Amorukonat, Life’s Journey.
This book, “The Hero’s Journey: Joseph Campbell on His Life and Work,” has a very long ‘working-out’, or way of showing, or detailing of the stated point. I tried here and there within the chapters to pick up the points, but it takes me longer time therefore, I went to look for the summary and comment that others who read the book have written or shared.
Grammarly (September 28, 2023) talked about it as, “The 12 Step of the.” [1] Following is 12 Steps of the Hero’s Journey: (1.) The call to adventure, (2.) The refusal of the call, (3.) Meeting the mentor, (4.) Crossing the threshold, (5.) Tests, allies, and enemies, (6.) The approach to the inmost cave, (7.) The ordeal, (8.) The reward, (9.) The road back, (10.) The resurrection, (11.) The return, and (12.) The freedom to live. Grammarly summarized as, “The call to adventure, where the hero is presented with a challenge or opportunity that sets them on their path; the crossing of the threshold, leaving behind the known world and venturing in the unknown; various tests, trials, and allies that help the hero overcome obstacles along the way; a confrontation with a major enemy or obstacle; and finally, the return home, transformed and changed by their experiences.”[2] This summary from the Grammarly website shows the journey as a cycle that the hero went from ordinary to significant. This was shown or explained it in twelve steps; and this cycle of an ordinary individual that refined into a hero or an extraordinary individual, mostly everyone agreed that it is the theme of “The Hero’s Journey” by Campbell.
Haupt (TIME, August 2023) stated that aside from using ‘The Hero’s Journey” format as a blueprint, one can also applied the framework to his/her life to achieve a more meaningful life. In the beginning of her article, she said, “You might not think you have much in common with Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, or Katniss. But imagining yourself as the main character of a heroic adventure could help you achieve a more meaningful life.” [3] Of course, this is not a reference to the ‘meaningful life’ the Bible talks about. However, I myself would like to frame my life’s journey using this ‘…hero’s journey’ framework to give it some sense and encouragement. In my journey in this doctoral of leadership program, I would like to compare it to an adventure that I (hopefully) think that I am called to. Some part of myself is kind of hesitant about this taking this journey for it is so overwhelming. Until today, it is kind of unreal. Just imagining myself in this program and among all these professionals from various walks of life, is unbelievable. The only relief and the only hope that keeps me going is through the kind and amazing assistance that I got from the cohorts, the staff, the mentors and off course from our Master Refiner Himself, our LORD. My prayer is always that I would be able to complete journey successfully. Now that I am in it, I have no thought or turning back.
Back in Micronesia, on my Island of Satowan, the traditional chiefs always said this word, “AMORUKONAT,” to the students that are leaving our island to further their education either in at the neighboring islands or outside Micronesia. This word. “amorukonat, “comes from two Satowanese word, which are, “amorukalo” and “nat.” The first word, means, “put out of your mind,” and the latter, is a name of a tree that grows on the beach, the closest to the shoreline. When the tide is low, it sits on the beach; when the tide is high, it looks as if it floats on the shoreline. So, the literal meaning of the word, “AMORUKONAT” is to let the Nat (the tree that is seen both during low-tide and high-tide) disappeared from your thought so you can focus fully on the purpose of your journey (or the reason why you’re leaving everything behind on the island).
I left my home island of Satowan to further my education in the United States since the summer of 1995. If I ever completed this doctoral journey, my “AMORUKONAT” will be a very meaningful to me, my family and the people of my small island. I could be the first in my family and my people to ever completed a doctoral journey, AMORUKONAT!
[1] Student. “The 12 Steps of the Hero’s Journey.” https://www.grammarly.com/blog/heros-/journey/ (accessed February 01, 2024).
[2] Ibid.
[3] Haupt, Angela. “Want to Give Your Life More Meaning? Think of It As a ‘Hero’s Journey.’” https://time.com/6304708/heros-journey-psychology/ (accessed February 1, 2024).
About the Author
Noel Liemam
11 responses to “Amorukonat, Life’s Journey.”
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Noel! I appreciate you sharing your journey as I believe Campell’s work leads to an introspection of our life experiences. You speak of AMORUKONAT as you embark upon this doctoral journey. Campbell also references the trials when one is willing to make this kind of departure. Can you tell me of the trials associated in the journey in AMORUKNAT?
