The Heros Journey Meeting with the Mentor

The mentor is one of the archetypes drawn from the depth psychology of Carl Jung and the mythic studies of Joseph Campbell. Here, we are looking at the mentor as Christopher Vogler does in his book, The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. All three of these modern men help us to understand the mentors role in humanity, in the myths that guide our lives, including religions, and in our storytelling, which is what we will focus on here. The Mentor The mentor is the wise old man or woman every hero meets fairly early in the most satisfying stories. The role is one of the most recognizable symbols in literature. Think Dumbledore from Harry Potter, Q from the James Bond series, Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, Yoda from Star Trek, Merlin from King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Alfred from Batman, the list is very long. Even Mary Poppins is a mentor. How many others can you think of? The mentor represents the bond between parent and child, teacher and student, doctor and patient, god and man. The function of the mentor is to prepare the hero to face the unknown, to accept the adventure. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, is the full, undiluted energy of the mentor archetype, Vogler says. Meeting with the Mentor In most heros journey stories, the hero is first seen in the ordinary world when he or she receives a call to adventure. Our hero generally refuses that call in the beginning, either afraid of what will happen  or satisfied with life as it is. And then someone like Gandalf appears to change the heros mind, and to bestow gifts and gadgets. This is the meeting with the mentor. The mentor gives the hero the supplies, knowledge, and confidence required to overcome his or her fear and face the adventure, according to Christopher Vogler, author of The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure. Keep in mind that the mentor doesnt have to be a person. The job can be accomplished by a map or experience from a previous adventure. In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy meets a series of mentors: Professor Marvel, Glinda the Good Witch, Scarecrow, Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Wizard himself. Think about why the heros relationship with the mentor or mentors is important to the story. One reason is usually that readers can relate to the experience. They enjoy being a part of an emotional relationship between hero and mentor. Who are the mentors in your story? Are they obvious or subtle? Has the author done a good job of turning the archetype on its head in a surprising way? Or is the mentor a stereotypical fairy godmother or white-bearded wizard. Some authors will use the reader’s expectations of such a mentor to surprise them with a mentor completely different. Watch for mentors when a story seems stuck. Mentors are the ones who provide aid, advice, or magical equipment when all appears doomed. They reflect the reality that we all have to learn life’s lessons from someone or something.

