The Mythological Journey A reflection on a moment

The Mythological Journey A reflection on a moment of change

Mythological Journey 1. YOU • A moment of change in your life • Told in the 1 st person point of view 2. Literature • A moment of change in a literary character’s life • Told either in the 3 rd person point of view…or in the 1 st person (your retelling)

Who experiences this change? • All people experience this journey • You may be on a journey right now • Many journeys will occur during your lifetime • The way in which you deal with your journey shapes you into who you are

4 Stages of the Mythological Journey Innocence what you were like before the change (your beliefs!) Initiation the moment your life will change Chaos the difficulties you face when you are forced to change Resolution how your life & beliefs change

Santa Claus • Santa is a mythological creature • He does not exist.

Stage 1 - Innocence is your belief system before a change occurs. It is what you believe in until something forces you to change your mind about your beliefs. Innocence usually involves these thoughts…

What does innocence look like? • There is no evil in the world. • All is good. • If you do good deeds, no harm or evil will come to you or your loved ones

What does innocence look like? People will be healthy and live forever

What does innocence look like? Love is a wonderful experience that lasts forever and brings nothing but happiness

What does innocence look like? You are the most important person and others will care about your wellbeing

Santa-Innocence (1) • • Brings gifts to children Write him a letter Be on the nice list Leave him cookies

Stage 2 - Initiation occurs in a split second. It is that moment in time when you realize that what you had always believed to be a truth… Is not so!

A moment anything that causes a big difference in your life, from an unexpected move…to the death of someone

Santa-Initiation (2) • Your parents told you • A friend told you • His beard came off

Stage 3 - Chaos Your whole world is turned upside down. You now must struggle with what you formerly believed. . . and what new truth you may not wish to face.

What does chaos look like? Emotional upheaval, irritability or a withdrawal from others

What does chaos look like? A constant desire to return to the belief of innocence… denial in facing what you now know to be the truth

What does chaos look like? Either a loss or increased appetite Engagement of “negative” behaviors or actions

What does chaos look like? A battling back and forth…. . trying to return to innocence, but also trying to reach a new resolution. You have a desire to accept what has happened, but it’s really hard to reach that acceptance

Santa-Chaos (3) • Return to a time when you believe • Have to keep the secret from your brothers and sisters

Some never leave chaos…. but if you do

Resolution – Stage 4 If you finally accept the change and You have a new belief…you will have reached resolution Your resolution can be positive….

Resolution You recognize that death is a part of the cycle of life and sometimes a new life can help you move on

Resolution Perhaps your relationship failed but you now realize you can meet someone else

Resolution Perhaps the family has a new look, but it is a life change you can live with

Santa-Resolution (4) • Santa is a happy story • Santa isn’t the thing that makes Christmas so great • Family/food is what is really important

Sometimes you reach a negative resolution You may choose to lead your life in a way that will give you loneliness. . . angriness. . . uselessness… But it is still a resolution

Santa-Negative Resolution (4) • You become distraught about Santa not being real. • You refuse to be around anything Santa because it reminds you of the lie.

Santa-No Resolution. Chaos forever.

Group • Look back at your warm up • Figure out who had the best “Santa” story • OR make something up • Grab a box of art supplies at the from the front • Write out the Santa story (longer version of the warm up) • 8+ sentences • Write each of the 4 steps of the mythological journey in a different color • Example: Up until I turned 10 years old, I always believed in Santa. I would sprinkle the “Reindeer Dust” on my grass in December because I thought that Rudolph would be able to see the glitter from the sky. One day, I noticed that the presents in the garage were wrapped in the same kind of wrapping paper Santa uses every year. But, those gifts were not going to be from Santa-they were just the gifts that my parents gave me!. . . .