We Must Walk Our Lonely Paths

“The Hero Path

We have not even to risk the adventure alone
for the heroes of all time have gone before us.
The labyrinth is thoroughly known ...
we have only to follow the thread of the hero path.
And where we had thought to find an abomination
we shall find a God.

And where we had thought to slay another
we shall slay ourselves.
Where we had thought to travel outwards
we shall come to the center of our own existence.
And where we had thought to be alone
we shall be with all the world.”
― Joseph Campbell

The words of Joseph Campbell always had a way of stirring something deep within me. Like a call to the parts of the soul that we keep hidden, even from ourselves. I came across his quote on the hero path again recently. It's a strange thing to think about, isn't it? The hero's journey. It sounds grand, like something out of an epic. But really, it's about the quiet battles we fight every day. The ones no one sees.

The Labyrinth Within
Campbell talks about the labyrinth. Not a maze of stone and ivy you might find in some ancient castle grounds, but the labyrinth of our existence. It's a maze alright, but one that's built of choices, chances, and challenges. And yes, it's thoroughly known, charted by the heroes of all time who've walked it before us. But knowing that doesn't make the walking any less daunting, does it?

The Lonely Path
Here's the thing about the hero's path—it's lonely. Not because you're necessarily physically alone. You could be surrounded by people, by family, friends, lovers. But the path... the path you have to walk by yourself. Because the joys and tribulations, the anguish, and the tears, they're yours and yours alone. They're the weights and wings of your soul, invisible and intangible to anyone but you.

Switch the scenario into something simpler, like the gym. Everyone's there, doing their thing. You see someone, a figure of what you aspire to be, and you push yourself harder. But at the end of the day, your path to reaching or not reaching that aspiration, it's yours alone. It's not about competition; it's about personal journey, personal growth. The muscular hunk, he's on his path too. And it's just as lonely.

Heroes in Our Making
Understanding that our path is a solitary one doesn't have to be a source of despair. On the contrary, it can be freeing. Knowing that you're the hero of your own story, that the trials and tribulations are yours to face, it's empowering. It means you're not a passive player in the game of life. You're active, you're engaged, you're responsible. And yes, that's a heavy load, but it's also an incredible opportunity.

Holding Our Destiny
When we accept that our path is our own, that we walk it alone even in the company of others, we stop looking for someone to blame. We stop waiting for someone to save us. We grab the reins of our destiny with our own hands, and we steer. That's not to say we don't need help along the way, don't get me wrong. Heroes have allies, after all. But at the end of the day, the path is walked by our feet, the battles fought by our hands, the choices made by our heart.
​
So, here's to the heroes. Here's to the lonely paths. Here's to the understanding that in the vast labyrinth of life, we're both the minotaur and the hero. The monster we fear and the savior we seek are both us. And the path to the center, to the heart of our existence, it's one we must walk alone. But in doing so, we find not abomination, but divinity. Not solitude, but a connection with all the world.