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Rites of passage, or what we call Rites of
Empowerment, have helped people celebrate the natural evolution in their
lives for thousands of years. Some ceremonies were designated by
chronological age, and others by events. In western culture it is normal
to celebrate births, birthdays, graduations, marriages, divorces, and
deaths. In Jewish tradition rites of puberty are still celebrated with Bar
and Bat Mitzvahs. In Catholic and Christian circles Baptisms, Communion,
and Confirmations are celebrated, and some Native Americans are lucky
enough to experience Blessing Way ceremonies and Vision Quests.
But, most of the current rites of
passage celebrations gloss over and fall short of addressing the emotional
issues that mystify and create havoc in our worlds today. The child within
is suffering from the significant, and many times traumatic, internal
confusion - physiologically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and
sexually. These shifts, referred to by Wilhelm Reich as the emotional
plague, have created greatedr and greater stress, tension, sickness, and
disease in our lives.
Indigenous peoples celebrate the
natural cycles of change. The honor the four seasons, the equinoxes and
solstices that separate them, and the natural movement of life caused by
these cycles. The honor the Six Cosmic Laws:
Death brings Life,
Life brings Rebirth,
Rebirth brings Movement,
Movement brings Change,
Change brings Chaos,
Chaos brings Death.
It is understood that change is inevitable; in fact,
it is the only thing that is constant in our world. Second, it is implicit
that for our souls to evolve (which is their only purpose), there must be
movement. Thirdly, they accept that in order for anything to be reborn,
something must die.
Celebrating Rites of Empowerment
promotes the mourning that goes with accepting these little deaths, or
even death-death. Closure heals the wounds of our inner child and sparks
our Spirit Child; the one who has no fear of dancing on the edge and
jumping into the abyss. Rites of Empowerment celebrate our growth and
maturation as individuals as we travel along our Path of Heart toward
enlightenment. Rituals balance our masculine and feminine energies and
help us regain the Five Hauquas (health, hope, happiness, harmony, and
humor), which are every human's inalienable rights. |
