Think Spiritual – Change your Self. Change your World.

All Posts – (from Newest to Oldest)

Dual Ego Hypothesis and Archetypes (Man in the High Castle & Man of Steel)
The Faery Godmother – The Heroine’s Journey: Step 4
Lyrics Explained! Man With A Mission – Into the Deep
5 Misconceptions of the Hero’s Journey
Existential Nihilism Embodied in 7 Film and TV Characters
The Burden of Purpose – I Am Mother – Soul – Entrapta
Denial of the Broken Glasses – The Heroine’s Journey: Step 3
Why did Scarlemagne have to die? A Deeper Meaning of Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (KATAOW)
Roy Batty: From Animal to Enlightened Human in 10 Minutes – A Deeper Meaning of Blade Runner (1982)
The Death of Innocence – The Heroine’s Journey: Step 2
A Heroine’s Journey Tarot Card Reading
A Deeper Meaning of Supernova (Within Temptation) – Emotional and Spiritual Alchemy
The Binary Return Journeys of Elsa & Anna – A Deeper Meaning of Frozen 2
How the Hero’s & Heroine’s Journeys Work Together – A Deeper Meaning of Frozen (2013)
The “Perfect” World – The Heroine’s Journey: Step 1
My Ex-Christian / Exvangelical Roots – Bringing the Elixir of Life Home
Neo’s Heroine’s Journey – A Deeper Meaning of the Matrix Trilogy: Take Both Pills
The 19 Steps of the Heroine’s Journey
The Beginning & The End: The Zero Step of The Hero’s Journey
Emotions Are Your Cure – MCU Hulk/Banner’s Hero’s Journey Part 3
Two Important Lessons from James J. Braddock – Cinderella Man (2005)
Freedom to Live: The Hero’s Journey Step 17
(MCU) Hulk’s/Bruce Banner’s Personal Hero’s Journey – Part 2
Master of Two Worlds: The Hero’s Journey Step 16
Hulk’s / Bruce Banner’s Personal Hero’s Journey – Part 1
The Crossing of the Return Threshold – The Hero’s Journey Step 15
Rescue from Without – The Hero’s Journey Step 14
The Magic Flight – The Hero’s Journey Step 13
Health, Exercise & Weight Loss Journal
The Deeper Meaning of Kung Fu Panda 3 (aka How to Attain Enlightenment)
Refusal of Return – The Hero’s Journey Step 12
The Deeper Meaning of Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
The Deeper Meaning of Kung Fu Panda (2008)
The Deeper Meaning of Sucker Punch (2011) – The Ultimate Archetypes Movie
The Ultimate Boon – The Hero’s Journey Step 11
The Bible as Mythology 1 – The Garden of Eden & the Fall of Man
A Re-Introduction to Think Spiritual Podcasts
Ladyhawke (1985) – The Archetype of the Thief
Apotheosis – The Hero’s Journey Step 10
The (Preliminary) Deeper Meaning(s) of Avengers: Endgame
Personal Spiritual Journeys – Andy Grant (@RealMenFeelOrg)
The Deeper Meaning of The Shallows (2016) – AKA How to Battle Existential Nihilism
Atonement with the Father – The Hero’s Journey Step 9
The Archetype of the Ruler/King/Queen
What is Spirituality? with Andrew Jasko
The Deeper Meaning of Io: Last on Earth
Mongol (2007): Be King of Your Life
Temptation – The Hero’s Journey Step 8
Master of Two Worlds: Lady in the Water (2006) & Aquaman (2018)
Meeting With the Goddess – The Hero’s Journey Step 7

The Heroine’s Journey (Developed by Mark Stratton)

The 19 Steps of the Heroine’s Journey
The “Perfect” World – The Heroine’s Journey: Step 1
How the Hero’s & Heroine’s Journeys Work Together – A Deeper Meaning of Frozen (2013)
The Binary Return Journeys of Elsa & Anna – A Deeper Meaning of Frozen 2
The Death of Innocence – The Heroine’s Journey: Step 2
Denial of the Broken Glasses – The Heroine’s Journey: Step 3
The Faery Godmother – The Heroine’s Journey: Step 4

The Hero’s Journey – (Based on Joseph Campbell’s Work)

