12 Powers On Screen and In Us by Malayna Dawn l The Hero's Journey l Charles Fillmore l 12 abilities and powers l Film and Television l Real superheroes l How to become a superhero in your own life

A contemporary of Carl Jung, whose work inspired Joseph Campbell and the concept of "The Hero’s Journey," Charles Fillmore studied all the major religions of the world and came up with 12 abilities or “powers” that each of us has within us: Faith, Strength, Wisdom, Love, Mastery, Imagination, Understanding, Will, Order, Zeal, Release and Life. Each one has a color and part of the body associated with it.

Unlike Jung, who came up with archetypes that are familiar throughout all myths and legends, Fillmore used his idea of the ultimate superhero in The Bible as an example – Jesus—and the powers represented by his 12 disciples. We’re using them all the time, but when we really harness and coordinate their positive potential, we become the superheroes in our own life stories!

Faith

It’s the first and most important, and best when inspired by our highest self, otherwise, it’s called “worry.” How else could Kevin Costner have built the field in Field of Dreams? Without spiritual confidence, he couldn’t have.

In the movie Serenity, Nathan Fillion’s character, Captain Mal, was advised by Shepherd Book, “I don't care what you believe in, just believe in it,” and it helped him complete his quest. It wasn’t even religious or spiritual, but just and true.

When Jim Caviezel played the Count of Monte Cristo, he said he didn’t believe in God, and the priest, played by Richard Harris (Dumbledore #1) responded, “It doesn't matter. He believes in you.” While this may not seem like faith, if you believed the highest power in the universe believed in you, it just might help you find it.

Color: Blue / Location: Pineal Gland

Wisdom

It goes beyond knowledge, it is the ability to discern and evaluate; incorporating the power of love, with which it is closely aligned.

In the Hero’s Journey, this archetype is seen in the wise guidance of mentors like Dumbledore, Gandalf, Jiminy Cricket, the Fairy Godmother, Merlin, or Obi Wan Kenobi. But like the song says, “It’s in every one of us to be wise…” so it would be more like the “still small voice” inside us, the knowing that we feel in our guts.

TV shows like Perception, Eli Stone or Ally McBeal use hallucinations to illustrate ideas that can’t always be explained in real-world terms. For us, the discerning power of wisdom helps us filter the messages that bombard us every day; from dreams to song lyrics, personalized license plates to fortune cookies. Wisdom finds the deeper meaning that resonates within, and guides us forward.

Color: Yellow / Location: Solar Plexus, Gut

Love

More than the happy ending to every fairy tale romance, it’s the harmonizing force that brings all the pieces together. Obi Wan’s description of “The Force” in Star Wars could apply here: “It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.”

In The Fifth Element, it’s that elusive force that saves the world. It’s the power that protects Harry Potter. In life, it’s the bond between friends, family or tribe that makes us willing to risk and fight for the good. That’s why Dorothy said, “There’s no place like home,” since, as we all know, “home is where the heart is.”

Sometimes the ring of truth in clichés just can’t be avoided! How do you think they got to be clichés in the first place?

Color: Pink / Location: Back of Heart

Power

Here again, this is not physical power over anyone, or political or financial power to control outer circumstances. As an inner ability, it is more a sense of self-mastery.

Think of the Dark Knight learning to master his emotions and utilize all that Ra's Al Ghul taught him. It’s what Yoda tried to get across to Luke Skywalker – to channel the ultimate power through him rather than trying to save, fix or control others or outcomes.

Jesus said, “I am not speaking from myself, but my Father who dwells within me, he does these works.” -John 14:10, Aramaic Bible in Plain English

Think of Celie choosing to standing up for herself rather than bowing to fear anymore in The Color Purple. (Purple is the traditional color of royalty and power.)

Color: Purple / Location: Root of the Tongue

Imagination

Where any creation begins as we envision, dream, conceptualize. In the best of situations, we receive inspiration (from the same root word as breath and spirit) in the form of an idea, which we develop into a plan before manifesting it into the world.

In Life is Beautiful, imagination helped a father keep his son free from fear while in a Nazi concentration camp. It helped Tom Hanks create friendship and a means to escape his lonely island in Castaway.

But also, think of how Cirque du Soleil brings fantasy to life in front of our eyes. How Disney’s doodles and J.K. Rowling’s musings went from paper to film to amusement parks. We can travel in time, discover cures for diseases and explore the depths of the sea, or the vastness of space.

