stranger things season 5, part 1 (st series pt. 2)
journaling prompts and reflections from part 1 of the final season
The much-anticipated final season of Stranger Things has begun to drop. So many good story lines have come out of this season already, and it contains lots of nuggets of wisdom that we can use in our own lives. Please note, this post will contain spoilers for Season 5, Part 1 so if you haven’t watched episodes 1-4 yet, proceed at your own risk!
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Episodes 1-3 are setup episodes laying the groundwork for what’s to come, so let’s dig in to Episode 4, The Sorcerer, where things really start to get going…
As everyone sets up for Operation Dick, Joyce says, “Sometimes people need someone to believe in them, and then they can do amazing things.” Shortly after this, we see Mike telling Will that he’s actually The Sorcerer which is clearly important because it’s also the episode title, but beyond that, this is the seed that Will needs to hear to begin to claim his power. A sorcerer is a more apt description for Will than wizard because he’s not using spells from a book, he’s using his own experiences and instincts to guide himself and his friends through everything going on with Vecna and the Upside Down. Will’s knowledge has been invaluable to them and their survival throughout the series.
So, how does that apply to us? As humans, we often don’t give ourselves enough credit for the magic we bring to the world just by being ourselves. In fact, we tend to minimize our contributions and see ourselves as no one in the scheme of things when in reality, we are impacting the people around us on a daily basis much more than we ever have any sense of. So, use these prompts when you need a reminder of just how special you are and how you can shine your light out in the world.
The Sorcerer
Except I’m Not Vecna: How do I currently view myself?
You Sorta Are: If I viewed myself from the eyes of someone who loves me, how would the perception of me change?
With 11 In The Upside Down, We Really Need Some Magic Up Here: What offering and gifts do I have to share?
When Robin sees Will’s interaction with Mike, she decides to be vulnerable and share her story about how she used to be enamored with Tammy Thompson, but then had her dreams dashed when Steve “The Hair” Harrington came along. She thought she couldn’t truly be free or be herself until she had this girl she was fawning over. But later, she realizes she had the ability to give herself the love she deserved all along. This conversation can help us when we need to face inevitable disappointment in our lives, see where we actually don’t need anything outside of ourselves to be happy, and love ourselves more fully for exactly who we are.
Becoming Rockin’ Robin
Tammy Thompson: What situation (idea, goal, etc.) have I over-romanticized or placed unreachable expectations on?
Steve “The Hair” Harrington: Where have I tried to place blame for this failure?
Cleaning Bat Shit: What is this disappointment actually rooted in?
Little Robin: How can I embody the energy of the more carefree and fearless me?
Rockin’ Robin: What step(s) can I take to become the more empowered version of myself?
The encouraging words from Mike and Robin empower Will to embody and claim the power that he’s had all along. This is the work of the divine in action. When we need it most, you can rely on the Universe to pull the strings to make it happen, but you can also remind yourself of this whenever you want a little extra boost. Try:
Buddy Chat: What is a memory I have of someone in my life who said something to me that made a massive difference in my life?
As a side note, if you have had these experiences in your life, be sure to tell the people who impacted you! It will likely mean a whole lot more to them than you think, or it could be the thing they needed to hear to keep going.
When we reach the last 20 minutes of episode 4 which is a season finale in its own right, Will is a victim, lying on the ground incapacitated due to all he is seeing and experiencing. In The Mirror, this represents us in survival mode after all of the trauma and life experiences that have worn us down over time.
Joyce tries to stop Vecna, but it doesn’t work. This shows how others in our lives may try to help or protect us, but ultimately, it is up to us as the creators of our realities to stand up and say no more.
Vecna begins showing Will scenes of all of the people he cares about in mortal peril causing him even more pain and suffering. Our inner critic behaves much the same when it tells us the people we love don’t care about us because you see a bunch of highlight reels online like “if he wanted to, he would” only showing the best of their relationship when the reality is that none of us are perfect and we all fumble and fall, so what we actually need is a little more empathy and understanding. Or this can look like having anxiety replaying the worst-case scenarios in our head only to then later watch them unfold, but that’s because we brought them into existence by giving them so much airtime.
At the end of episode 4, Will absolutely pops off. He is no longer a victim of his circumstances. He calls on his inner fire and takes control of the situation essentially not allowing his demons (the Demogorgons) to run the show any longer. He not only stops them, but he breaks them. He remembers that he controls his own reality and he won’t allow the negative stories any longer.
Will The Wise
The Demogorgons: What negative thoughts are running through my head that need to be put in check?
The Hold: How can I refute these thoughts to stop them in their tracks?
The Break: How can I end these thoughts for good, so they don’t make their way back into my mind?
What did you think of these prompts? Are you excited to try any of them? Did any of them awaken a realization or new connection for you?
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