THE HEROINE JOURNEY: Embracing a Different Energy
The Wiz (1978), starring Diana Ross as Dorothy, Michael Jackson as Scarecrow, Nipsey Russell as Tinman, and Ted Ross as Lion
As she was being interviewed on Marianne Williamson’s podcast about human potential and capacity, philosopher and author Jean Houston brought a whole new perspective to the notion of a heroine’s journey. Houston said that she used to argue time and again with fellow philosopher and author Joseph Campbell about there being a heroine’s journey—which Campbell told her was not possible. Hero or heroine, both journeys begin with a call—a yearning that can’t be denied—that needs to be responded to. Houston says that the heroine journey emphasizes the process of becoming—to discover a higher usefulness—to find new capacities and new ways of being.
The hero’s journey is usually a solo undertaking where a male character sets out to fight the forces, break through the barriers, and slay the dragons. Houston says that the heroine’s journey has a distinctive element and uses the Wizard of Oz as an example. Dorothy sets off on her journey and brings along those who are typically unseen or disempowered. The scarecrow thinks he doesn’t have a brain, the lion is afraid of everything, and the tin man believes he doesn’t have a heart. Respectively, they find out they are smart, brave, and empathetic. In the heroine’s journey, a family is created and community is built. We can be each other’s guardian along the journey that brings more than a solitary individual to their growth edge.
I was inspired to hear a perspective that embraced feminine energy and spirit to move towards a higher destiny. The beautiful thing is that we all can embrace both feminine and masculine energies.
Does this sound or feel appealing?
Can this be the beginning of a new story?
Perhaps this is how we can change the narratives and the patterns that keep us struggling to truly connect with each other and co-create a better world.
There’ll be more to explore in future posts.
To see Jean Houston’s conversation with Marianne Williamson, click the image below.