Thank you, Jamie for taking the time to read and to comment. Well, when envisioning or contemplating these two ideas of ‘return’ and ‘freedom to live’ in relation to my doctoral journey, for one, turning back is not option that I would entertain. But in terms of ‘returning’ to my people and ‘freedom to live,’ (a.) returning to my people would be done with new perspective of the journey. I could return with the assurance that this journey can be taken by anyone. (b.) ‘freedom to live’ would come from being able to finish the journey and said that I accomplished my calling. Thank you, Jaime for the thought provoking questions.
Noel,
Sounds like you are on this hero’s journey with your “reward” being the doctoral degree. Yet you are being tested. I too have thoughts regarding whether or not I am cut out for this program, am I doing the right thing, are my motives pure or am I being selfish in this journey? I appreciate your use of AMORUKONAT and explaining the meaning behind it. I love learning new words from other languages. I wonder if your native language has other words you might be saying to encourage yourself on this journey?
Thank you, Mr. Styer, for your comments. I asked myself the same question. Previously, I had no plan of furthering my education beyond bachelors. Even before getting my bachelors, I quit before finishing regardless of one course left to be graduating. We (me and my wife) talked about me going back to do it for our family and that is reason I went back to finish the bachelor’s program.
I thought I was done, but the LORD opens door for me to go for a master’s program and we both agree that I would make use of it. And now coming into this doctoral journey, I at first have the same feeling that I am in this program for selfish reasons. But there was an open door, therefore, I follow the path. But thank you for you comment because it is good to keep me in check along this journey that I will continue as long as it is not for the selfish reason. Thanks again, Mr. Styer!
Hi Noel,
Thank you so much for this post and the vivid portrayal of letting go of images that bind to the past. It is especially poignant in it’s specific connection to education. You have inspired me to join you in taking no thought of turning back. As you imagine yourself at the finish line, how do you envision the idea of ‘return’ and ‘freedom to live’ in connection with your people? Is there a literal return or some other way your journey will benefit them?
Hi, Julie. And, yes, definitely! I am thankful that in my current vocation, I considered myself being already engaging with people already. Therefore, finishing this journey will help me credentials to be a trainer of leaders.
As of today, I like to think that ‘the boat has already left the dock.’ Only two ways for me to miss this journey, (a.) I would be thrown off board, and (b.) the boat would sink. Thank you, Julie!
Noel, thank you for explaining the deep meaning of Amorukonat. It’s a beautiful idea. I feel like this should be in a movie! It sounds like this educational journey has held a lot of significance in your life. I plan to search Google for the tree you mention in your post.
What step of the Hero’s Journey do you believe you are in now?
Thank you, Elysse, for the comment. I am referring to my educational journey since that is the reason why I left Micronesia for the U.S. in 1995. During those years, we think that way since most Micronesia came to United States for education and go back home to make use of whatever they learn out here. These days it is different since we are allowed to work in the U.S. so a lot of them have come here not for education but for work.
I, myself, my primary reason to come to the U.S. was to further my education; therefore, I could call my sojourn as an educational journey. And for this journey I am hoping that I am getting close to the end, ‘the returning home a changed person.’ Thanks again.
Noel, I appreciated how you connected the Heroe’s Journey to your experience of this doctoral adventure. The understanding and imagery of Amorukonat are exciting. As we learned from the reading this week, the triumphant hero eventually returns to the “ordinary world” bearing the elixir. The elixir is knowledge, experience, or understanding they share with others. While I know we still have much of the journey to travel, what, if any, “Elixirs” have you gathered to take back to the people on the Island of Satowan?
Thank you, Mr. Warren. The need that I see for our Micronesian community is ‘trained leaders.’ I am not even close to be an expert in this field, however, understanding basics of leadership is what I have been learning so far. I would like to be part of the training of leadership. Thanks again, Mr. Warren.
I always love learning new things about cultures. Thank you for teaching us about “AMORUKONAT,” Noel! During this doctoral journey, what do you feel God is inviting you to “AMORUKONAT” as you pursue this part of your monomyth?