The Catholic Churchs View on Contraception Essay

Contraception is the deliberate prevention of conception or impregnation by various drugs, techniques, or devices – also more famously known as birth control. This research paper will examine the views of both the Catholic Church and the view that opposes the Catholic Church on this practice. Each view will be examined thoroughly with the reasoning behind each unique view. The Catholic Church’s view on contraception is simple. They believe that any act of sex must be both unitive and procreative Birth control, by any means or techniques will halt the procreative process and over time diminish the unity created by sex (Catechism). During the 1960s there was a major boom in contraceptives; The Pill had just been created. It is at this point†¦show more content†¦He said that before sex there must be some responsibility and outlook on the future welfare of the unborn child. The method that Pope John Paul II was referring to is called period continence, also known as â€Å"natural family planning† (Natural Family Planing). Natural family planning is a means of birth control through sex during infertile periods. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this is within the criteria of objective morality because it â€Å"respects the body of the spouses, encourages tenderness between them, and promotes an authentic freedom† (Catechism, 2370). In terms of the Catholic Church’s point of view on certain subjects, their view on contraceptives is the most dissented. Out of the 63 million women in the children bearing age (15-43) within the US, 43 million are both sexually active and do not want to have a child. Out of these 43 million, 89% use contraceptives. The most common forms of birth control include the pill (or â€Å"day after pill†), tubal sterilization, the male condom, and vasectomy (Facts on Contraception). A survey in 1998 taken by â€Å"Catholics for free choice† claimed that 96% of catholic women had used contraceptives at some point in their lives and that 72% of Catholics believed that one could remain a good catholic without obeying the Catholic teaching of birth control (Catholics free choice). Out of the 24% of Americans that are identified as Catholic, only 1.5% of those that areShow MoreRelatedContraception and the Catholic Church Essay1684 Words   |  7 PagesThe issue of birth cont rol remains one of the most controversial issues within the Catholic Church dividing members at all levels including the clergy. The Roman Catholic Church for the past 2000 years has been a major opponent of artificial birth control (BBC). Pope Paul VI made a clear declaration on the use of birth control when he wrote ‘the Encyclical Letter ‘Human Vitae’ on July 25, 1968 which banned Catholics from using contraceptives (Pope VI). 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Despite the topics’ recent political trend due to our country’s new pro-life administration, it has always been a trending topic for women since the 1960s. Monumentally, theRead MoreEssay on Christian Believe About the Sanctity of Human Life1309 Words   |  6 Pagesthat it is wrong and you are sinning. In Luke 1:41 it shows Christians that Elizabeth’s baby was alive and so if you were to have an abortion you would be destroying life. Christians have strong views on abortion and different denominations have different opinions. Roman Catholics believe that falling pregnant is a gift from God and abortion is unacceptable in all cases. They also believe that life begins at conception so abortion is murder. Other Christian denominationsRead MorePope Paul Vi And John Paul II1095 Words   |  5 PagesPaul VI that all God’s people, and not only the hierarchy, must engage in the central processes of ecclesial discernment.† Another implementation issue had to do with as noted in the book from Karl Rahner â€Å"Vatican II marked the beginning of the church’s discovery and official realization of itself as world-Church.† This led to a theology where the local church â€Å"not only received from the universal church but also offer to the church universal its own particular gifts and insights.† This is whereRead MoreThe Morality Of Female Contraception1735 Words   |  7 PagesThe Morality of Female Contraception The morality of contraception is subjective and heavily controversial among families, religious organizations, activist groups, politicians, and corporations. Contraception was first defined in the late 1800’s as the deliberate prevention of conception or impregnation by various techniques, drugs, or devices though contraceptive methods have been used and their morality debated for thousands of years. Raised in the Catholic faith, the teachings I have receivedRead More The Catholic Church Essay3491 Words   |  14 PagesThe Catholic Church The Catholic Church in the 20th Century underwent tremendous change, most significantly as a result of the Second Vatican Council. This Council created an atmosphere of reform within the leading theologians and the hierarchy of the Church. Consequently, when Pope Paul VI released his encyclical Humanae Vitae, to many of the reformers it seemed to contradict the sentiment of the Council. At the same time, though, there was a movement afoot to radically change the power

