Introduction to Issue 46 • Quests

“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” — Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949)

The hero's journey has always fascinated me. The call to adventure. The wise mentor. The return with new knowledge or insight that changes the ordinary world. In the past, these stories have featured men in battle, using their cunning and strength to find their way in the world. In ancient times, it was ingrained in the way we told our oral history through poetry. Today, we acknowledge these protagonists can come in many non-traditional forms. In this issue of Eye To The Telescope, I hope to capture the idea that being a hero is not all about swords and dragons, although certainly these have their place, but can also form from different viewpoints and experiences of cultures all over the world. Welcome to the Quest!