Eventually, the hero must face the unknown by himself. This is Obi-Wan giving Luke his fatherвЂ™s lightsaber. The mentor gives advice and sometimes magical weapons. In JAWS itвЂ™s the crusty Robert Shaw character who knows all about sharks in the mythology of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, itвЂ™s Lou Grant. By this time, many stories will have introduced a Merlin-like character who is the heroвЂ™s mentor. The hero is encouraged by the Wise Old Man or Woman. Suddenly Luke is no longer reluctant, and is eager to undertake the adventure. At this point Luke refuses Obi WanвЂ™s call to adventure, and returns to his aunt and uncleвЂ™s farmhouse, only to find they have been barbecued by the EmperorвЂ™s stormtroopers. After all, he or she is facing the greatest of all fears вЂ“ fear of the unknown. At this point, the hero balks at the threshold of adventure. In romantic comedies, it could be the first sight of that special but annoying someone the hero or heroine will be pursuing/sparring with. In detective stories, itвЂ™s the hero being offered a new case. In STAR WARS, itвЂ™s Princess LeiaвЂ™s holographic message to Obi Wan Kenobi, who then asks Luke to join the quest. Maybe the land is dying, as in the King Arthur stories about the search for the Grail. The hero is presented with a problem, challenge or adventure. If youвЂ™re going to tell a story about a fish out of his customary element, you first have to create a contrast by showing him in his mundane, ordinary world. Most stories ultimately take us to a special world, a world that is new and alien to its hero. ItвЂ™s all more detailed and exciting in the manuscript.The hero is introduced in his/her ORDINARY WORLD. The decision at the end also needs help from a friend. The Moon Dancer situation needs help from outside. Sometimes she keeps her head and sometimes sheвЂ™s quite stubborn, which makes things worse.ДЇor a couple of tests, she uses her wits and gifts. The consequence of that is important at the end.ДЄll kinds of obstacles: she and the group are abandoned in underground caves, they get out but find theyвЂ™ve tresspassed into dwarf territory (not a good thing), Akeela gets trapped in a Moon Dancer Ring and when they finally get to the battle with the Dark Lord, Akeela still doesnвЂ™t have what she needs to accomplish her mission. In our next segment, we will discuss this crisis, called The Ordeal.ДЄkeela thinks sheвЂ™s ready, but she really doesnвЂ™t realize the enorminty of the situation. You are now getting closer to the crisis of your story. Here are some questions you can ask yourself in this phase of your story:ДЎ) How does your hero prepare for his approach to the inmost cave?ДЈ) How does he respond to those obstacles?Д¤) Does your hero encounter a seemingly impossible test along the way?ДҐ) If so, what is this test and how does he handle it? Or he may spend time gathering information he will need once he reaches the cave.

For example, in a Christian novel, he may go on a fast or spend time in prayer to prepare for the battle ahead. As he continues his journey, he encounters new obstacles and dangers and maybe even a new threshold guardian or two.ДЄs your hero approaches the inmost cave, he may prepare himself for what he will find.

Having grown somewhat accustomed to his new world, your hero now wants to seek its heart, known as the inmost cave. Well, weвЂ™ve reached Step Seven in the HeroвЂ™s Journey: the Approach to the Inmost Cave.

Approach to inmost cave