I was having a drink in the Time Warner Center tonight when in walks the one and only Bill Murray, I heard his distinct voice before I even saw his face and recognized it immediately. As he and his friends were waiting for seats at the bar, I caught his eye and asked him if I could buy him a Santori. (The Japanese whiskey his character promotes in Lost in Translation.) He laughed and said, “Now that would be something!” since finding it anywhere out of Japan is nearly impossible.
As my friend and I were leaving, I decided to thank him on the way out for all the joy he has given me – so I hesitatingly approached him and he graciously stopped the conversation with his friends. I thanked him for all the laughter he had given to me and how grateful I was to him for it. Then I told him that I thought Lost in Translation was one of his best films. He was so kind and engaging! I even told him when I was in Japan I’d visited so many of the places that were featured in his film.
As I was about to leave I handed my business card to him and as he looked at it and turned it over he read the back out loud: The Privilege of a Lifetime is Being Who You Are. And he thought for a moment and then said to me, “Actually, being who you are, is the obligation of a lifetime.”
Whoa. Yes indeed, he is quite right. It is the obligation of a lifetime.
Thank you Mr. Murray, not only your wit but for your wisdom. Thank you for living up to your obligation of being who you are. We are all the better for it.
(SIDE BAR: When I was visiting The Park Hyatt Tokyo’s New York Bar -the one featured above – to have my glass of Santori Whiskey, I was very fortunate to hear the one and only jazz singer Angela Stribling. Angela has performed there for the past four years. Lucky for me I sat down that night next to her handsome boyfriend, now fiance, and he invited me to join them. Angela is one talented lady! Check her out! http://www.angelastribling.com/ Love to you girl!)
The place I love to focus on in my coaching is to help folks see that the map of the Hero’s Journey is there for them to use to help them navigate the things that show up in their life. It’s discussed in the Power of Myth but truly delved into in Campbell’s other masterpiece, The Hero With a Thousand Faces.
In it he discusses the Adventure of the Hero. There are three main parts: Departure, Initiation, Return.
Within every Hero’s Departure these occur in one way or another: 1. The Call to Adventure 2. Refusal or Heeding of the Call 3. Supernatural Aid 4. The Crossing of the Threshold 5. The Belly of the Whale
Then in the Initiation these: 1. The Road of Trials 2. The Meeting with the Goddess 3. Woman as the Temptress 4. Atonement with the Father 5. Apotheosis 6. The Ultimate Boon
And in the Return: 1. Refusal of the Return 2. The Magic Flight 3. Rescue from Without 4. The Crossing of the Return Threshold 5. Master of the Two Worlds 6. Freedom to Live
Now of course some of these show up in different styles and experiences but these are the general outline all the hero’s of time have found themselves in.
I believe that sometimes there are years spent on a Hero Journey’s AND sometimes we can experience a journey in days, if not hours. Some of our journey’s are epic and some are minor. But they are all important.
Here is what I want you to know. You can refuse the Call. You can turn away from it, at least temporarily. And no one might even know that you refused it. Or perhaps you were talked out of it by someone (most likely someone who ignored their own.) But here is the thing, one day you will have to heed it, all of us will. So the sooner you heed it, the sooner you will live the kind of life you’ve dreamed of. A life that is full of possibility and transformation.
You are who you’ve been waiting for. The Hero is you, isn’t it time you save yourself?
I remember the first time I watched Bill Moyers interview Joseph Campbell in The Power of Myth on PBS in 1988. I was mesmerized. Every story he told drew me in deeper and deeper. My family and I went right out and bought the cassette tapes of the interview and listened to those 6 hours of his interviews again and again. It was imaginative, eye opening and empowering.
I felt affirmed actually. I didn’t know that was what it was doing for me at the time but now I am old enough to realize affirmation was one of the gifts the interviews gave me.
My yearnings to follow my own path were being validated by the stories Mr. Campbell told. And the frustration one has setting out on that lone path, was also addressed. He was telling MY story! And YOURS. This is why it became such a hit. He was addressing all of OUR stories. Yes of course it was a different wardrobe, set, cast of characters, a different landscape but the journey from fear to power is always the same.
Finding out that not only was this call I was hearing real and important to listen to, I discovered that other hero’s had been called before and also were afraid to heed it. The feeling of having company was a relief. Instead of feeling like some odd-ball freak, I learned that I had some damn good company. And Luke Skywalker was the least among them! Also there was a map. There were particular markers that were the same for every hero – and now I had been given that map. And everyone knows when you are lost you want either a guide or a map to show you the way. With JC’s Power of Myth – I was given both.
What past clients have said: “A trust agent.” “Engaging and powerful.” “Kim-Possible.” “A catalyst for possibility, passion and profit.” “A best friend, a soothsayer, and a professional guru all rolled in one.” “Unlocks your internal strengths.” “Left me reinvigorated, confident and encouraged.”
