Research has shown that since the dawn of humanity, young people and adults have felt a need to undertake meaningful rites of passage as they approach adulthood. Lacking the opportunity to engage in positive initiatory experiences, we may instead make attempts at self-initiation, which often fail to bring increased maturity and self-responsibility.
We offer rites of passage ceremonies for youth and adults life markers:
Youth Ceremonies:
1) Birth Ceremony
2) Adolescent Girls --- Coming of Age, Menses Ceremony and Vision Quest
3) Adolescent Boys --- Coming of Age, Manhood Ceremony and Vision Quest
Adult Ceremonies:
1) Wedding Ceremony
2) Sacred Parent Ceremony
3) Menopause Ceremony
4) Circle of Elders Ceremony
There are, of course, many other circumstances that may bring adults to a Vision Quest or other Rites of Passage program. Just to mention a few—grieving the end of a love relationship or marriage; facing an “empty nest” as children leave home; marking one’s accomplishment of long-term sobriety; facing career change; marking the healing of childhood wounds.
For each passage undertaken, corresponding gifts of understanding, forgiveness, love and compassion flow back to loved ones and community.
The familiar life horizon has been outgrown; the old concepts, ideals and emotional patterns no longer fit; the time for the passing of a threshold is at hand. (Joseph Campbell, Hero With a Thousand Faces)