Adolescent Rites Of Passage

CREATING ADOLESCENT

RITES OF PASSAGE

How to Plan and Coordinate Events that Bring Honor and Healing to Youth

USJT Adolescents Conference Las Vegas, 2006

William G. DeFoore, Ph.D.Institute for Personal & Professional Development,Addison, TX

Rationale and Theory Types and Examples of RitualsSkills and Methodologies

OVERVIEW

1.Separation—Birth, adolescence, leaving home, marriage, death

2.Transition—Learning appropriate behavior for new phase being entered

3.Incorporation—Participant is formally admitted into the new role

PHASES OF RITES

OF PASSAGE

Source: A. Van Gennep The Rites of Passage

•Loss of safety/security of childhood

•Loss of innocence—sexual experience

•Loss of bond with parents•Challenge of peer relationshipsPressureRejectionJudgment

EMOTIONAL LOSS AND CHALLENGEOF ADOLESCENCE

•Various “pictures” of adult life•How attractive is “growing up”?•Challenge of adulthood need to be presented in a way that appears:EncouragingAdventurousEmotionally fulfilling

FACINGADULTHOOD

PROBLEMS RELATED TO LACK OF APPROPRIATE

INITIATION

•Depression, violence, suicide•Substance abuse, sexual promiscuity

•Desperate search for identityGangsCliquesPopularityOutcasts, misfits, “wierdos”

•No elders•Abusive rituals•Substance abuse•Hazing/harassment•Forced sexual encounters• Initiation through acts of violence

RITESOF THEIR

OWN

•Taking responsibility for facilitating rites of passage—guidance

•Recognizing the power of ritual and ceremony—structure

•Being conscious in and of the process (it happens anyway—unconsciously)

•Honoring the shadow elements of adolescence—”ashes time”

ROLE OF PARENTS & ADULT

COMMUNITY

•Expressing, showing love•Demonstrating honor and respect•Willingness and ability to provide a grounded optimistic view of adulthood

•Leadership skills in planning & facilitatingAvoid alcoholChoosing the participantsMatch the ritual to participants

SKILLSAND

COMPONENTS

•Value of same gender groupsTo honor adolescent’s genderTo strengthen a sense of identityTo establish a strong sense of community and connection

•StorytellingParticipants/elders sharing their journey, stories about their mentors

Keeping stories brief and relevant

SKILLSAND

COMPONENTS

TYPES AND EXAMPLES OF CEREMONIES

•Australian Aboriginal ModelMaddern (1990)Symbolic JourneyThe ChallengeOpening the Door to the DreamingResponsibilityCommunity Participation

TYPES AND EXAMPLES OF CEREMONIES

•Quinceanera—Hispanic•Bar/Bat Mitzvah—Jewish •Vision Quest—Native American•Adventure Education programs•School/church sponsored programs•Men’s/women’s gatherings•Family/friend creations

TYPES AND EXAMPLES OF CEREMONIES

• Personal experience18th. birthdayMen’s gatherings

• Professional experienceClient’s self-designed processFather-son weekends

• Ideas, processes and sample ritualsSweat lodgeArt work, mask makingDancing, singing, playing music

TYPES AND EXAMPLES OF CEREMONIES

• Ideas, processes and sample ritualsFinding a “sacred place” in nature

Solitary time, fastingNative American visualizationSharing of meaningful adventure and nature experiences

Discuss relationships with mother/father and mentors

Read about and discuss rites of passage from other cultures

Web Resources

WilliamDeFoore.com

Goodfinding.com

AngerManagementResource.com