In the real hero’s journey, the dragon slays YOU. Much to your surprise,

you couldn’t make that marriage work. Much to your surprise, you turned forty with no kids,

no house, and no prospects. Much to your surprise, the world didn’t want the gifts you proudly offered it.

If you are foolish, this is where you will abort the journey and start another,

and another, abusing your heart over and over for the brief illusion of winning.

But if you are wise, you will let yourself be shattered, and return to the village,

humbled, but with a newfound sense that you don’t have to identify with the part of you

that needs to win, needs to be recognized, needs to know. This is where your transcendent life begins.

So embrace humility in everything. Life isn’t out to get you, nor are your struggles your fault.

Every defeat is just an angel, tugging at your sleeve,

telling you that you don’t have to keep banging your head against the wall.

Leave that striver there, trapped in his lonely ambitions. Just walk away,

and life in its vastness will embrace you.

~Paul Weinfield

how have I made sense of things?

inquiry for today~ and how have you made sense of things?

going down into oblivion….

Until the culture recognises the legitimacy of growing down,

each person in the culture struggles blindly

to make sense of the darkness that the soul requires to deepen into life.

~James Hillman