), I had to give it up ~ researching while living with disabilities had proven too difficult for me!
At the time, I remember telling myself “it’s OK, it doesn’t mean you don’t have the intellect or determination to finish. There’ll be another way.
So, I reimagined my future and reset my life’s compass. My focus became the exhibition of the art I’d created after my life’s turning point (the brain surgery).
The exhibition was to be the way I’d share the strategies that’d helped me overcome adversity, improve my skills, build self-confidence, increase awareness and had been transformative! Transformation, hmmm, that’s a key word…isn’t it?
Called “Life’s Journey”, my first two exhibitions have been in Adelaide, South Australia. More are planned for Adelaide venues in 2025- I’d love to see you there!!
And in the future, it’d be amazing to exhibit my art, as well, in a virtual gallery space!