Begin by naming your desire clearly and honestly. Avoid vague statements—let yourself articulate the exact dream, aspiration, or goal that is alive within you. This is the spark that begins your journey, the seed of your story. Don’t worry yet if it seems small, unrealistic, or even selfish—what matters is that it’s true for you. Naming it aloud or writing it down begins the process of transforming it into an awakened path.

Examples:

Examples: “a genuine direct response from Divine presence, a successful career in computers, to travel to Spain, to be sober, to be in physical shape, to be a yoga instructor, to double my income, to get married, to buy a house, a successful YouTube channel…”
Examples Not: I Want... “Love, peace, happiness, emotional stability, adventure, security, fame, to be admired, financially independence, make money online, I want what I want when I want it... These are great but too ambiguous for The Journey Map.”

Now, identify the tangible form your desire takes—the “object” that would let you know when you’ve reached it. This could be something external (a new home, career, or relationship) or something more internal (peace, healing, or freedom). Be specific enough that you could recognize its arrival.

Examples:

Examples: - Frodo: outer—destroy the Ring; inner—freedom from corruption; boon—peace for Middle‑earth. - Moana: outer—restore Te Fiti’s heart; inner—claim her wayfinder identity; boon—life restored to her people.
Examples Not: I Want... “Love, peace, happiness, emotional stability, adventure, security, fame, to be admired, financially independence, make money online, I want what I want when I want it... These are great but too ambiguous for The Journey Map.”

Reflect on why this desire matters to you. What do you stand to gain if it becomes reality, and how would that make you feel? What do you stand to lose if it never happens? Allow yourself to feel both the hope and the fear—because this is the energy that drives every great journey. Recognizing what’s truly at stake awakens you to the emotional landscape behind your pursuit.

Examples:

Gain: income to support my family, the means to travel the world, a soulmate, a skill, a house, success, a career I love, others will look up to me, emotionally pain free, fulfillment, love, a satisfied life...
Loose: Can't support my family, no job I love, no travel, no family, my dreams dashed upon the rocks, hope lost, everything I want, self-esteem, the life I want, no soul mate, an unfulfilled life, I will loose everything...

Look beneath the surface of your conscious desire. Often, what we want is born from something deeper—an inner yearning for love, security, freedom, or meaning. Gently ask yourself: “What am I truly hoping this will give me?” This isn’t about judging yourself but about becoming curious. Awareness of the deeper drive brings compassion to your journey.

Examples:

Need for achievement, need for security, quest for meaning, fear of failure, desire for recognition or validation, desire to create self-worth or self-esteem, need to control, need for autonomy, desire for financial freedom, desire to be rich...

Every pursuit carries a shadow of past pain. Take a moment to notice what fear or old wound may be shaping your desire. Perhaps it is a fear of rejection, failure, or not being enough. Naming the wound doesn’t weaken you—it brings it into the light, where healing can begin.
For example, in A Knight's Tale, William Thatcher's wound is being born a peasant, so he asks his father, "Can a man change his stars?" "Yes William, if he believes enough a man can do anything." He is now motivated to do so because it is what he wants.

Examples:

Fear of failure, self-doubt stemming from childhood, criticized by others, feeling of unworthiness, feeling inadequate, previous failures. And, one of my favorites, the Imposter syndrome.

We all carry vulnerabilities that can trip us up—pride, impatience, doubt, or avoidance. Be honest here, not harsh. This is not about shame, but about recognizing where your patterns might pull you off course. When you can name your weakness, it becomes the very doorway for growth.

Examples:

Not believing in myself, create conflict with others I work with, have to be in control, not able to lead others, fear of public speaking, lack of organization, anger outbursts that alienate others, don't think my ideas are valuable, impatient, lack of focus ability, never finish anything, don't seek advice from others...

After doing The Dig, return here with awareness of your wound. Notice whether the pain feels lighter, or if love has begun to seep into it. Healing doesn’t need to be complete for you to acknowledge even the smallest shift. Trust that each uncovering is progress.

Look closely at what you believed about yourself, others, or life that wasn’t fully true. Were you telling yourself you were unworthy? That you were alone? Naming these false perceptions is like pulling weeds—you create space for truth to grow.

Allow yourself to write or speak about any change in energy, perspective, or feeling. Even subtle moments—a sense of peace, a softening, a breath—are significant. These shifts are the markers that Divine presence is entering your wound.

