Learning to Be: An Arts-Based Hermeneutic Understanding of My Heroine's Journey

Abstract

This research explored the question of what can I learn about my life experiences through a feminist lens by integrating art, poetry, and stream of consciousness text into a hermeneutic circle process that explores The Heroine’s Journey. The expected result was that I would have more insight about my own experiences while integrating my own heroine’s journey into daily living. I used a 6 step, 3 round, hermeneutic circle approach that incorporated poetry, art in the form of an altered book, and stream of consciousness writings. I, the author/researcher, am a student in my second and final year of a master of art therapy program who was also the sole participant in this study. The results of this study showed that integrating arts-based layers to the hermeneutic circle led to increased self-awareness and deep insight into the feminine and masculine natures within myself. Through the experience of this project, I have created the framework of an approach that encourages self-exploration, societal struggles, and an on-going process of finding and making meaning.