Summary

An author reflects on their personal journey of transformation, inspired by Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey and the writing prompt from Hollie Petit, Ph.D., expressing gratitude for their "Bliss Station" and the Medium community.

Abstract

The author shares a deeply personal narrative about how their life and writing have been profoundly influenced by Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey and a writing prompt from Hollie Petit, Ph.D. They describe their writing space, a "Bliss Station," as a source of inspiration and solace amidst personal challenges, including the dissolution of their second marriage. The author credits this space and the Medium writing community for their personal growth and the freedom to express their deepest self. They quote Campbell extensively, emphasizing the importance of embracing one's fate and the transformative power of love and spontaneity in the face of adversity. The essay concludes with the author expressing profound gratitude to Hollie Petit and fellow writers on Medium for the support and inspiration they have provided.

Opinions

The author holds Joseph Campbell's work in high regard, particularly the Hero's Journey, which they credit with saving their life.
They believe in the transformative power of writing and the importance of a dedicated, inspiring space for creation, referring to their own space as a "Bliss Station."
The author values the Medium community, acknowledging the contributions of numerous writers who have inspired them with stories of struggle and triumph.
They endorse the idea of embracing life's challenges as opportunities for growth, quoting Campbell on the concept of "the love of your fate."
The author expresses a sense of privilege and joy for the life they have discovered through writing and the support of the writing community.
They advocate for the idea that any disaster can be an improvement in character and life, suggesting that adversity is a chance to exhibit strength and resilience.
The author is thankful for the insights gained from Mason Curry's work on the routines of well-known artists and their dedicated spaces for creation.
They see their writing space as a mirror of their internal transformation and a place where their spirit can thrive.
The author emphasizes the importance of being the hero of one's own story, as Campbell suggests, and the power each individual holds in writing their own ending.
They conclude with a heartfelt expression of gratitude to Hollie Petit and the Medium writers for helping them see beyond struggle to the possibilities that lie within.

Inspiration, Fun, Mystery, and Gratitude

An Inspirational View

A writing prompt in Everything Fun

The photo just beyond my “Bliss Station” by Author

I’m grateful to Hollie Petit, Ph.D. for this prompt in Everything Fun. https://readmedium.com/everything-fun-writing-prompt-ef9bed2b4c6b. It offered and delivered more than expected!

First, I’m a huge fan and oft practitioner of Campbell’s Heroes Journey. It is, in part, what saved my life. That journey, this journey, was the impetus for my “Bliss Station” above. I’ll share that story another time. For now, I want to focus on describing the writing space that inspires me to take part here, on Medium.com. And to me…in life itself.

Before I begin though, I would like to pay tribute to Hollie and the other writers here on Everything Fun and Medium.com. (many listed below have inspired me with their own stories of struggles and triumphs)

I judge each of us has had a moment, a day, a week, a month, or some other difficult time-where we couldn’t get started. To that end, I’m introducing a Joseph Campbell quote I found while researching many of his incredible lines of wisdom for life. I hope you feel the power in it as well.

“Writer’s block results from too much head. Cut off your head. Pegasus, poetry, was born of Medusa when her head was cut off. You have to be reckless when writing. Be as crazy as your conscience allows.” ― Joseph Campbell, A Joseph Campbell Companion: Reflections on the Art of Living

Now, to my “Bliss Station.” As much as it is beautiful, it is miraculous because of the energetics behind its story. What you see in front of you is quite beautiful. It hasn’t changed much in the last few years, but I have.

When I read Hollie’s article, her comment here about Mason Curry, offered insights into how many well-known artists have carved out spaces so they could bring their creations to fruition. I thought, well, this “Bliss Station” works for unknown artists like me too. Okay, so my ego had to elevate itself in some way. Don’t forget, Campbell said, “Be as crazy as your conscience allows” Oh, be careful what you say, Joseph!

Four years ago, I was angry and saddened at my crumbling second marriage. I was doing “my work,” the internal work and journey that had started years before. I was not yet at the stage where change was occurring in my behavior. Then it happened.