The Hero wants something from the Object of Desire, but what does the Object of Desire want from the Hero? Reflect on what your dream asks of you in return. Every pursuit carries conditions—discipline, patience, sacrifice, or courage. Writing these out clarifies the exchange you’re stepping into. This step grounds your dream in reality while also exposing how it will shape you.

Examples:

Requires $70,000 to build a house, board certification, a college degree, I have to learn meditation, exercise to be in shape for the marathon, daily commitment to becoming a black belt...

The obstacles are the Opposing Forces that reveal how far the Hero is willing to go to obtain the Object of Desire. List both external challenges (resources, timing, circumstances) and internal ones (fear, doubt, resistance). Don’t shy away—naming obstacles doesn’t make them stronger, it makes you prepared.

Examples:

Have to move to Los Angeles, go through 2 years of training, $13,500 for a street bicycle to race, have to learn marketing...

The Mentor informs the audience what the Hero needs to learn. The Hero often has difficulty seeing beyond their own desires and reality. A mentor bridges that gap and mirrors back to us that which is hidden from our sight. A mentor, or a coach, is traditionally a person of experience and we strongly suggest everyone in pursuit of a dream have one. But the key to mentorship is not the teacher, it is the willing student. The openness to learn beyond our current borders, regardless the source, such a mind regards the entire world as a mentor. The Journey Map acts in a similar manner. By informing The Hero what needs to be learned before the journey even begins, chances of success are greater.

Examples:

Yoda - He can teach me the ways of The Force, my friend Rachael - she is a great sounding board...

Create a step-by-step outline of how you will pursue your desire in a separate document then summarize her. Don’t worry about perfection—clarity comes in the act of writing. Your plan can evolve, but this first version gives your dream structure. Keep private any details you do not wish to share.

Write down the specific resources needed for the pursuit and which you possess and which ones you will need to acquire for yourself or through another person.

In the pursuit of a dream, having allies can be a valuable asset. Allies are individuals or groups who support your goals and aspirations, and who actively work with you to help you achieve them. The can offer emotional support, networking, valuable resources and advocacy.

Switching gears from future tense to past tense. As you step into action, challenges will appear. Write honestly about what has opposed you so far and how you responded. These moments shape your resilience.

Celebrate progress by recording each step forward. Milestones, no matter how small, are evidence that your journey is unfolding.

Be truthful about the outcome. Whether you attained your desire or not, the experience holds meaning. Sometimes the deeper transformation lies beyond the result itself.

Pause and notice how you’ve changed—not just externally, but within. Transformation often appears in subtle shifts of heart and perception.

The Theme of a Hero's Journey is the internal lesson to be learned, summarized in a phrase or short sentence, and is worded so as to highlight our shared human experiences. You are not alone. The Theme is derived from the flaw-weakness-vulnerability found in your Impetus that you must overcome to achieve your dream.

A New-World-View emerges. The Character Arc is the shift from one state of mind to another, even if we do not attain the Object of Desire. This new perspective may have a positive or negative orientation depending upon how the Hero interprets the situation.
1) How has this journey shifted your internal perspective about themselves?
2) How has it shifted your external perspective of life within their sphere of influence?
3) How has it shifted your perception when they see their own Achilles Heel reflected in another?

Within our journey of pursuit, if we ask and allow our soul to communicate with our conscious awareness, the result should be the awakening and expansion of the personal experience of spiritual realities, not just the intellectual accumulation of information. This part of The Journey Map is experiential and highly personalized.

The Soul Arc is the shift of human consciousness into Soul Consciousness, becoming an experiential seeing beyond the human construct. All things human fade away as awareness of Divine presence as our life-force fulfills us completely. Described throughout history by many names with varying details seemingly tailored to the individual, including Near Death Experiences (NDE). Describe your desire, or not, to seek the Soul Arc and please share any experiences you may have in pursuit of this. I hope my stories from "An Invitation to Reveal the Divine" will inspire you to know this is possible for you personally.

The Divine Arc: The direct interaction with Divine presence as an eternal entity. Only happens within The Soul Arc because the human structure (DNA, energy system, the brain…) cannot hold the energy of Divine presence, it must be experienced through The Soul. Describe your desire, or not, to seek the Divine Arc and please share any experiences you may have in pursuit of this. I hope my stories from "An Invitation to Reveal the Divine" will inspire you to know this is possible for you personally.