What do Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker, Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, and all people in Twelve Step programs have in common? They are all navigating the same hero’s journey path as described by the new book, The Twelve Steps, A Modern Hero’s Journey. The classic hero’s journey is a pattern of storytelling that has been identified in the world’s narratives as long as humans have been telling stories. This pattern involves three distinct stages consisting of Separation, Initiation, and Return. The hero’s journey is an archetype of transformation, whereby the hero enters the journey inexperienced, childish even, and, through a series of trials and events, transforms into a more complete and mature version of him or herself. The hero then returns to their community revealing the “Boon,” (experience, strength, and hope) they learned from the adventure. Once broken down with examples, the pattern becomes clear.
For example, in Star Wars, Luke leaves his planet of Tatooine (Separation), gets a mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, who introduces Luke to a Power greater than himself: The Force. Luke Surrounds himself with companions, Han Solo and Chewbacca, the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, etc., and together, they set off to save the galaxy. Luke, in the beginning, is brash and filled with bravado and thinks he can do anything. This bravado gets him into immediate trouble, however, and he has to be saved repeatedly by Obi-Wan (think of the intergalactic bar scene). Over time, through a series of trials during the Initiation phase, Luke matures and learns to act more as part of a team. He grows up in a very real way, and his growth is on display during the final scene of the movie when he Returns as part of the rebel force and is honored as part of a great community. We see Luke’s full transformation with this one scene.
During Luke’s adventure, there are many sub-stages of the hero’s journey pattern, including entering the abyss during the beginning of the Initiation phase. This is the wonderful scene when Luke and his companions are trapped in the trash compactor of the Death Star, and the walls begin to close in on them. They are standing in an opaque pool of liquid, and something is slithering around their feet. At one point, it evens pulls Luke under, but he is able to escape. This pool of liquid represents the unconscious, and it is here that Luke will find—and must eventually face—his deepest fears and limitations. As we’ll see, this abyss is the same as Step Four in the Twelve Step journey, “Made a searching and fearless moral inventory” of yourself.
As Luke progresses through the Initiation phase, he reaches the atonement stage during which he must face up to his father—and either accept or integrate his father’s energy. This Luke does in the second film when he faces off against his father and offers him forgiveness. It’s a powerful scene of redemption. Fast forward here to Harry Potter when he must also come to terms with his father and either accept that his father wasn’t perfect, and that he, Harry, has the choice to accept and move beyond the image he has of him.
In the Twelve Step Journey of recovery, all these phases (and many more) are mirrored during that journey as well. From hitting bottom and separating from a life of drinking or abusing a substance, to getting a mentor, called a sponsor, who introduces the hero to a Power greater than himself, to surrounding him or herself with companions called the fellowship. Once the person in recovery enters the Initiation phase, they go through a series of Steps which act to break down the ego and literally transform the person emotionally and spiritually. These are represented in Steps Four through Eleven. Like both Luke and Harry, the person in recovery has to atone, but this time it’s called making amends in Step Nine. It is here that the hero becomes an adult by facing up to the defects of character, and, more importantly, the consequences of a life run by self-will run riot.
Once the person in recovery has navigated the journey, Steps One through Eleven, they are ready for the final “Return” Step of Step Twelve: “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” It is in this Step that the transformed hero comes back to their community and gives back what they have learned on their journey. By completing the journey in this way, the hero, now transformed, has not only been able to heal him or herself, but they are now able to help heal the community, and so the world, as well. This is why the hero’s journey has been an integral part of all cultures and communities across the millennia. And it is why this age-old journey is alive even now in Twelve Step meetings around the world.
About the Author
The author, in adherence to Twelve Step traditions, has published this work anonymously. He has a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and has twenty-nine years in recovery. The author has navigated the Twelve Step journey many times, as well as guided others through it. Over years of direct experience and intensive study, the author recognizes the journey of recovery as the modern interpretation of the age-old journey of transformation that is the hero's journey. By applying this journey pattern to the modern program of recovery, he helps others deepen their experience and more fully realize the gifts from each stage of their spiritual journeys.