Young men and women must learn to love themselves, understand that they are related to all things and that whatever they do has an impact on something or someone. Young men and women must learn the balance of masculine and feminine tones, the balance of the physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual aspects of life. They must become aware that within them lies the archetype of a monarch, a warrior, a magician, and a lover. Young men and women must once again learn and understand the lessons of earth, fire, air, and water. They must learn to respect the wisdom of their elders, the wisdom of nature, and their place in the universe.
The young boys in the three-part story I shared with you spent many more weeks, months and eventually years learning to become wise men. A similar experience exists for women. Women, as well as men, must learn the balance and intricacies of life if they are to be good, wise, and effective adults.
Finally, young men and young women participate in an initiation ceremony when it is determined that they have learned their lessons and are ready to proceed down the path of adulthood. An initiation ceremony is not an ending, it is a beginning. It is a statement made by the elder and the young person being initiated. The statement is, "Another human now consciously chooses to enter the world as a relative of all things." Commitment made, the youth is given a wound. Maybe the wound is a tattoo, a scar, or an earring. Maybe a tooth is knocked out or the child is circumcised. The wound announces, "You now leave childish things behind and move onto the path of adulthood. The wound makes it clear that you no longer have the perfect body of a child. The wound reminds you of your emotional and psychological wounds that you must turn to gold. Your wound matches the wound of everyone else in the tribe who throughout time received this wound upon initiation. You are now one of us. It is expected that you will act responsibly."
This initiation preparation and ceremony have been lost to many in the western world. All too often children do not have community members, extended family, mentors, or even parents to help them through their journey into adulthood. There are few people to teach them important lessons, to drum for them, cry for them, pray for them, or share water with them. This loss of initiation has left a horrible gap and contributes to the isolation, depression, abuse of drugs, and violence we see in our society.
The isolation and violence must stop. There is a way. Bring back the mentoring, the teaching, and the initiation. It can be done. Next year the CSDC will be offering a year-long process called "Passage". It is a process that was research, designed, and implemented by this author. Over one hundred students, staff, and faculty have participated in some aspect of the process over the past four years at the University of Minnesota, Morris. Other universities are implementing portions of the "Passage" process or creating their own versions of the process. The process is a holistically based, noncredit course, which meets once a week for a year. Storytelling, music, poetry, art, dance, ceremony, lecture, field trips, mentoring, tempering projects, and a multiple-day initiation are all parts of the process. Students at other universities who initially thought they didn't have enough time to participate ended up saying, "It is the most important thing I have ever done" and in fact become mentors for the next group.
"Passage" will be initiated at WPI during A term of next year. About twenty students will be able to participate the first year. Watch for advertisements to sign up. This year in C and D terms the CSDC staff will be presenting components of "Passage" including storytelling, drumming, and, we hope, some trips outdoors when the weather improves.
One of our first programs will be a storytelling session to be held February 12, Monday night, 7:00 PM in Riley Commons. Come hear a story about witches, snakes, and the holy grail. Bring your pillow, blankets, and a teddy bear. We'll provide the cookies. See you there!!!!
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