At the same time my marriage was dissolving, a good friend had purchased a piece of property. This property included the small cottage I now live in. The above image is my view beyond my computer where I work. On the other side of my computer is a 9-foot window and a porch that overlooks a valley between the Blue Ridge and Great Smokey Mountains. You can see them off in the distance in the photo above.

It was then that this relationship with writing began. Oh, I had journaled for years, since 1987 in fact. I never considered myself a writer and still don’t. My station here brings me as much peace as can be had by any man on any other plane. My heart both soars above the valley, shared with red-shouldered hawks and it crawls across the valley floor when life leaves me bereft of hope.

The external environment changed with the seasons. And with it, I too, have shifted since the first day I began sitting behind this window. Here, I pen the next chapters of my life. The magic has always been within me and what you are seeing here is what I am feeling inside.

I am so fortunate to be here and to have given my heart and mind permission to express their deepest selves. I could not have fathomed this joy those many days before I moved here.

This indeed is a place of solace. It’s a place of once inconceivable elation, delight, amusement, animation, and wonder. It’s the place where my soul can be and is… free! It’s the place where I can live my life out loud, walk among the Maples and the Oaks, and reach for the dreams of my revived, once dying spirit.

This is the ‘Bliss Station” in which I rediscovered the life I wanted to live. This internal place allows me, at the ripe old age of 69 to be who I am, to live the life I am meant to live, for me, and for the planet.

Campbell also said, “You are the Hero of your own story” and that said to me that I can write the ending, the final chapter. (in progress)

I can think of no better way to end this exercise and writing prompt than to help others by quoting Joseph Campbell one more time. This is a more obscure but no less important quote.

“Nietzsche was the one who did the job for me. At a certain moment in his life,the idea came to him of what he called ‘the love of your fate.’ Whatever your fate is, whatever the hell happens, you say, ‘This is what I need.’ It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge. If you bring love to that moment — not discouragement — you will find the strength is there. Any disaster you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow.

Then, when looking back at your life, you will see that the moments which seemed to be great failures followed by wreckage were the incidents that shaped the life you have now. You’ll see that this is really true. Nothing can happen to you that is not positive. Even though it looks and feels at the moment like a negative crisis, it is not. The crisis throws you back, and when you are required to exhibit strength, it comes.” ― Joseph Campbell, A Joseph Campbell Companion: Reflections on the Art of Living

To Hollie Petit, Ph.D., and my fellow writers here I say THANK YOU, for helping me see through the veil of struggle and into possibilities that exist if we will only come out of the cave of fear.

Thomas Plummer, Bridget E Webber, Art Bram, Kerstin Krause, Jane Kelley, Dr Mehmet Yildiz, Sinem Günel, Nick Wignall, John C. Davis, Agnes Eveline Anton, Asim Nori, Esther George, Angie Mangino, ScienceDuuude, David Rudder, David Lynch, Tim Denning, Diana C., Gurpreet Dhariwal, Jo Ann Harris, Estacious(Charles White), R. Rangan Ph.D., Puzi, Elena Tucker, Filza Chaudhry, Alice Cunningham, Louise Tucker, Carolyn Riker, America Zed⚡, Matthew Donnellon, Deborah Barchi, Upasana Sharma, Jenny Justice, Sylvia Wohlfarth, Zita Fontaine, Jan Sebastian, Patrick OConnell, Miri, Anna Breslin, James D Nelson, Annelise Lords, Darius Foroux, Han Winogrond, Rolli, Jesse J Rogers, Bruce Hudson, Joe Merkle, Rosemary Nonny Knight, Cynthia C Farley, Hope Coalesce, Elle Rogers, Rod T. Faulkner, Lonlon, Evon, Cristina Cattai, Sahil Patel, Ayodeji Awosika, and there are so many more. I hope each of you will know how grateful I am for the terrific learning experience you provide to those who want to get a better handle on this craft as I do!

Bless each of you!