Carol S. Pearson - The Hero Within: Six Archetypes We Live By

I am inspired to revise and expand this work by the many readers who have shared with me the stories of their heroic journeys and anecdotes about ways The Hero Within touched their lives. I have been moved, encouraged, and occasionally challenged by the mail, phone calls, and e-mail I daily receive. I have learned not only from readers, but also professionals whom I have trained in the use of this model and other similar ones. It is fascinating to me that although I have been working with these materials for years, others using them always come up with some nuance or even breakthrough insight I have missed. I am particularly grateful for insights from what I call my training faculty dream team: Patricia Adson, whose book True North provides practical guidance for psychotherapists on the uses of these and other archetypes with their clients; Eileen and Patrick Howley, who apply these models to the training of educational leaders; Chris Saade, who integrates these ideas with existential philosophy/psychology and whose emphasis on the importance of existential choice strongly influenced this revision; and Suzanne Guy, who edits Heroes Ink , a newsletter to support people who are using the heros journey model in their lives and work.

A number of theories positively influenced the development of these models. The three major philosophical traditions this book integrates and develops are: Jungian psychology, scholarship on the heros journey, and new-thought spiritual principles. In the Jungian world, I wish to acknowledge particularly C. G. Jung, who provided the pioneering studies of archetypes, without which this book could not have been written; James Hillman, whose archetypal theories were essential to its development; and Frances Parks, whose skillful analytical training provided guidance in understanding my own inner archetypal life. For the heros journey material, of course, this book would not have been possible without the scholarly achievement of Joseph Campbell and the practical applications of these theories by David Oldfield, whose example was extremely helpful in developing the exercises herein. For insight into new thought spiritual traditions, I am particularly indebted to the work of Eric Butterworth.

Other theoretical perspectives that influenced my thinking include gestalt therapy, the fields of womens and ethnic studies, cognitive psychology, learning theory, family systems theory, and organizational development/systems theory.

I also am grateful to a series of editors who treated this book with professionalism and care: Pat Lassonde, who edited the first edition; Tom Grady, who edited the second edition and proposed this third edition; my agent, Angela Miller, who convinced me to take it on; Mark Chimsky, who edited this edition and provided invaluable guidance during the writing process; and Ann Moru for copyediting. I also thank Edith Lazenby for her work typing revisions for this book and my husband, David Merkowitz, for his substantial help in the writing/editing process and for his unfailing love and support.