Heroes and Mystics 2025

  THE JOURNEY INWARD The movie Inception has to be one of the best movies in existence. I mean, it has action, psychological thriller, puzzles, existential crises, and of course Leonardo DiCaprio. It depicts a team of spies who travel in disguise and trick foreign adversaries into spilling their deepest, darkest secrets. The best part? It all happens inside their minds. They get them while they’re asleep and infiltrate their dreams—raw, unfiltered information left unprotected by an unconscious brain. Here’s the challenge: If they die in the dream world, then they die in the real world. This dangerous and secretive work has kept the protagonist, Cobb, away from his children for a long time and he accepts one last mission before giving it up. One stark difference that stands out from the beginning is that while oftentimes heroes are depicted as venturing OUT into the unknown, Cobb must venture INWARD and learn about the inner workings of the consciousness if he wants to survive. He m...

     In Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, the threshold marks the moment when the hero leaves the safety of the known works and steps into the unknown. This step is essential in every heroic journey because it begins the transformation process. The threshold is both literal and symbolic; physically, it can be seen when Odysseus sets sail from Ithaca or when Moana leaves her island to restore the heart of Te Fiti. But more than just change in location, crossing the threshold also represents deep emotional and psychological risk. It means stepping away from comfort, security, and familiarity to face uncertainty and challenge. This leap is what forces the hero to grow. Moreover, every hero must cross the boundary because true growth and self-discovery only happen beyond the edges of what is known and comfortable.

     These days, many people enjoy talking about astrology and how their personalities align with their star signs. However, that does not mean the stars define who someone is. Growing up, zodiac signs were everywhere; on websites, social media, magazines, and more, shaping how people viewed themselves and others. But it is important to note that astronomy, the scientific study of celestial bodies, does not support astrology’s claims about personality. Over time, constellations have shifted making many astrological placements outdated or inaccurate. Ultimately, identity is far too complex to be reduced to a birth chart. People should seek to understand themselves through self-reflection, personal experiences, and relationships, not cosmic labels. While astrology can be fun or insightful for some, it should not define who we are.

 For my final blog post, I wanted to end with a topic I wrote about in the beginning of the semester: Percy Jackson. In my first essay, I touched upon his “demigodness” but after reading Somewhere I Have Never Travelled , it made me think about how his experiences compared to Gilgamesh and Achilles. While they are all demigods, I feel like Achilles and Gilgamesh were more in-tune with their godly side while Percy is more connected to his mortal side. After giving it some thought, it’s definitely because of their mothers. As talked about in The Hero with a Thousand Faces , the mother is meant to shield the child away from danger. This is consistent with all these demigods as their mothers try their best to protect them from the world. But, in order for them to grow, they must depart from the comforting arms of their mother and step into a world full of responsibility and opportunities for growth. For Percy in particular, his departure happens when he has to leave to Camp Half-Blood ...

     At the beginning of the epic, Gilgamesh is arrogant and abuses his power, showing little respect for tradition or the gods. He fears neither mortals nor immortals, and his unchecked pride leads the people of Uruk to plead for divine intervention. In response, the gods create Enkidu, an equal to balance Gilgamesh’s strength. Their deep friendship becomes Gilgamesh’s greatest joy, but when Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh is overcome with grief. This loss shatters his arrogance and drives him away from his palace in a desperate search for everlasting life. His fear of death becomes overwhelming, and he believes that immortality is the only way to escape it.      However, through his journey, marked by both failure and revelation, Gilgamesh undergoes a profound transformation. He eventually accepts that death is unavoidable and realizes that true meaning lies not in living forever, but in living well. He returns to Uruk with a new perspective: life, with all its jo...

     Cummings’ poem explores themes of emotional openness and surrender, which deeply align with the nature of heroism. In many myths and stories, true strength lies not in physical power, but in a hero’s willingness to feel deeply, risk pain, and remain open to both love and fear. This emotional vulnerability often becomes a defining trait of the heroic journey.      Vulnerability is central in myths because it humanizes heroes and gives their struggles meaning. Characters like Frodo in The Lord of the Rings face immense fear and sacrifice to save others. Frodo’s courage as a small, seemingly powerless hobbit to enter a horrific world was essential; without it, Sauron would not have been defeated. His journey shows that heroism emerges not from physical strength, but from emotional resilience and selflessness. The corrupting influence of the Ring, which feeds on selfishness and desire, contrasts sharply with Frodo’s willingness to carry it despite the cost...