Steps Five and Six on the Raw Vegan Hero's Journey

5. I develop a spiritual backbone.

6. I have allies, supporters and mentors.

Inspired by the mythical Hero’s Journey first compiled in The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell (photos are of famous, recognizable characters on their own journeys).

Celie and Shug in The Color Purple

Comments you’ll hear when you go raw:

From your brother:
“What are you eating for dinner tonight? Lettuce?”

From your friend:
“We’ll have carrots for you at my birthday party.”

From your dad:
“What is that pie made from? Cashews? You must be kidding me. I’m not eating that.”
Or my favorite:
“Aren’t you going to die if you don’t eat meat?”

From acquaintances:
Blank stare……

If you can’t handle comments like these, keep your rawness to yourself. But a better way to handle disparaging comments is to grow a spiritual backbone. It’s time to grow a very thick skin.

Raw food is not even close to being mainstream. America is very much, still, a meat and potatoes country. Even vegetarians and vegans have to deal with the oft-asked question, “Where do you get your protein?” Tell doubters that even fruit has protein in it; and that eating meat is a second-hand way of ingesting protein.

The reasons why I say grow a “spiritual backbone” is that you have to have faith in one, two, or all of these things:
-a Higher Power
-other people
-yourself.

Faith is required in order to be successful. When it comes to raw food, you have to have faith in yourself that you will indeed read all the books you can, study, learn, and grow. As you eat more raw food, you will feel amazing. Your faith in the food itself and its healing, transformative powers will grow. And while faith in God is highly personal, I have experienced feeling more connected to a Higher Power when raw. Take time to think about what you truly believe in, and why.

Woody, Buzz, and the rest of Andy's toys in Toy Story 2

The raw path can be lonely, which is why Step 6 is critical: “I have allies, supporters, and mentors.” No one succeeds alone. In his book Outliers, author Malcolm Gladwell puts a new spin on how people really become successful. I highly recommend this book. The rugged individualism myth of America is fiction. Everyone needs community. And every person needs at least one other person who believes in him. Others’ faith in you reinforces the faith you have in yourself.

In the archetypical Hero’s Journey, the HERO needs ALLIES and MENTORS. Some well-known examples:
-Luke Skywalker’s allies: Han, Princess Leia, Chewbaca, C3PO, R2D2, Obi Wan Kenobi (mentor)
-Dorothy’s allies: Glenda the Good Witch (mentor), The Lion, The Scarecrow, the Tin Man
-Shrek’s allies: Donkey, Princess Fiona, Puss in Boots

I went to the Internet Movie Database to see the Top 10 Worldwide movies of all time.1. Avatar (2009) $2,209,344,204
2. Titanic (1997) $1,835,300,000
3. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) $1,129,219,252
4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) $1,060,332,628
5. The Dark Knight (2008) $1,001,921,825
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) $968,657,891
7. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) $958,404,152
8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) $937,000,866
9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) $933,956,980
10. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) $922,379,000

I’ve seen them all except Avatar. The other movies follow the Hero’s Journey to the letter. Except for The Dark Knight/Batman myth, the hero has allies and mentors. But even Batman had his butler Alfred as an ally. Bruce Wayne needed someone to take care of him while he was out saving Gotham City. Remember that the Hero’s Journey is a metaphor for real life. The Hero cannot win his battles alone. Those who think they can live life all alone become sociopaths.

As a raw vegan it is crucial to have allies, mentors, and supporters. Going this journey all alone steps you up for failure. You are going up against your emotional eating, limiting beliefs, fast food on every corner, family & friends critical opinions, and holiday feasts. Don’t you, the Hero of your life, want to have allies along the way?

Suggestions:
-Host potlucks
-Search meetup.com to see if there are raw groups in your area
-If there are none, start one yourself
-Create a separate email account for all raw food email
-Subscribe to raw food yahoo groups
-Befriend raw foodies on Twitter and Facebook
-Join Ning social networks dedicated to raw food

-Subscribe to raw food blogs
-Get a raw food coach
-Call your raw food friends, often
-Read, read, and read more books

Love,
Althea

Recommended reading:
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

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Steps Five and Six on the Raw Vegan Hero's Journey