Why Do We Love Superheroes?
For decades humanity has been engaged in a love affair with the superhero … from the “super” small Ant Man, to the “super” size Incredible Hulk. And, let us also remember those powerful women inhabiting the Marvel and D.C. comics … Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Storm …
The question is, why? Why are we consumed with understanding, watching, reading and fantasizing about these larger-than-life champions?
I found myself reflecting on superheroes the other day while sitting in church listening to how we often look to our outside world to know that we are safe, loved and supported.
What I discovered in my reflection process was that there was a whole spiritual practice here in regards to these titans.
We Love Them Because They Use Their Power For Good
From Superman to Captain America, these mythic forces know that they are powerful and use that power for good. We also want to know that our power has purpose.
It has been my experience that most of us have misconceptions about power. We are loaded down with the false beliefs that power corrupts, it’s dangerous, and that it can be taken away.
What I have learned on my spiritual journey is the following: we all have the same amount of power. It is how you focus it that matters. Those who are concerned about using their power to hurt, usually don’t, and it is an illusion that anything can take away your power.
I began using a whole new set of superpowers when I understood and accepted my power, and embraced the knowledge that it was good.
We Want Another To Be Responsible For Us
There could be a whole spiritual practice around understanding how responsibility holds us back or brings us closer to what we desire in our lives.
Knowing that there is some superhuman that will clean up our messes, save us from the dark, and that we can count on when the chips are down is so very comforting.
It gives us an extra level of safety to make decisions that truly don’t support ourselves or the world. This fantasy of a superhero is our get-out-of-jail-free card.
Being part of a spiritual journey and wanting to have a deeper collaborative connection with the Divine (which is the only true superhero), I have determined that I am responsible for how I respond to the world and what choices I make. I now know that I can become superhuman when I choose to respond to my world with consciousness and love.
They Stand Up To Struggle And (mostly) Always Win
If you are like me, I really love a movie with a happy ending. I’m still not over La La Land (sorry if this is a spoiler for you). That innocent child still within us wants to believe we can always stand up to struggle or maliciousness and triumph.
The superhero is a mentor for that in our lives. It reminds us that good always conquers the corrupt, and that what we perceive as “bad” can be dissipated by a golden rope or an awesome shield.
What I truly understand now is that this represents a part of us that has never experienced struggle or conflict, and is the light we turn towards during those times of external challenges. It isn’t as sexy as being able to breathe under water, but it packs a punch!
They Don’t Believe In Lack 
This is typically a group of individuals that are positive, who live in the present moment, and are full of possibilities. Why wouldn’t we want to be like that? Why wouldn’t we want to be the best that there is? They are beings that know there is enough for all, who have their own pain and challenges, and yet, these don’t seem to hinder their creative powers or keep them from saving the world on a regular basis.
When we focus on the possibilities, there is no room for lack in our lives or in the lives of others.
What I truly love about superheroes is that we as humans created them. We have illustrated for ourselves what we believe, that we at our best, act, look and feel like. Of course, this is the role that the Divine also plays in our lives, and spiritual practice is the road to that deep connection to the Infinite, and to the strength and goodness in each one of us.
