Rites of Passage

A person grows both physically and spiritually throughout their lifetime. A parent's job, if you will, is to facilitate that growth from birth until adulthood, when that person is pretty much "on their own." Something that has been lacking in modern society is Rites of Passage, rituals and ceremonies that acknowledge certain stages of life have been reached or outgrown. The fact that we, as Pagans, have re-established such practices in our religion (according to some scholars, anyway) may account for its growing popularity. Certainly, I've embraced this path because it has some things that other religions lack.

Yes, the "mundane" or secular world has certain rites of passage: The first day of school, the first date, getting a driver's license, prom, graduating High School, being old enough to vote, being old enough to drink, graduating college, getting a job, getting married, becoming a parent, retiring, dying. Some or all of these are accompanied by rituals, and they may or may not have a profound effect on the person.

However, most of these life stages (and the mundane rituals associated with them) do little for a person's spirituality. I hope to address the spiritual aspect of growth here. This series of essays and rituals are my thoughts and practices on the matter. Feel free to take what elements speak to your heart and to leave the others. Adapt these things for your own use.

I find that the most powerful rituals are those that have been written either by myself or for the specific occasion. I encourage you to write your own rituals, using concepts and constructs that are significant to you and your family. Use these pages as suggestions.