|
Modern Day Monomyth Story
This true inspirational story outlines my monomyth (Wikipedia definition opens new window) experience of many years ago. This incident allowed me to glimpse the mystery of our interconnected nature, and the power of trusting in our creative source. It has become my transformational touchstone. In recalling the insights, I am encouraged and inspired to walk my highest vision. My hope is that this inspirational story will serve a similar purpose for you. Part IIt was from the outcome of a couple of meetings during 2007 that I decided it was time to share my monomyth inspirational story... with whoever is ready to hear it.The last meeting confirming it, was a conversation with a lady I happened to sit beside at a conference. She was about my age. She was open and friendly, vibrant and full of life. There was a spark about her that you don’t always see, and I was definitely intrigued by her company. You know those people that seem to shine just a bit brighter; there is a charisma about them. She exuded a peace and certainty in trusting life. As we were chatting I wondered what she did. I kind of imagined that she was a personal development coach, or a health practitioner, or perhaps a teacher. I certainly didn’t expect the answer she gave me. There was a time many years ago that I would not have been so surprised by her answer. When I was hitchhiking around the US on my spiritual journey, anything seemed possible. You’ve probably felt that sense of wonder at some point in your life. The world and the boundless potentials within it seemed so brilliant. I had a magnificent sense of the indomitable free spirit inside me, and felt rather invincible. I knew that it was all right to trust life. That is the place where the hero dwells. Those many years ago, a friend had asked me to deliver a sacred package for him. This heralded the beginning of my monomyth quest. The recipient was an elder at the Hopi Indian community in Arizona. I hitchhiked thousands of miles to deliver it, and from there, continued on my adventure. I had been fervently praying to know the truth of life, and had been shown that Love is the creative energy of the universe. I had a little silent prayer of love that I would bestow on everyone that I crossed paths with, everyday. I knew that my life was a blessed journey. One day my perception was shaken. I had taken a ride with a transport truck driver who really frightened me by extremely lewd advances. Fortunately I got out of it completely unscathed, but it shook my sense of invincibility. I decided at that moment I would no longer ride with truck drivers. This was a major trial in the unfolding of my monomyth. The next day I was standing by the side of the road with my thumb out and every time a truck was approaching, I pulled my thumb in and turned my back. About two hours passed without getting a ride, which was a very long time for me. I was thinking about this attitude of not accepting a ride from any truck driver based on the experience the day before, and realized this was making me a victim rather than trusting life. I wasn’t giving reverence to that place that I knew ‘everything is all right’. At the time, I was reading a book that dealt with the theme of trusting in life. It was called Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey. It is a science fiction story, set somewhere between the past and the future... a place and time where dragons were flown in order to save the world. Dragon pilots had a special bond and communication with the huge and magnificent beasts they controlled. There was no place for fear. Instead, they exhibited absolute trust, transcending what they could see. This enabled them to act in concert with the universe and guide these creatures for the benefit of humanity. It was the perfect job for the hero.
Carl Jung, a master of philosophy and psychology, would have said we must summon our hero to slay the dragons. We must give up worries and fears, and take a meaningful step towards individuation and letting the magic of life in. Then our hero can be present to fully interact with the mystifying power of creation. With these musing, I decided that rather than live from a place of fear, I was going to be captain of my life. I’d welcome the journey that life had to share with me. I'd act with courage and unquestioning faith. With complete trust I stepped forward in anticipation and expectation of the best adventure life would summon for me. It was just a few minutes later I saw a truck approaching over a small rise on the horizon. Without hesitating and in complete faith I stood up to the challenge and put out my thumb. The big bright red truck started slowing and I could hear the engine groan as the driver was shifting down. It pulled over on the side of the road. With a renewed sense of excitement and adventure I hoisted my bag and ran to the passenger door. There, emblazoned on the side of the door was the trucks name... DragonFly! The dragon had blatantly arrived, and it was up to me to let the hero be captain. Part II The door of the big red transport truck swung open, inviting me to step up to another dimension of my hero's adventure. There was a two man driving team inside. They helped with stowing my bag and then I jumped in.Introductions got underway just about the time that the driver was pushing the rig back up into 2nd gear. Two more amazing coincidences immediately revealed themselves. The main driver shared my surname, and… he had a young daughter with my first name! The synchronicity of both the dragon symbol and sharing the same name as the daughter were compelling signposts that I was on the right path. This realization was a real giggle to me, but the driver looked a little stunned talking about his daughter’s name. We passed through one state, and the next day entered another. We easily chatted, and the miles went by. They were en route to their hometown to drop the cargo, pick up a new shipment and then head north. The main driver invited me to stay at his family’s home the next night. He seemed to have taken on a bit of a sheltering role with me… making sure I was comfortable and asking if there was anything I needed. It was just a quick stopover of about 12 hours where I met his wife, and daughter who shared my name. The next day I headed north with the drivers. Many miles, dozens of hours, and stories later… my journey with them continued. I could tell our talks of the mysteries of life and my reverence for divinity had an affect on the driver. He showed a quiet respect for me.
The sketch of details stunned me. His words were full of sorrow and regret, the confession pouring from him. Now, with this trusting traveler beside him, sharing the name of his loved daughter, the atrocity of their actions was clear to him. His heart exposed his meekness. He was grasping at fresh hope and forgiveness to steer him in a new direction. I was astounded… life had rewarded itself handsomely for invoking the hero. The boon of the monomyth was rich. It’s the heroes inside of us everyday people that cause extraordinary things that change the world. Change that we had no way of previously comprehending or hoping to witness without accepting the hero’s call to adventure. The person your hero will be saving first and foremost is yourself. In turn, there are magnificent repercussions on others and the world around us. The woman sitting next to me at the conference last year gave me an uncommon answer when she told me what she did. In fact I’d never had anyone before tell me what she did. She said she was an alchemist. She was an everyday person, yet fully aware of being much more than a stack of limiting conditions. She knew that by trusting life and acting in concert with creation, transformational miracles occur. No apologies, no bragging… just a statement of fact. As author Paul Coelho said in his book Alchemist,
“Alchemist’s understand that when something evolves, We are all alchemist's, on the move transforming the world for our highest vision... if we will trust life. Comment on this story. Submit an inspirational short story. Please enter the Password.
|
The dragon has appeared repeatedly through history as a symbol to represent obstacles; obstacles of our mind… worry, fear, doubts and inner demons. 
It was late one night while he was at the wheel, and his partner was sleeping in the berth, that he bared his soul to me. His wretched spirit let down any guards and he made a confession. In the depth of that dark rainy night he told how during cross country trips they had picked up young women such as me, and horribly altered the course of their lives. 