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The Hero’s Journey: A Timeless Tale of Transformation
Four In-Person Sessions
Tue., Sept. 30, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 2025, 6:30-8:30 pm MT

So, what did Dorothy of Wizard of Oz fame and Luke Skywalker from Star Wars have in common? They’re both good examples of people who’ve undertaken the hero’s journey. In fact, most lead characters in stories take hero journeys. In this course, former religious studies professor Sharon L. Coggan takes you on a journey of your own through the concept of the hero’s journey. What is it? How did it come to be? Why is it so prevalent in stories? “The hero's journey serves as a metaphor for all the ups and downs life puts us through,” Coggan says. “The hero stands for the ego-self who starts out on a grand adventure to seek a treasure.” The hero then becomes transformed into a higher self who wins the boon to share with all humanity. Examples explored in this course include characters such as Gilgamesh, Odysseus, Psyche, Arthur and, of course, Dorothy and Luke. Students also examine the differences between the masculine and feminine models and unpack the symbolism in some of the mythic versions of the tale. Remember that in Dorothy’s journey to Oz, we learn in the end—spoiler alert—that her trip was all a dream. “So, we conduct a dream analysis of this epic as well,” Coggan says.

Sharon L. Coggan, PhD, is a retired associate professor at the University of Colorado ������ where she created and directed the Religious Studies Program. Her areas of study include history of religions, psychology of religion and Jungian thought.