Rites Of Passage

[Brynhild]

I'm wondering how much emphasis is placed on such significant moments in a person's life these days.

For example, when I crossed the threshold at 13, an aunty of mine gave me a smoke! LOL It would normally have been a big deal when a girl becomes a woman, but in modern day society, there's nothing much about it to celebrate any more - apart from mothers giving birth, and babies being presented - which is a shame really.

Boys had their rites of passage too, and I think it's an important step to honour those children who are about to become adults. My daughter didn't want a fuss made of her, so we went shopping! My oldest son wants a bigger emphasis placed on him when he turns 18, oh boy!

Have any of you been able to celebrate a particular rite of passage, and if so, how was that done?

[Psychonaut]

It was probably right around the time that I turned 13 or 14 that my grandfather decided I was old enough to go shooting with him. I think firing a Colt .45 is about as good of a rite of manhood as any.

[Birka]

At 10 years old I got a Winchester .22 pump action rifle. It doesn't get better than that for a 10 year old boy.

At 12, I got to go out deer hunting with my dad. I will never forget walking through the woods with dad.

[Loddfafner]

I grew up in a milieu where the value of rites of passage was neglected and even forgotten. My dad came to oppose hunting after a bloody accident and did not pass those traditions on to his kids although he came from a full-fledged wild west background himself. I had to make do and set out on my own equivalent of vision quests. When I was 18, I spent a year in Europe on my own, mostly hitchhiking through unfamiliar countries learning to stand on my own two feet. I earned higher degrees. I shot a gun, fought, and went through the rituals of certain notorious subcultures.

[Treffie]

To me, losing both parents made me realise that I had become an adult. Don't want to repeat the experiences again but unfortunately they're an essential part of growing up.

[Lyfing]

I figure there ain't hardly no more rites of passage. In the old primitive cultures of say those who did all those cave paintings. I think they went back in the womb and were born again. Nowadays there ain't no such thing. Maybe if one is a Christian they can be reborn or whatever. Or a jew they can have their foreskin cut off. But, those things don't make no sense. Not in our world anyway. The reason the old stuff don't work no more is because we know better. What is it we know better I reckon would be a good question..?? I ain't got the answer though. Maybe the psychological impact of giving a man a tootie ( and mess with his castration fear ) so he can go on and create is beyond us..??



Later,
-Lyfing

[Pino]

2 years National Service from the ages of 16-18 should be the crossing from Child to Adult with the ceremony you recieve full citizenship. certificate.

a Rites Of Passage to me is achieving somthing to cross that barrier, your 18th Birthday is not an achievment, there should be more to it than that.

[Beorn]

My rite of passage was realising everyone else was a c**t; the world isn't fair; it gets cold sleeping rough; 21st's can be depressing with no one to love you and share in that moment; not having your parents to fall back upon, etc...

You grow up quick when you have to. Each step is a learning curve.

[Psychonaut]

2 years National Service from the ages of 16-18 should be the crossing from Child to Adult with the ceremony you recieve full citizenship. certificate.

a Rites Of Passage to me is achieving somthing to cross that barrier, your 18th Birthday is not an achievment, there should be more to it than that.

I've been a fan of this type of Heinlein-esque manditory military/government service for some time. up

[Brynhild]

To me, losing both parents made me realise that I had become an adult. Don't want to repeat the experiences again but unfortunately they're an essential part of growing up.

I was already an adult with my own family when I lost my dad. Losing someone who's close to you is a rite of passage in itself - life changes considerably and there's no turning back once it's happened. Mortality stares you in the eye and you know then it will happen to yourself one day.