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.

The Hero's Journey: Leadership Through Inquiry

High on a redwood-flanked ridge top overlooking nearly all of Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz county, Mt. Madonna School and Conference Center are hosting a Chautauqua on learning and leadership.  There is a palpable sense of inquiry, positive regard and respect for what is possible.  

"How do you deal with disappointment?" We were asked.  It took all day to learn, entailed risking failure, working with strangers, and asking for help - none of the things professionals do readily.

Most of the 75 who have come from all over the country and parts of Canada are dedicated learners or educators in some way.  Ward Maillard, the lead facilitator working with Peter Block, is an instructor at the host school.  Ward takes his 12th grade students on a journey of discovery each year to places like South Africa to meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu or to India to meet the Dalai Lama.  He imparts a sophisticated but organic approach to learning that implies his students have as much value in the process of preparation as he does.  While he guides them in the planning process, he learns what they need to know and listens carefully to their conversations.  So, too, does he lead our group of adult learners through a process of self-reflection, small-group interaction and large-group exercises.

Following the pattern set forth in The Hero's Journey, the Chautauqua transitioned from answering The Call yesterday to taking The Journey today.  We came together first in a large group to review what had occurred the day before and listened to thought-provokingly simple but challenging ideas from Peter Block.  Peter constantly urged us to renew the process we are going through, bring it to our own work in our own disparate lives, always keeping the process of leadership simple and accessible.  He has a sense of urgency and immediacy about him, pushing attendees gently but firmly toward difficult solutions to problems that seem to have no easy answer.

Everyone acknowledges that most communities (like hometowns, workplaces, schools, institutions) are constantly changing and reflect the personalities and values of the membership; change is constant and always encounters resistance and potential for conflict.  Discussions about communities, systems, group thinking and personal vision were fascinating because they were often not what we were expecting to encounter at the outset.  The facilitators insisted on silence at times, that we seek people we knew the least to meet with, that we assess our journey and reflect on what it was that we were discovering as we moved through the exercises.  

This is tiring but enriching stuff and will require a good deal of reflection and observation in real time and space to learn how to apply what we've learned.  The arts are an integral part of this process - writers, artists, musicians, poets have all had a major part in giving dimension to the experience.  We wrap up tomorrow, an end point that will serve most of all as a beginning.

High on a Mountain Top: Chautauqua, Hero's Journey

I'm not where I was yesterday.

This is a condition to be wished, believe me.  I left home and wandered off to the northeast a bit and found myself in the company of people who are thinking about deep stuff high on a mountain top.  And they're not getting paid to do it.  As a matter of fact, they're paying for the privilege.

In a framework of taking The Hero's Journey made so famous by Joseph Campbell, about 50 varied and sundry adults who are connected in some way with education, community building and organizational development - among other things - have assembled at Mt. Madonna School in Gilroy, California.  The presence of Angeles Arrien and Peter Block, who have written a dozen books between them, coalesces the energy of the group and gives it form, guidance and wisdom.  But, as they like to say, the wisdom is in the room.  As Angeles has said, "Let's find out what's workin' you."

It calls itself a Chautauqua, a special meeting of teachers and students focusing on one subject, be it political, educational, religious or scientific.  This chautauqua is meant to explore that which inspires us and propels us forward on our spiritual or intellectual journey in life.

Peter and Angeles as well as many of the teaching staff of Mt. Madonna School have crafted a program through which we, the assembled, are exploring ideas about how to be more effective in our jobs, examining government and teaching systems, and delving into areas of self-development.  We're taking time to reflect, inquire, question and listen to what we are dealing with in our pursuit of community and self-realization.

Today we took the hero's first step - The Call  to action or purpose.  50 people have stepped out of their usual roles as educators, scientists, researchers, community leaders, and students to face challenging questions and explore difficulties that usually prevent success or progress in their work.  We got acquainted, spent some time thinking about what our personal Call might be and what we as a group might do to answer the Call.  It's kind of fuzzy and nebulous stuff, but the facilitators are skilled, wise and patient, supporting our efforts to express ideas and form friendships and a brief community in this particular setting while gaining new perspectives.