The Monster’s Journey: From Trauma to Connection

In this presentation, you’ll be introduced to The Monster’s Journey – a new way to think about the relationship between trauma and spiritual growth. The Monster’s Journey describes the developmental path of those of who have suffered serious, early childhood trauma. We’ll explore how this path differs from the more well-known Hero’s Journey, and how those who must walk it can best heal and reconnect with the world. There will be ample time time allotted for group sharing and question-and-answer. The presentation will directly benefit those who have survived early childhood trauma as well as their loved ones.

Many of us are familiar with the powerful construct of the Hero (or Heroine’s) Journey, made popular by the renowned 20th century mythologist and scholar Joseph Campbell. In his work, Campbell identified a potent mythological motif in which the individual, living comfortably in his or her normal and known world, receives a call to adventure. This call requires him or her to confront magical forces, first outside, and then eventually within the self. These magical discoveries are used to defeat a threat and are eventually integrated into the person’s being. The journey is completed when the Hero returns to his or her community and offers their transformed consciousness as a blessing to those around them. 

The Monster’s Journey describes a different – though complementary – transformational journey. This is the journey of the those who, early in their lives, have been changed or altered as a consequence of early childhood trauma. Monsters – or their equivalents, Aliens and Mutants – begin their journey in the world of the abnormal. So instead of being called to a hidden magical world, they are challenged to connect to the normal world, which they see every day but which remains frightening and alienating to them. And instead of gifting their communities with newly discovered inner magic, they may eventually offer back the abilities and heightened personal qualities that have been gifted to them through the process of early traumatization. In this way, the individual finds their true self and redeems the suffering caused by the trauma. 

This workshop will describe the Monster’s Journey in detail, understanding it as a modern archetype found in story. The talk will benefit both those who have survived early childhood trauma as well as their loved ones. There will be ample time allotted for group sharing among participants as well as question and answer with Dr. Forman.