Revisioning Your Hero's Journey®: A Mythological Toolbox

In his later years, Joseph Campbell celebrated his birthday at Esalen. Explaining why, he’d recount how Carl Jung — wondering “What myth am I living by?” and realizing he didn’t know — wrote: “I took it upon myself to get to know ‘my’ myth, and I regarded this as the task of tasks.” “That’s what a birthday is for,” Campbell would conclude, “and what Esalen is about.” The year after Campbell died, his friends — recalling his dictum: “what you do, you do with play” — gathered at Esalen to inaugurate “Campbell Week,” a tradition that has continued, morphing into this Playshop 30 years ago.

Who were you? What’s inspired your biographical saga? What treasures hide in your basement or attic? Who are you? What’s displayed on your refrigerator? What dangles from your rearview mirror? Who do you aspire to be? What’s on your bucket list? Dare to revision yourself. Join our springtime rebirth rituals.

You needn’t be familiar with Campbell to relive dreams, rekindle visions, embrace mythmaking tools like drums and dance, music and song, masks, medicine bags, and altars. Individual, small- and large-group activities will provide reflective and expressive opportunities to retool the myths shaping your life. Bring a meaningful but expendable totem, unsung story or evocative song, and a sense of humor.