Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how Joseph Campbell’s concept of the hero’s journey is reflected in the lived experiences of pilgrims on El Camino de Santiago. Campbell describes the hero’s journey as the monomyth underlying religious stories, myths, folklore, legends, and fairy tales. We use a 12-stage model in this study. Data for this study were gathered from an online survey of 461 people, ages 20-82, who have completed El Camino de Santiago. Respondents are from 32 countries, further emphasizing the universal nature of this theme. The survey included 10 open-ended questions, including: “Why did you decide to do a pilgrimage?” “Did you meet people along the way who you travelled with?” “In what ways did your Camino change you?” We used responses to demonstrate the 14 stages of the monomyth. Responses mapped onto the hero’s journey. Respondents discussed their call to make their pilgrimages (Departure.) They described being on the El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage as being in another realm with a different sense of time; pilgrims experienced tribulations, and they talked about how people helped them along the way (Initiation.) Respondents talked about how they were changed internally in a fundamental way, how the experience changed how they interact with other people, and some even changed their career paths (Return.) While Campbell’s monomyth is not without criticism, people in this study are clearly the hero of their own story. The discussion describes respondents’ experiences as a reflection of the hero’s journey.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Religious Community and Socialization
KEYWORDS
Pilgrimage Hero's Journey Transformation El Camino de Santiago Monomyth
