Rites of Passage

Rites of passage focus our attention on change, moving from one phase of our lives into another - without losing our sense of self, but building on it. It seems many of the traditional rites of passage have dissipated in western cultures. The few remaining include marriage, childbirth, 'legal' adulthood. Having recently given birth to a second child, under different circumstances to the first, the boost in confidence and a real sense of achievement was something I rarely experience. It's rare for us to have the opportunity to challenge ourselves physically and emotionally where we cannot back out we need to face our fears and make important decisions, taking ownership and responsibility for how we feel about the outcomes. In addition a rite of passage is to a degree a community / social experience - may have gone before us, we rely on others to guide us, we need to trust those with expertise and experience but ultimately we are responsible for how we develop as a result of the experience. There is usually an intense period of learning, an array of useful yet conflicting advice is offered but choices need to be made - by the individual.