Rites of Passage Training
What is a rite of passage?
A rite of passage is an altar of sorts that keys in on “special moments” along life’s sacred journey. We recognize that there are milestones of development that propel us forward from one mindset into a deeper one, where we understand something really important about ourselves. This could be a lesson, a letting go or an embrace of a new worldview and state of being. A rite of passage is a ceremony that recognizes, celebrates and provides guidance for people to fully embrace these moments and experience a deepening of mindset and soulful living. During the middle passage years (ages 11 to 14), the three main areas of work we focus on is:
SEVERANCE (leaving childhood behind and having the courage to face the beginning steps of adulthood)
THRESHOLD (developing a solid sense of personal identity)
INCORPORATION (entering the community with responsibilities)
These three areas are the backbone of how we think about rites of passage. A rite of passage is a sacred ceremony and experience that allows our learners to embody life lessons and personal accountability along their path of “becoming” their own persons who have a vital part to play in the web of life.
What are some specific examples of rites of passage work we include for our learners?
10 year old Adventure. Children at the age of ten and eleven are experiencing a separation from their families again as they did when they were five, but the stakes are higher. They are about to embark on a journey of self discovery. This time, it is deeply rooted in the body’d development. A ten year old Adventure celebrates the beginning of this journey and gives the child confidence and readiness for this stage of life.
13 year old Adventure. We design these adventures in order to celebrate the passage through adolescent development. This often accompanies a vision quest for the young person who is well on their way into adulthood. At this stage of life, they are able to deeply listen and learn to trust their instincts, overcome fear, and set goals and intentions for how they want to live in this life.
Red Tent. Building a ceremony around a young girl experiencing her blood cycle for the first time. Gathering in community to celebrate this in specific ways is vital for a young girl who is stepping out on her journey to womanhood. It is common in culture for this to be overlooked, shrouded in secrecy and looked at as a negative development. But when we celebrate this phenomenal and miraculous event that is connected to the creation of life, a young girl is empowered at the beginning of her journey to understand the sacred part she plays as a creator and sustainer of life itself.
Fathers and Sons. We plan adventures designed to connect fathers and sons. A father and son is an important connection as boys look to their primary example of true masculinity entails. Young children learn not so much through logic and rules, but through rhythm and imitation, so modeling a connected spirt and life is vitally important while they are growing. Our Father and Son adventures are designed with specific challenges in mind that build a bond between the two. Adventure, body movement, wrestling and challenges are important activities in this pericope of passage.
Mothers and Daughters.
We design family retreats with fun and engaging activities in order to instill adventure and laughter into the process. Through games, challenges, and cooperative creative ceremonies, we weave the family together and celebrate the gift that a family brings to the world.
Rites of Passage Consultation for your family
We are available to meet with your family to collaborate and help guide your process at home with rites of passage training. This helps tremendously in creating a seamless environment of learning that carries throughout your family process. With rites of passage, we have found that it just some creative spark and collaboration and support in order to foster memory markers for important growth stage development in our learners. Our rites of passage experiences build memories around important events in life. We all have growing pains and confusion around them, and it really helps to have some support and creative exchange in order to turn these growing pains into memorable life lessons.