The Heroine at the Edge of the Forest

Main Key Takeaway:

• The Heroine's Journey is a transformative path, especially during midlife, where women embrace their inner wisdom and power.
• It focuses on inner growth, self-discovery, and overcoming doubts, rather than external battles.
• Women reclaim their strength by embracing change, trusting their intuition, and valuing their sensitivity, creativity, and connection to nature.

Mythology has fascinated me throughout my life. It’s true to some extent for all of us because myths are stories about ourselves. They explain where we are, why we are, and what’s next. They’re maps for the quest of life.

Joseph Campbell was a scholar who dedicated his life to myth. He coined the term “The Hero’s Journey” when he discovered through his work that all cultures across all time told these myths with a similar story arc. Popular culture has picked this up and you’ll find this motif intentionally followed in the Star Wars movies, Harry Potter books and the song Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. 

I’ve been thinking about this stage of midlife, especially as an HSP, as a Heroine’s Journey. I had four days away from my routine, flying to visit family, to do this. Open mind, open skies, open to insights. I’ve been chewing on these ideas, leaning more heavily into myth and metaphor. 

The Heroine’s Journey is different from the masculine “Hero’s Journey” but has similar markers and milestones. This is the journey into cronedom.

Even this term - the crone - takes on a different meaning from the Heroine’s perspective. She’s not an old hag who haunts the forest, but takes the origin of the name - corona, or crown - and proudly wears her wisdom as a precious jewelled crown and generously shares this wisdom with others.

But this midlife transition from “trying to keep up” and “not quite right” and “don’t fit in” to the empowered “becoming myself” and “wise elder” can feel like an arduous journey. It’s like standing on the edge of a forest. Is it enchanted or haunted?

This woman, on the brink of her own revolution, stands at the edge of a dark, mysterious forest—a boundary between her known world (her current life, however misaligned or draining) and the unknown possibilities that lie ahead. The forest is dense, humming with potential but also shrouded in uncertainty. There’s a tightness in her chest and a reluctance to take that first step. Her body knows that entering the forest will change her forever, and the weight of that truth feels almost unbearable.

She takes a deep breath and takes that first step.

The Dragon of Resistance

Within the forest lies a dragon—her doubts, fears, and social conditioning. He rests in the cave of buried emotions. This dragon, blinking sideways, whispers:

"You’re too old to start over."

"What if you fail?"

"You’ll lose everything you’ve worked for."

But the dragon guards the treasure she seeks: freedom, alignment, and a thriving life. To claim it, she must face the challenge, not by overpowering it but by understanding its nature. The knots in her stomach remind her that the treasure is worth fighting for, but the path is uncertain and demanding. This is a key difference between the Hero’s and the Heroine’s Journey. The Hero sets out on a quest to conquer the outer realms. The Heroine’s Journey is one of alchemy in the inner realms.

The time she spends in quiet reflection, pursuing creative endeavors and befriending nature are all resources she develops to reclaim her treasure. It doesn’t have to be a fiery battle. The wise dragon and the wise crone may be similarly misunderstood. Compassion and communication, skills she’s honed over a lifetime, are her best tools on this quest to free the treasures.

The River of Doubt

As the crone initiate deeper ventures, she encounters a rushing river—the overwhelming emotions and fears of failure that threaten to sweep her away. Crossing it requires courage, balance, and trust in her own strength. Her heart flutters and her limbs tingle as she hesitates to step into the current, a physical manifestation of her inner conflict between holding back and moving forward.

The Phoenix Rising

In the heart of this forest lies her ultimate trial—letting go of her old identity and embracing the transformation into something new. The Phoenix, a symbol of renewal, represents her ability to burn away what no longer serves her and rise from the ashes, more aligned, resilient and well-resourced. Her habit of being neatly tucked in under her blanket with a cup of tea and novel by 8pm clash with the shallow breathing she feels as she recognizes the necessary discomfort as she sheds the old and steps into her new self.

Returning Home with the Elixir

She faces these challenges, and she grows. She emerges from the forest carrying the "elixir" of her journey: a deeper understanding of her values, renewed health, and a vocation that honors her sensitivity and wisdom. A vocation that serves humanity in a way that only she can. She returns not as the same person but as someone who has integrated the lessons of the dragon, the river, and the Phoenix.

The tension in her body releases as a newfound lightness of stepping into alignment unfolds. 

She has walked through fire. She has been purified. She knows who she is.

I love the drama of dark forests, dragons and rushing rivers. But life is often like this. At one point or another, we are faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, loss and detours. This map of the Heroine’s Journey helps us see how far we’ve come, that there is a process and that we have guides and mentors along the way. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle bustle of surface level living, but I’m in the mood to dive deep into myth and metaphor. Society tells us a big lie about aging, but we don’t have to believe it. We can travel a more interesting and authentic path into the next phase of being. Your deep processing, natural empathy, connection to nature and comfort with quiet are all assets on this journey. From the Heroine’s perspective, change is not a threat but a sacred adventure.

Journal Prompt:

“What story are you ready to rewrite about yourself?”

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Women tend to do things - raise children, tend gardens, build shelters and set out on journeys - in groups. The Collective is a group program to support your journey through this metaphorical forest into a more aligned, more autonomous vocation. Find out more HERE.