I still have not explored the rite of passage into sexuality. The key ingredient, the secret code and the 'dirty message' our parents and those behind them have attempted to stifle, smother and slander. In no way am I blaming our parents or grandparents. They coped in a way they thought best. Their experiences were tainted and any free expression or thought was considered barbaric, indecent or filthy.
To be continued…. Draft…
2 comments:
Something I watched recently suggested that if you don't mark the transition into puberty, kids will find their own way.
They suggested that Bah Mitzvah's fill this need well.
I read about one family who marked the occassion of each daughter's period starting with a special family dinner in her honour. It was their private way of acknowledging her.
I like your idea of the jewellery - maybe there could be a mother-daughter way as well as a father-daughter.
Hi Annie,
I remember a camp in the grampions with Dad where he presented me with a pocket knife, saying that I was old enough to be trusted with it now and then explained what it wasnt for. He also pointed out if I did silly things like cut living trees what the consequences would be. the presentation of a blade was a common right of passage in many older cultures, marking that the youth was now responsible for dealing with the consequences of their actions rather than the parent :-) Dont know about a ritual hunt, I've been involved in two now and invokeing the wild hunt is something I wouldn't do lightly. ITs also pretty hard for a youth to comprehend death enough to experience it. But something like a deer hunt could prove useful. I'd say the main features are responsibility and preperation. with both "wild hunts" the men involved were well trained with traditional weaponry and the hunters were like a "who's who" of martial artists I knew. a young man would need to know his weapons well to prove up to the task. then again a successful real hunt would also require very good stalking and weapon use. whatever option I'd say let morgan give input when he's older as to what he wants. He might choose to obtain a dan ranking (which is representative of adulthood in traditional martial arts) or even something like building his first car with his dad. It would also be worth talking with him as to what it means to be an adult. Sexual maturity is a part but so are things like accepting the consequences of your actions :-) It should be meaningful and useful to the candidate and provide them with a strong sense of achievement. Normally its also a proving ground where they can show that they can acheive in the face of adversity, but those basic needs are met by a large number of such "tests" :-) either way I'm sure you'll have a positive result with both morgan and lilly, they are very special little folk :-)
max
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