Supernatural Underground

Thursday, July 3, 2014

by Amanda Arista

Year of Living Heroically #6: Approaching the Cave

So, I have to admit, this stage in the hero's journey is a little hard to pin down. It seems like everyone has

their opinion about what is supposed to happen to the Hero in this part of the novel.

As the title suggests, this part of the journey is the hero heading toward the Ordeal, the first big nasty event that is going to shape our hero and test her in this Special World. She not quite there yet, but there is no avoiding it now.

I think the best definition is the moment that the hero makes the choice to go toward the Cave. Which is a pretty stupid idea, right? There's a cave with a dragon in it- YOU DON'T GO IN THE CAVE. No matter how much gold/magic/true love is in the cave.

Well, the hero in this point in the story might be feeling pretty good about herself. She's past a bunch of little tests that have helped her learn about the world. She's gotten a few allies along the way to help her out. So she might be getting a little cocky and think she knows a few things about things.

Which is really annoying and she might even have all of her allies saying NO! around her, but she is bound and determined to make this choice, because she is the hero and she knows best. Think about it as a fork in the road: which way do you go?

So she makes a choice that will bottleneck her into heading towards an event that is going to almost tear her apart and build her a new. Sometimes, this fork in the road can't been seen except in hindsight or was so tiny that it could be glanced over, like one of those little shell fish forks.

I'm going to break from the norm here and use an example from The Matrix. I think the Approach to Innermost Cave for Neo is when he decides to rescue Morpheus. Think "Guns, Lots of guns." He makes the choice to to into a situation where there are Agents, who he really hasn't faced before one on one. Everyone tells him that he is crazy and one Ally, Trinity, goes with him. He willing goes into a situation that is going to change him. Or just really piss off Hugo Weaving.

In live, I think the hindsight portion of this step really jumps out. We can all look back with a wince and say "I really shouldn't have done that" but it is undoubtedly an experience that has changed us. And remember, it doesn't have to be for the better. It could have been before an epic fail.

But that is a blog post for another time, my friends.

So this month as you live heroically, try to listen to your allies when you make decisions and try not to get eaten by a dragon.

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