This schema shows how the hero follows a path from the known, conscious, orderly world into the realm of the unknown, unconscious, chaotic forces. Helpers and mentors (which can take human or non-human form) support the hero as s/he descends into the shadowy world of darkness, where nothing is certain, and the hero becomes increasingly vulnerable. He or she no longer has access to all the previous points of reference, which leads into the abyss. This can be a literal confrontation with death, or symbolically a confrontation with what we haven’t had the chance or courage to face about ourselves. There, the hero finds what s/he needs, even if it’s not what s/he expected. This often requires the hero to opens up to something more than him/herself (a step that often involves some form of sacrifice). After having gone into these depths, the hero is transformed and revitalized. The journey concludes when the hero brings back the boons of his voyage to the known world, and is able to share what s/he discovered with others.