Hero’s & Heroine’s Journey Diagrams
The Beginning & The End: The Zero Step of The Hero’s Journey
The Call to Adventure – The Hero’s Journey Step 1
Refusal of the Call – The Hero’s Journey Step 2
Supernatural Aid – The Hero’s Journey Step 3
Crossing the First Threshold – The Hero’s Journey Step 4
Belly of the Whale – The Hero’s Journey Step 5 or Why Being “Woke” Isn’t Enough
Road of Trials – The Hero’s Journey Step 6
Meeting With the Goddess – The Hero’s Journey Step 7
Temptation – The Hero’s Journey Step 8
Atonement with the Father – The Hero’s Journey Step 9
Apotheosis – The Hero’s Journey Step 10
The Ultimate Boon – The Hero’s Journey Step 11
Refusal of Return – The Hero’s Journey Step 12
The Magic Flight – The Hero’s Journey Step 13
Rescue from Without – The Hero’s Journey Step 14
The Crossing of the Return Threshold – The Hero’s Journey Step 15
Master of Two Worlds: The Hero’s Journey Step 16
Freedom to Live: The Hero’s Journey Step 17
The Beginning & The End: The Zero Step of The Hero’s Journey
How the Hero’s & Heroine’s Journeys Work Together – A Deeper Meaning of Frozen (2013)
The Binary Return Journeys of Elsa & Anna – A Deeper Meaning of Frozen 2
The Death of Innocence – The Heroine’s Journey: Step 2
5 Misconceptions of the Hero’s Journey

Deeper Meanings within Films & TV

Soldier (1998): Coming to Terms with Your Past
Star Trek: The Motion Picture: Science & Religion in Harmony
Gravity (2013): The Path to Enlightenment
You Exist Here – Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Hacking Your Inner Program: Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
Master of Two Worlds: Lady in the Water (2006) & Aquaman (2018)
The Deeper Meaning of Io: Last on Earth
The Archetype of the Ruler/King/Queen
The Deeper Meaning of The Shallows (2016) – AKA How to Battle Existential Nihilism
The Deeper Meaning of Sucker Punch (2011) – The Ultimate Archetypes Movie
Two Important Lessons from James J. Braddock – Cinderella Man (2005)
Neo’s Heroine’s Journey – A Deeper Meaning of the Matrix Trilogy: Take Both Pills
A Deeper Meaning of Supernova (Within Temptation) – Emotional and Spiritual Alchemy
Roy Batty: From Animal to Enlightened Human in 10 Minutes – A Deeper Meaning of Blade Runner (1982)
Existential Nihilism Embodied in 7 Film and TV Characters

Deeper Meanings within Animated Films & TV – Disney – Dreamworks

The Reluctant Mentor: Cars & Cars 3
The Ultimate Boon – The Hero’s Journey Step 11
The Deeper Meaning of Kung Fu Panda (2008)
The Deeper Meaning of Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
The Deeper Meaning of Kung Fu Panda 3 (aka How to Attain Enlightenment)
How the Hero’s & Heroine’s Journeys Work Together – A Deeper Meaning of Frozen (2013)
The Binary Return Journeys of Elsa & Anna – A Deeper Meaning of Frozen 2
Why did Scarlemagne have to die? A Deeper Meaning of Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (KATAOW)

Deeper Meanings within Superhero Films – MCU – DC

Thor: Ragnarok: Mastery of Self
Spiritual Aspects of Avengers: Infinity War
Atonement with the Father – The Hero’s Journey Step 9
The (Preliminary) Deeper Meaning(s) of Avengers: Endgame
Apotheosis – The Hero’s Journey Step 10
Hulk’s / Bruce Banner’s Personal Hero’s Journey – Part 1
(MCU) Hulk’s/Bruce Banner’s Personal Hero’s Journey – Part 2
Emotions Are Your Cure – MCU Hulk/Banner’s Hero’s Journey Part 3

Deeper Meanings within (mostly 80s) Swordporn Movies

Highlander: Overcoming Nihilism
Legend (1985): Embracing the Shadow
Excalibur (1981) – Forgiveness and Healing
Krull (1983): The Wholeness of the Combined Masculine & Feminine
Conan the Barbarian (1982): The Perfect Feminine & the Everyman
The Transformative Power of Love: Willow (1988)
Mongol (2007): Be King of Your Life
Ladyhawke (1985) – The Archetype of the Thief

All Think Spiritual Podcasts

Check out the entire list of Think Spiritual Podcasts

All Episodes Here

Welcome to Think Spiritual

Be your own Hero! Think Spiritual Podcasts looks at modern stories through the lens of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey and explains their mythological meaning.

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Contact Think Spiritual

Want to get in touch with Think Spiritual? You can leave a public comment on any of the posts or fill out the form found in this post to keep it between us. Ask questions, offer suggestions, make fun of us or whatever comes to mind!

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The Deeper Meaning of Movies

The complete list of Mark's essays regarding the spiritual imagery, symbolism and emotional content of many of his favourite movies.

Check out this series!

Personal Spiritual Journeys

This is where you can get all kinds of individual opinions on what it means to be "spiritual".

Check out this series!

The Hero’s Journey

Are you in the throes of beginning your own spiritual journey or do you feel newly awakened? Then you, my friend, have begun the hero's journey and learning more about the path you are on could aid you in the future. Check out Mark's talks on this very subject.

Check out this series!

(Spiritual Lessons From) 80s Swordporn

In this brand new series from Think Spiritual Podcasts, Mark, Bernardo, and Gonzo discuss what we can learn from the Heros of 80s Sword & Sorcery (AKA Swordporn) movies.

Check out this series!