Chautauqua at Mt Madonna: The Return From the Hero's Journey

More than a week ago, I spent a final day at the Chautauqua on Mt Madonna learning about what Joseph Campbell called The Return.  Author Peter Block and Mt. Madonna School teacher Ward Maillard teamed with other facilitators to effect change in the way we approach problems in our work and in our lives.

As described in the meta myth The Hero's Journey, the hero returns to his home or village and brings with him that which he has won or captured, through use of his wit, strength, courage and determination.  On his Journey, he encounters obstacles, meets resistance, time and again.  He perhaps is nearly killed, barely survives, may lose his identity.  He is tempted to quit, and distractions abound.  He renews his resolve, conquers his fears and may slay an evil opponent or perform a great deed.

The questions we learned to ask were: What will you do with what you've learned?  What changed in you because you journeyed?

Bringing meaning to life, even to the small events in a day, through reflection, was clarifying and significant.  We, the attendees of the Chautauqua, examined the brief "journey" we had taken together through conversation, group discussion, music, art, teamwork at tasks and writing.  We took time to listen and consider.  We were witnesses as well as "travelers."

What did you do, how did you cope, what was going through your mind?  The Return from a journey, long and intentional, or short and unintentional - if you are to gain wisdom from it - is the completion of the experience.

What changed in me because of the Chautauqua?  I have a heightened sense of awareness about the effects of isolation and separation people feel and how it manifests as depression .  If - and generalizations are really tricky - people are given a true chance to explain the experience of making an effort (taking a Journey) that is important to them, they become more productive and resilient.  The effort must be their own, must be something that matters, and their community must take time to ask important questions of them, to bear witness, in order for the journey to gain deeper meaning.

Until next year when we convene again, we are now scattered to points all over the country and Canada, teachers, leaders, authors, students, business people, officials and some in transition.  I am back at work writing and applying theory to practice, listening differently to my colleagues and patients, a more intentional version of myself.