Hero's Journey #12

The boon is a reward the Hero’s gets when achieving their goal.

In myths and tales the "boon", the treasure, often looks like a material object. This could be an object, knowledge, power, or a transformation that allows them to make a significant impact.

What counts, though, is the expanded consciousness that gets ignited in the Hero thanks to it or in the process to seize it. The Journey so far has changed them in a way that things will never be the same.

In The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd, embarks on a grand journey to find a hidden treasure buried near the Egyptian pyramids. His journey takes him across the desert, where he encounters love, danger, and wisdom. After years of searching, experiencing profound spiritual lessons, and facing near-death situations, he finally reaches the pyramids—only to discover that the treasure was never there. Instead, he learns that it was buried back home, in the very place where he first had his dream.

He needed to go through trials, meet the alchemist, fall in love with Fatima, work at the crystal shop, and survive the desert to fully grasp his Personal Legend (one’s true purpose in life).

• While there is a literal treasure buried at home, the true boon is internal—Santiago has achieved mastery over his fears and doubts.
• The lesson is clear: the answers we seek are often within us all along, but we must embark on a journey to realize it

How This Applies to Real Life

• Many people believe happiness or success lies somewhere far away, in another job, another country, or another person.
• Like Santiago, they chase dreams externally but often find that what they were looking for was inside them all along—confidence, purpose, or self-acceptance.

See you in the next one!

M