Ilchi Lee
Why did we anticipate the release of the final Star Wars film so eagerly? Why do children get so excited about Harry Potter sequels?
It is simple—people love stories about heroes.
In a cynical time of shamed presidents and celebrity misdeeds, when the media alternately tears down then builds up our real-life heroes, hero stories still resonate in our collective psyche.
“Everyone is a hero in his birth,” wrote mythology scholar Otto Rank. If we follow Rank’s line of reasoning, we are the true heroes of our own lives. When we root for Harry Potter and Luke Skywalker (Star Wars), we are essentially cheering for ourselves.
The Hero’s Journey
The story of the hero dominates the ancient literature of the Western world, in the classics Beowulf and Homer’s Odyssey, for example. While we may no longer gather in the mead hall to hear the scop recite his epic poem, the archetype is just as compelling today, as evidenced by the latest blockbusters Batman Begins, Fantastic Four, and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
throughout our lives, either unbidden or through conscious intent. Anyone who wishes to live an authentic life must answer these questions regardless of whether they believe in the existence of the soul or practice a religion. If these queries remain unanswered, life will more than likely remain superficial and empty, in spite of any material abundance. If you wish to make the soul’s journey, then I suggest you ask yourself these questions relentlessly and ruthlessly, and listen carefully.