Gwyn ap Nudd
Ancient British God & Hero
The Hero Archetype
In the positive sense, a hero has a strong sense of integrity and by nature or practice, upholds a particular code of conduct. The hero will stand by what they believe in even if they have to stand out from those who opt for the comfortable option of accepting changes enforced by others or no change at all when some change is vital!
However, to stand out from popular thinking is to risk being turned on as easily as being raised in high esteem or simply just being accepted. A young hero who does not 'follow the sheep' way of thinking can be bullied at school and intimidated at work - repeated patterns of behaviour that are drawn on in comic books where someone perceived to be weak and who would like to 'fit in', will not make the final compromise that would enable life to become easier. The fledgling hero will not take the comfortable option if it is at the cost of that which makes more sense and older heroes are no different! What is different is that there are three main types of hero archetype who all share a sense of individualism that can effect immediate change but who may achieve it in a different manner:
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the hero who is unremarkable, not part of the main stream of thinking but who can effect change and maintain their integrity,
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the hero who is remarkable, can lead the main stream, effect change and maintain their integrity,
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the negative hero (anti-hero) who can effect change at the cost of others and ultimately at the cost of their own integrity.
Whilst the Hero is associated with having a strong sense of honour, an honourable practice can be learned and used to become an effective tool in any individual's life. As we are capable of honouring our own word and able to open a door for another, we can make such acts a daily practice is to build on our own sense of integrity and develop our awareness.
Most people have a sense of values, a sense of what is right or wrong, that may have been influenced by a religious, cultural or political belief. But as such beliefs can greatly differ from one area of the world to another, decisions based on such influences cannot be truly honourable unless they are entirely universal. Honour therefore must consider the well being of others to enable our own sense of well being to become personally stronger.
In our medieval past the Order of Chivalry encouraged such Christian tenets as protecting the weak, helping the sick and promoting justice. This code for an honourable conduct of behaviour was created for the purpose of promoting strength and was solemnly sworn to in the presence of others and always before God. Today soldiers will still take an oath when they go into service and general folk will no less significantly swear allegiance to something greater than themselves each time they sing their own national anthem. Vows and promises have always held some special station in our sense of self esteem, even if we have chosen to break them!
Within the hero archetype is a self made contract that enforces a strong sense of honour. This element appears in our every day lives when codes of behaviour are bound by a promise to commitment. As in a marriage contract that is witnessed by others, public acknowledgement of an individual's responsibility can provide a sense of honour that in our ancient past was considered sacred.
As heroes continue to make an appearance within the lives of what may have appeared to be ordinary people, the definition for what makes a hero has had to consider all sections of humanity. As a result it appears no one can be exempt in becoming aware of their own hero archetype and therefore be in a stronger position to find their own strength and develop their awareness. The choice is whether or not to effect that awareness through a promise to one self and if so, to make that awareness effective by respecting and honouring the autonomy of all others.
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