Rites of Passage...

Rites of Passages refer to those times that mark a transition from one stage of life to another, celebrate births, passing to the hereafter, and perhaps other major transitions.


The can be formal tribal and cultural ceremonies... or they may be more subtle or unannounced transitions that are discovered after the fact as a major turning point.


Rites of passage may be transitions in consciousness... as the mind expands to new realms of awareness beyond normal or convention time/space frames of reference...


I found this writing from the Native American traditions that relates to Life's rites of passage:


"The changes of many winters

   mark the cycles of the Wheel,

The lines across my ancient face

   show all that I can feel,

The nature of my passage

   remains a mystery,

For in my heart of hearts,

   I hold my destiny.

When I was but an infant

   in the beginning of time,

I marveled at the wonder of

   discoveries I did find.

Now that I am ancient,

   I have learned once again,

That the weight of every winter,

   brings discovery like a friend."


~ from Sacred Path Cards by Hancoka Olowampi (Midnight Song) - aka Jamie Sams


A transition or passage brings a celebration of the new along with the letting go of what was...

Winter is a time when the Great Mother does some snoozing and awaits the new creations of spring...

Life continues its dancing dynamics during every season and we discover the emergence of new adventures around each corner...

Let gratitude find a nesting place in the barren branches of wintry transitions... and hope in the springs blossoms hidden in dormant roots...