Rites of Passage Education
Rites of passage play a central role in socialization, demarking the different stages in an individuals development (gender and otherwise), as well as that person's relationship and role to the broader community. The major stage in life is the transition from child to adult when they become fully institutionalized to the ethics of the group's culture. Rites of passage are for this reason critical in nation building and identity formation. These moments, which have been happening since the beginning of time, mark times of new beginning and transition from one life stage to another for the individual by dramatizing the transience of individual existence, while highlighting the social symbols that give the community its identity and integrate the person into a larger sphere of meaning.
Rites of passage thus serve a double purpose; preserving the ongoing community as a symbol of collective immortality and permanence as well as providing a clear and guided means for transition from one life stage and sphere of responsibility to another. They thus confirm the hierarchies of values of the community and project an ideal sequence of personal development the individual can look forward to and upon reaching each stage, evaluate his or her maturation against a collective standard. Initiation rites are proven to be a necessary extension of many communities and are as necessary and natural as are arms and legs are a natural and necessary extension of the human body. Rites of passage provide the individual with the foundation of his or her being: Identity. Sexual identity and the roles of gender identity are enshrined through rites of passage:, The males are prepared for their responsibilities in the community as men, and the women prepared for their responsibilities in the nation as women– with no confusion.
No matter the ritual, the underlying purpose remains the same; fundamentally dealing with transformation and guiding the person from one stage/ maturity level in life and development to the next from birth to death and beyond.
The Rite of Adulthood is probably the most commonly acknowledged among the set of rites and many confused people assume “rites of passage” only refers to initiation into adulthood not realizing or understanding that adulthood rites are only one set of rites in a larger system. In many societies adulthood rites are done at the onset of puberty and are used to ensure proper shaping of responsible, productive and community-oriented adults as there is nothing automatic or magical about transitioning from a child to a fully functioning and productive adult. As previously mentioned, this transition is becoming exceedingly difficult particularly with people in western societies because there is no clear set of rites to systematically guide young people through this important stage in his/her life cycle. Clearly, this “hope and pray” approach to adulthood development is at the root of many of the problems affecting our youth.
In Western culture adulthood is seen as a status achieved at the age of 18 or 21, or simply when the person graduates from high school. Unfortunately, in most cases there is no fundamental guidance or transformation from a child to an adult that is required or expected. This “leave it for chance” approach to adulthood development is the root of most teenage and youth “adult” confusion, chaos, and uncertainty. When the youth reach a certain age, somehow they are expected to magically transformed into an “adult,” even though they often receive very little guidance.
As children mature physically and therefore sexually, a special puberty rite of passage, initiation, is meant to help them move smoothly from childhood into adulthood. The purpose of initiation is, above all, educational. Through Rites of Passage Education, young adults further learn about the traditions and expectations of their community and will therefore be able to contribute to the maintenance of social order.
Rites of Passage Education is an integral part of Jamaica Yoga Tours and it has been demonstrated to be a tremendous tool for the physical, mental and emotional development of children. Studies show that children who participate in Rites of Passage and practice Yoga and meditation have better grades, better test scores, better social skills, less behavior problems and greater consciousness, personal insight and self awareness. Children who practice Yoga are also less likely to suffer from high blood pressure, asthma, obesity, diabetes and other common illnesses that are rampant at epidemic levels in Western society. These youth perform better in athletics and other activities such as dance, martial arts, gymnastics and the fine arts.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child.
When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
1 Corinthians 13:11
Rites of passage thus serve a double purpose; preserving the ongoing community as a symbol of collective immortality and permanence as well as providing a clear and guided means for transition from one life stage and sphere of responsibility to another. They thus confirm the hierarchies of values of the community and project an ideal sequence of personal development the individual can look forward to and upon reaching each stage, evaluate his or her maturation against a collective standard. Initiation rites are proven to be a necessary extension of many communities and are as necessary and natural as are arms and legs are a natural and necessary extension of the human body. Rites of passage provide the individual with the foundation of his or her being: Identity. Sexual identity and the roles of gender identity are enshrined through rites of passage:, The males are prepared for their responsibilities in the community as men, and the women prepared for their responsibilities in the nation as women– with no confusion.
No matter the ritual, the underlying purpose remains the same; fundamentally dealing with transformation and guiding the person from one stage/ maturity level in life and development to the next from birth to death and beyond.
The Rite of Adulthood is probably the most commonly acknowledged among the set of rites and many confused people assume “rites of passage” only refers to initiation into adulthood not realizing or understanding that adulthood rites are only one set of rites in a larger system. In many societies adulthood rites are done at the onset of puberty and are used to ensure proper shaping of responsible, productive and community-oriented adults as there is nothing automatic or magical about transitioning from a child to a fully functioning and productive adult. As previously mentioned, this transition is becoming exceedingly difficult particularly with people in western societies because there is no clear set of rites to systematically guide young people through this important stage in his/her life cycle. Clearly, this “hope and pray” approach to adulthood development is at the root of many of the problems affecting our youth.
In Western culture adulthood is seen as a status achieved at the age of 18 or 21, or simply when the person graduates from high school. Unfortunately, in most cases there is no fundamental guidance or transformation from a child to an adult that is required or expected. This “leave it for chance” approach to adulthood development is the root of most teenage and youth “adult” confusion, chaos, and uncertainty. When the youth reach a certain age, somehow they are expected to magically transformed into an “adult,” even though they often receive very little guidance.
As children mature physically and therefore sexually, a special puberty rite of passage, initiation, is meant to help them move smoothly from childhood into adulthood. The purpose of initiation is, above all, educational. Through Rites of Passage Education, young adults further learn about the traditions and expectations of their community and will therefore be able to contribute to the maintenance of social order.
Rites of Passage Education is an integral part of Jamaica Yoga Tours and it has been demonstrated to be a tremendous tool for the physical, mental and emotional development of children. Studies show that children who participate in Rites of Passage and practice Yoga and meditation have better grades, better test scores, better social skills, less behavior problems and greater consciousness, personal insight and self awareness. Children who practice Yoga are also less likely to suffer from high blood pressure, asthma, obesity, diabetes and other common illnesses that are rampant at epidemic levels in Western society. These youth perform better in athletics and other activities such as dance, martial arts, gymnastics and the fine arts.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child.
When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
1 Corinthians 13:11