Click here to download a pdf of “Blisters On the Way to Bliss.”
Joseph Campbell may be best known for the phrase “Follow your bliss.” A seemingly simple prescription for leading a meaningful life, Campbell’s concept of “bliss” is widely misunderstood. When Campbell was alive, he frequently encountered people who criticized (or praised) him for his hedonism, which led him to remark, “I should have said follow your blisters.”
“Blisters On the Way to Bliss” is an exploration of Joseph Campbell’s notions of bliss and the Hero’s Journey, utilizing three stories that Campbell often told. It is organized as a guide, with the text of the stories and selected commentary from Campbell to stimulate your process.
This free resource can be used by individuals, teachers, storytellers, or groups of adults in search of meaningful conversation and insight into Campbell’s work. I hope you find inspiration for your own discoveries!
Many, many thanks to OPUS Archives and the New Mythos grant committee for their support, and to the Joseph Campbell Foundation, which has granted me permission to use material collected from the archives and to share it with you.
“The life of adventure is the quality of life lived in terms of its own inward dynamics.” —Joseph Campbell
“Blisters on the Way to Bliss” is a New Mythos project produced with the support of OPUS Archives and the Joseph Campbell Foundation, which granted permission to use the material from the Campbell collection included herein. Copyright © 2010, Dr. Catherine Svehla and the Joseph Campbell Foundation. This material can be shared and reproduced for non-commercial purposes with proper attribution.
Click here to download a pdf of “Blisters On the Way to Bliss.”
