As I have been creating and thinking about my inner hero, I often find myself imagining the world around her and all the guides who help her on her journey. I see my ancestors as giants—spiritual, mythical figures who each serve a different purpose. They are the ones my warrior within communicates with: the Guardian of Medicine, the Guardian of Journey, the Guardian of Hope, the Art Workers, the Guardian of Tales, the Council of Elders, the Time Keeper, and many others. They all come together to help this one person on her earthly journey, because her journey and her time here are important.
This world of giants and guardians matters deeply to my inner hero because it reminds her that she is never walking alone. Every challenge she faces, every transformation she undergoes, is part of a lineage—guided, witnessed, and strengthened by those who came before her. These beings embody the wisdom, creativity, resilience, and spiritual force that she draws from. They help her remember who she is, where she comes from, and what she is capable of becoming. Their presence turns her personal journey into a sacred one, giving her purpose, grounding, and courage.
I write this post to say that this project does not end here. I plan on continuing it by creating the world that surrounds this Warrior—bringing to life all the Giants who guide her along the way.
In African mythology, the Hero is understood this way: “If characters find God in themselves, heroes bestride Heaven and Earth, assuring that the culture they embody has heavenly sanction. Heroes—successful or not, sublime or not—provide the promise of union with the heavens.” (World Mythology)
In Pueblo tradition, it is Awonawilona—“the one who contains all.” For the Pueblo peoples of what is now Arizona and New Mexico, the stars are personified heroes who hunt across the sky. Thunder, wind, and storm live in human form but can also take the shape of animals.
Te Kahui Tipua are a tribe of giants mentioned in some Māori legends, though their existence is sometimes refuted in order to protect traditional claims to the land.
And in Polynesian mythology, Māui the Land Fisher appears. The god of the sky, Tangaloa, and his children lived in the heavens above the Earth. One of his children, Tangaloa the artisan and God of the Material Arts, was responsible for the creation of many of the Oceanic islands.
These are just some examples of Heroes, Gods and Giants in Mythology that inspire me.
And so, as I continue shaping this world of giants, guardians, and ancient echoes, I also shape the hero within me. Her journey is not simply imagined—it is lived. Every story I uncover, every myth I honor, becomes another thread in the tapestry of her becoming. And with each step she takes, guided by those who walk with her in spirit, I am reminded that creation is both memory and prophecy. The world I am building for her is, in truth, the world that is building me.
