You Are the Protagonist ~ May the 4th Be With You.
Happy May the 4th! It’s become a holiday in our “Star Wars” loving home. Today, we’re celebrating with an invitation into the Celestial Realms.
It was always an exciting moment at school when the TV cart rolled in, equipped with VHS player.
Usually, it meant a documentary. Something dry and forgettable.
But one day in 9th grade English, everything changed.
Mr. Mudano wheeled in the cart, pressed play, and the Lucasfilm logo flickered to life.
Star Wars.
That day, our “lesson” was no ordinary class.
Mr. Mudano used Star Wars to teach us Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey - the stages of transformation and the archetypes we meet along the way:
The protagonist.
The mentor.
The rebel.
The antagonist.
Scenes from the 1977 George Lucas film, “Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope.”
He pointed them out scene by scene, offering the Cantina as a symbol. The place where Luke Skywalker begins his journey and eventually returns, forever changed.
The Cantina is the same. But Luke? He’s transformed.
Clearly, the lesson stuck. I’ve been obsessed with it for the past 25 years.
To this day, whenever Chris and I embark on a significant adventure, we mark our return with a meal at Armsby Abbey. Our local “Cantina.” A ritual of re-entry. A nod to the journey.
We’re grateful to witness ourselves as the protagonists in our own lives, cycling through Campbell’s blueprint again and again.
So when we heard the call to travel to Japan and study with our mentor, we didn’t resist. We trusted the path would unfold. And when we returned, Worcester felt the same, but we felt very different. Changed forever. And yes, we dined at Armsby soon after to honor that return.
These days, I don’t hesitate when I hear the call to adventure, because it wasn’t always available to me when I was living in the realm of the mundane.
Claiming my role as the protagonist was a relatively new experience.
For most of my life, I saw myself as a supporting character. The youngest sibling making sure my brothers fulfilled their hero’s journeys. The friend holding space for unfolding teenage dramas that seemed more important than my own. The doting girlfriend prioritizing my boyfriends’ goals and objectives, conforming myself to their preferences. Later, I became the helper to my bosses, placing their visions at the center.
It wasn’t until I chose to leave corporate life and study with my own mentors that I realized:
I am the protagonist.
Of course, life isn’t linear.
At times, I play the mentor, guiding others across the threshold.
Sometimes, I’m the wise sage in the cave, offering insight to those who seek it. Other times, I’m the rebel, shaking the foundation of what no longer resonates.
But whether witnessing or participating, one truth remains:
This is my journey. I am the one living it.
Our Immortal Arts 2024 Retreat Squad
This May 4th, we want to offer you the same truth:
You are the protagonist in your life’s story.
Every day, you’re living your own Hero’s Journey, even if the call to adventure comes as a whisper, not a blaring theme song.
Stay present.
The call may come when you least expect it: a moment of clarity, a sudden longing, a quiet nudge from within.
Stay open.
Mentors often appear in unexpected forms. A book, a conversation, an online course, a stranger, a memory, a repeating thought.
And if you feel resistance? That’s natural.
Refusing the call is part of the journey. It is the ego’s reaction to impending change. The ego performing its one job: survive.
Though once you hear that call, the departure has already begun. Resistance is futile.
The ordinary world starts to fade into the background.
And the path forward, however uncertain, begins to materialize with every step.
Image shared on Pinterest by Se7en77
So… who are you on this journey?
The rebel? The mentor? The alchemist?
In honor of May the 4th, we created something special:
A Star Wars-inspired archetype quiz rooted in Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey.
It’s playful, intuitive, and designed to help you reconnect with the myth your soul is living right now.
Take the quiz and discover your Star Wars Archetype!
Because this is your story.
And the Force? It’s already with you.
And if you are local to Central Mass, join us this evening for a deep dive into the most Jedi practice we’ve studied to date.
The Taoist practice of Inner Alchemy, or Neidan, an ancient system focused on transforming internal energy to support spiritual growth, vitality, and harmony with the universe.
As any Jedi will tell you, true power comes from within.
We’ll begin with Marrow Washing and Tendon Changing Qigong: A foundational sequence that strengthens the body, clears energetic blockages, and prepares you for deeper stages of Inner Alchemy. Through breath, movement, and intention, we begin to awaken the “Force” within.
Practicing with the Tao-Yo (friends who practice together) at Mati Yoga Studio.
In this practice, the aim is to refine your energy into what’s known as the Elixir—a pure, luminous essence stored in the Dantian. This inner transformation brings us into greater alignment with Nature and the Great Tao, enhancing clarity, vitality, and peace.
Drawing from the teachings of our teacher Jesse and rooted in the Immortal Arts tradition, this workshop offers both practical training and powerful insight into Taoist philosophy. You’ll walk away with a grounded Qigong practice that supports balance, health, and deep presence.
Whether you’re new to Qigong or already walking the path, this workshop is an invitation to reconnect with the inner current that guides all things.
“The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.”
– Obi-Wan Kenobi (also, kind of Lao Tzu)