Abstract
This article examines the phenomenon of heroic metamorphosis: what it is, how it unfolds, and why it is important. First, we describe six types of transformation of the hero: mental, moral, emotional, spiritual, physical, and motivational. We then argue that these metamorphoses serve five functions: they foster developmental growth, promote healing, cultivate social unity, advance society, and deepen cosmic understanding. Internal and external sources of transformation are discussed, with emphasis on the importance of mentorship in producing metamorphic growth. Next we describe the three arcs of heroic transformation: egocentricity to sociocentricity, dependence to autonomy, and stagnation to growth. We then discuss three activities that promote heroic metamorphosis as well as those that hinder it. Implications for research on human growth and development are discussed.
Highlights
One of the most revered deities in Hinduism is Ganesha, a god symbolizing great wisdom and enlightenment
We focus on heroic metamorphosis – what it is, how it comes about, and why it’s important
One must engage in any of three types of activities that we describe in this article: (1) training regimens, (2) spiritual practices, and (3) the hero’s journey
Summary
One of the most revered deities in Hinduism is Ganesha, a god symbolizing great wisdom and enlightenment. According to legend, when Ganesha was a boy, he behaved foolishly in preventing his father Shiva from entering his own home. Shiva realized that his son needed an entirely new way of thinking, a fresh way of seeing the world. To achieve this aim, Shiva cut off Ganesha’s human head and replaced it with that of an elephant, an animal representing unmatched wisdom, intelligence, reflection, and listening. Unlike Ganesha, one need not undergo dramatic physical change to experience heroic transformation. Having undergone the hero’s journey as the pathway to transformation, Ganesha sees the world with greater clarity and insight. What dies is usually the former self, the untransformed version of oneself that sees the world “through a glass darkly” (Bergman, 1961)
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