RITES OF PASSAGE

Rites of Passage are few and far between in our busy, transactional society at-large. Rites of Passage enable us to take stock of where we have been, before moving forward. You may be familiar with certain Rites of Passage such as the Coming of Age Ceremonies of the Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah from Judaism, the Quinceñera from Mexico, and the Kinaaldá of the Diné people of the Southwest United States. These three Rites of Passage celebrate the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood for adolescents. Blessingways, baptisms, confirmation, and weddings are also Rites of Passage that celebrate an individual member of the community moving from one state to another. An important Rite of Passage that is mostly forgotten these days is the celebration of a girl's first menstruation, the onset of her "Moon Time," known as menarch. Traditionally there have been many ways to mark this time and guide young women in rituals of self-care. At the sign of first facial hairs and deepening of the voice, boys moved from the circle of their mothers and aunties to the company of men, initiated into the hunt, taught how to collaborate in warriorship and teamwork, the appropriate ways to take life for food, give thanks, and share it with the tribe for the sustenance of the community.

Many Rites of Passage include prayer, setting intentions or visualizing, and giving thanks. Elders share their wisdom with the young, preparing them for their life ahead, for what it means to become a responsible, contributing member of society.

Today, we create custom rituals that incorporate traditional methods to mark passages for birthing, for youth and adults, and through our end of live celebrations. Examples of Rites of Passage include: Blessing Ways for expectant parents and impending marital unions, Celebrations of Life, grief circles, integrating the loss of a pregnancy, and even Legacy Projects. There is no limit to what we can create. As a partner with Rising Hearts Ministry, I will help you create a custom ceremony for the next stage of your life, for your children, or your parents. The process is participatory and transformational.

Contact us with ideas, so we can design a Rite of Passage that is specific for you, building onto our repertoire of offerings.