The document outlines the typical 15 steps of Joseph Campbell's monomyth model known as the "Hero's Journey". These steps include the hero receiving a call to adventure, initially refusing the call, receiving supernatural help, crossing the first threshold to begin their journey, facing trials and transformations, finding love, being tempted to stray from their path, confronting their father figure, taking a rest after completing their transformation, achieving the ultimate boon by completing their quest, not wanting to return from their journey, needing to flee or get rescued, and finally crossing back over the threshold to return to their normal world. The steps are not always linear and a hero may experience them in a different order or skip some steps.

2. Joseph Campbell
The Hero’s Journey

3. Step 1: The Call to
Adventure
Our hero is given his/her first notice that
everything is about to change; they are
about to begin the adventure. They
may not pay heed to the warning
(sometimes heroes arenʼt the brightest
stars in the sky), but the warning is
given.

4. Step 2: The Refusal
of the Call
At this point, the hero balks at the call, refusing
because of an obligation (real or imagined), fear
of what the adventure may bring about,
insecurity, sense of inadequacy, or for any other
reason that keeps the hero from beginning his/
her quest.

5. Step 3: Supernatural
Help Arrives
Once the hero has overcome the call to
adventure and the refusal and has committed to
the quest (this committal does not have to be
conscious – he or she may start the journey
unaware), a guide/magical helper appears or
makes him or herself known.

6. Step 4: Crossing the
First Threshold
Our hero officially begins his/her journey, leaving
the comfort of his/her known world or life.

7. Step 5: The Belly of
the Whale
Our hero begins to show the changes caused
by his/her journey.

8. Step 6: The Road of
Trials
Our hero must face trials, ordeals, or situations
that bring about the changes. The situations/
challenges often come in threes, and our hero
usually fails at least one of these tests (failure is
a learning situation, too).

9. Step 7: The Meeting
of the Goddess
True love is found at this point. Usually the hero
falls in love with a person, but our hero can also
find the love of a spiritual/earth connection the
hero feels as part of his/her change or
transformation.

10. Step 8: Woman as a
Temptress
Our hero is tempted to stray from his/her
journey at this point, either by the lure of a
person, an ephemeral being, or simply by the
comfort of not traveling anymore.

11. Step 9: Atonement
with the Father
Our hero faces the challenge of whatever holds
the greatest power over him/her in the old life
(usually a father or a father-figure (false god,
mentor, etc.)). The result of this confrontation is
the hero leaving his prior self behind forever.

12. Step 10: Apotheosize
Our hero takes a rest here. The transformation
is complete, and he/she is pooped out.

13. Step 11: The Ultimate
Boon
Our hero completes his/her quest. The booty of
the quest is reaped here, which can be wealth in
any and many forms: money, riches, knowledge,
and/or morality.

14. Step 12: Refusal to
Return
Our hero doesnʼt want to return to his/her old
world, to reality, as itʼs quite comfy here, thank
you very much.

15. Step 13: The Magic
Flight
This doesnʼt occur in all stories, but sometimes
our faithful hero needs to beat feet, get the heck
out of dodge, run away after accomplishing the
final goal, especially if the goal was guarded by
the gods.

16. Step 14: Rescue from
Without
All too often our hero is injured or needs some
kind of aid from an outside person or party in
order to return.

17. Step 15: Crossing the
Threshold
All good things must come to an end. Our hero
must return to the former world /life/reality, and
often this transition is a hard one.

18. Things to Keep in
Mind:
Nothing is absolute.
A hero may get stuck at a threshold, arrive at
steps in a different order, or skip some steps
altogether.

19. The End