I CAN understand and identify the 3 stages of a Rite of Passage

I CAN distinguish a Rite of Passage from a Ritual

I CAN determine if there is sufficient evidence to support an event being a Rite of Passage

Rites of Passage

"In the middle of our life journey I found myself in a dark wood. I had wandered from the straight path. It isn't easy to talk about it: it was such a thick, wild and rough forest that when I think of it my fear returns... I can't offer any good explanation of how I entered it. I was so sleepy at the point that I strayed from the right path."

- Dante Alighieri
The Divine Comedy

Rite of Passage:

A ritual that gives significance to the experience of becoming an adult

Key Concepts

• Any regular activity done in a set pattern can be ritualistic
• Rituals and ritualizing tell us how to relate to and give meaning to an experience
• Rituals aid or guide life's transitions
• The Rite of Passage is an essential step for the growth for individuals and for communities

THE RITE OF PASSAGE HAS 3 STAGES:

SEPARATION

The initiate must be stripped from the comforts and securities of everyday life, of the old or immature self.

INITIATION/TRANSFORMATION

The initiate faces obstacles that creates an emotional change from immaturity to maturity. This is a "psychological death and rebirth."

THE RETURN

The initiate returns, having changed in a way that benefits society.