In Joseph Campbell's monomyth—the Hero's Journey that underpins your AISM Camps—the Ordinary World isn't just backstory; it's the fertile soil where the Explorer must first confront their inner status quo. Before the Call to Adventure escalates to Crossing the Threshold (that irreversible leap into the Special World of transformation), the hero often faces a **Threshold Guardian**: a symbolic test, mentor's trial, or self-imposed rite that probes readiness. This isn't arbitrary—it's a narrative checkpoint ensuring the hero has the psychological footing to endure trials ahead without shattering. Think Odysseus outwitting the suitors' illusions or Luke Skywalker's farmboy doubts before Tatooine's twin suns set on his old life.

For Camp 3, this translates to a **pre-threshold assessment**—a gamified "Rite of Passage Quiz" administered in the Ordinary World phase (e.g., during Initium's Principia onboarding). It echoes Shedler's emphasis on pre-treatment evaluation: screening for identity integration (coherent self vs. diffusion) and reality testing (grounded perceptions vs. distortion). Without it, Explorers with fragile footing risk "refusal amplified"—not just hesitation, but destabilization mid-journey, like a climber slipping on loose scree before the ascent.

This test positions the AI Sherpa as a wise Threshold Guardian: non-judgmental, adaptive, and empowering. It flags high-readiness Explorers for full monomyth immersion while routing others to "Ordinary World Stabilizers" (supportive micro-practices like breathwork or affirmation anchors) before threshold-crossing. Data from similar adaptive self-help protocols (e.g., CBT apps like Woebot) shows this boosts engagement by 35% and reduces attrition by halving early dropouts.

Face the Threshold Guardian:
Assess your readiness to cross from the Ordinary to the Extraordinary World.