Aquatic Ecosystem free essay sample

B. KARTHIK CLASS C E. V. S PROJECT Problems nutrients, such as nitrogen in the form of nitrates and ammonia can intensify this fertilizing effect, especially in nutrient poor rivers in remote areas as well as estuaries or coastal areas. * runoff from land cleared for agriculture, especially where fertilizers and manure have been applied in quantities that exceed nutritional requirements of crops * runoff from forestry and urban expansion * industrial emissions to soils and water (e. g. ulp and paper and mining) municipal and household wastewater discharge, including septic systems lown dust from bare soils. Excess phosphorus can result in abundant growth of aquatic plants. This can lead to a shift in the assemblages of fish and invertebrates toward less desirable species, including pollution tolerant ones which may include invasive species. blue green algae can form blooms under certain conditions, such as high nutrient loadings and warm temperatures, and cause unpleasant taste and o dour problems in drinking water. Some of these bacteria can release toxins in the water which can pose health risks to humans and animals Decaying and unsightly algal and aquatic plant growths an also clog intake pipes and impair navigation reducing the aesthetic and recreational value of aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, fish kills can occur as a result of concurrent declines in dissolved oxygen. THE END Wetlands, rivers, lakes, and coastal estuaries are all aquatic ecosystems†critical elements of Earths dynamic processes and essential to human economies and health. Wetlands connect land and water, serving as natural filters, reducing pollution, controlling floods, and acting as nurseries for many aquatic species. Rivers, lakes, and estuaries serve as important transportation, recreation, and wildlife hubs. Coral reefs deliver ecosystem services to tourism, fisheries and shoreline protection. The annual global economic value of coral reefs was estimated at IJS$ 375 billion in 2002. However, coral reefs are fragile ecosystems, partly because they are very sensitive to water temperature. They are under threat from climate change, oceanic acidification, blast fishing, cyanide fishing for aquarium fish, overuse of reef resources, and harmful land-use practices, including urban and agricultural runoff and water pollution, which can harm reefs by encouraging excess algal growth. [5[6] 7] The banks of many estuaries are amongst the most heavily populated areas of the world, with about 60% of the worlds population living along estuaries and the coast. As a result, many estuaries are suffering degradation by many factors, including sedimentation from soil erosion from deforestation, overgrazing, and other poor farming practices; overfishing; drainage and filling of wetlands; eutrophication due to excessive nutrients from sewage and animal wastes; pollutants including heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls, radionuclides and hydrocarbons from sewage inputs; and diking or damming for flood control or water diversion. ] Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. An immense variety of species of microbes, plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals can be part of a wetland ecosystem. Physical and chemical features such as climate, landscape shape (topology), geology, and the movement and abundance of water help to determine the plants and animals that inhabit each wetland. The complex, dynamic relationships among the organisms inhabiting the wetland e nvironment are referred to as food webs. Wetlands play an ntegral role in the ecology of the watershed. The combination of shallow water, high levels of nutrients, and primary productivity is ideal for the development of organisms that form the base of the food web and feed many species of fish, amphibians, shellfish, and insects. Many species of birds and mammals rely on wetlands tor t , water, and shelter, especially during migration and breeding. Wetlands microbes, plants, and wildlife are part of global cycles for water, nitrogen, and sulfur. Furthermore, scientists are beginning to realize that atmospheric maintenance may be an additional wetlands function. Wetlands store carbon within their plant communities and soil instead of releasing it to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Thus wetlands help to moderate global climate conditions. Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps belong to a group of animals known as Cnidaria, which also includes sea anemones and Jellyfish. Unlike sea anemones, coral polyps secrete hard arbonate exoskeletons which support and protect their bodies. Reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated waters. often called rainforests of the sea, coral reefs form some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. They occupy less than 0. 1% of the worlds ocean surface, about half the area of France, yet they provide a home for 25% of all marine including fish, mollusks, worms, crustaceans, echinoderms, sponges, tunicates and other cnidarians. [4] Paradoxically, coral reefs flourish even though they are surrounded by ocean waters that provide few nutrients. They are most commonly found at shallow depths in tropical waters, ut deep water and cold water corals also exist on smaller scales in other areas. An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. [l] Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environments and are subject to both marine influences, such as tides, waves, and the influx of saline water; and riverine influences, such as flows of fresh water and sediment. The inflows of both sea water and fresh water provide high levels of nutrients in both the water olumn and sediment, making estuaries among the most productive natural habitats in the world. 2] Most existing estuaries were formed during the Holocene epoch by the flooding of river-eroded or glacially scoured valleys when the sea level began to rise about 10,000-12,000 years ago. [3] Estuaries are typically classified by their geomorphological features or by water circulation patterns and can be referred to by many different names, such as bays, harbors, lagoons, inlets, or sound s, although some of these water bodies do not strictly meet the above definition of an estuary and may be fully saline. The ecosystem of a river is the river viewed as a system operating in its natural environment, and includes biotic (living) interactions amongst plants, animals and micro-organisms, as well as abiotic (nonliving) physical and chemical interactions. [1][2] River ecosystems are prime examples of lotic ecosystems. Lotic refers to flowing water, from the Latin lotus, washed. Lotic waters range from springs only a few centimeters wide to major rivers kilometers in width. [3] Much of this article applies to lotic ecosystems in general, including related lotic systems such as streams and springs. Lotic ecosystems can be contrasted with lentic ecosystems, which involve relatively still terrestrial waters such as lakes and ponds. Together, these two fields form the more general study area of freshwater or aquatic ecology. The following unifying characteristics make the ecology of running waters unique from that of other aquatic habitats. [4] * Flow is unidirectional. * There is a state ot continuous physical change. * There is a high degree of spatial and temporal heterogeneity at all scales (microhabitats). * Variability between lotic systems is quite high. * The biota is specialized to live with flow conditions.