“With God, all things are possible,” Jesus said. -Matthew 19:26

Color: Light Blue / Location: Between the Eyes

Understanding

It’s knowing, perceiving and comprehending. It could be the deeper knowledge of life that the title character (played by Jodie Foster) in the movie Nell understood, though she was raised away from the modern world in a secret cabin in the woods. “You have big things. You know big things. But you don't look into each other's eyes. And you're hungry for quietness.”

She also knew to be like a tree in the wind, something that John Travolta used in the movie Phenomenon (in which he played a rather Jesus-like character), to lower his blood pressure. “Oh... I found my pace. Simple thing really. Hard to explain.” It’s in the connections we make in our minds.

You can also think of understanding as what Oprah calls the “Aha Moment”, where all the pieces come together and you experience a shift.

Color: Gold / Location: Front of Brain

Will

Choosing to say “yes” and then to act on your understanding. This is the determination in the set jaw you see when the hero decides to fight for what is right.

In the movie Pleasantville, it’s when people make the choice to act on their feelings, choosing to live in a world of color rather than black and white. When Jennifer Connelly’s character enters the Labyrinth; when the scientists step up to the Stargate, when Harry Potter goes with Hagrid after looking back at the Dursleys; when Peter Banning accepts the possibilities that his children have been kidnapped by a fictional Captain in Hook and steps forward to save them. In the "Hero’s Journey," Joseph Campbell might count this in the step known as “Crossing the Threshold.” It’s the moment you step forward into a new world after making a decision.

Color: Silver / Location: Center of Brain

Order

Order is all about right sequencing. Some things must be learned first before greater things can be undertaken. On any Hero's Journey this is known as the “Road of Trials,” a time to gather experience, tools and allies whose strengths complement our own.

In Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, Indi had to learn from his father’s studies first he could understand and complete a series of life-threatening challenges before reaching the Holy Grail.When Harry Potter needed to get the Philosopher’s Stone, Hermione got them through one challenge with her knowledge of spells, Ron knew how to play Wizard’s Chess, and Harry could fly on a broom to catch the flying key that fit the lock.
We may see where experiences in our lives prepared us to triumph over a later challenge, which helps us to trust when we can’t see the order at work.

Color: Olive Green / Location: Navel

Zeal

Zeal is the passion and enthusiasm that keeps us moving forward.

Think of Charlie and Chocolate Factory (and Willy Wonka), and how Charlie wasn’t distracted by baser motivations like the others, but immersed in wonder. Think of the youthful exuberance of Wayne & Garth, who are such huge music fans, that they do their low-budget (free?) cable-access show, Wayne’s World, for fun. Think of what an excellent adventure history can be when you’re learning it along with a sense of humor and curiosity, like Bill & Ted.

In life, it’s the feeling that fuels us when we love what we’re doing, whether as work or hobby. When we balance our passion with our other powers, it keeps us from getting overzealous. No one likes a zealot, but everyone responds to the light of shared enthusiasm.

Color: Orange / Location: Back of the Head

Release

Letting go of what doesn’t serve us any longer, surrendering control: these can be strengths, but can feel like weakness. Who could deny the freeing power of the song, “Let it Go” from Disney’s Frozen? And why would you, if it helps you release yourself from fear-based limitations?

Think of Apollo 13 and the necessity of jettisoning the dead weight of a non-working module before they could reach their goal of surviving to make it home.

“Let it Be” by The Beatles is another song that helps us to remember to allow things to be as they are, not as we would wish them to be. It reminds us to release our grip and surrender to a higher power, knowing that there is an answer, even if we don’t know what it is.

Color: Russet / Location: Abdominal region

Life

In us, it’s the life-affirming expressions of love, procreation, adventure, challenge – whatever makes us feel alive.

A dramatic way to envision the power of the life-force is in the movie and TV series Highlander – it’s like lightning when “the Quickening” occurs!

In Jurassic Park, Jeff Goldblum’s character explains, “If there is one thing the history of evolution has taught us, it's that life will not be contained. Life breaks free, it expands to new territories and crashes through barriers, painfully, maybe even dangerously, but … life... finds a way.”

“People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life.... I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances with our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive.” - Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth

Color: Red / Location: Generative Organs