Warning - this piece is not a recommended path but simply a documentation of 5 very bizarre ways of boys-to-men rites of passage from around the world. Click on the picture and watch the videos at the link. Here's the main point I want to make - we are so far removed from ritual of our indigenous origins in the post-modern world that we have gone to the other extreme. Many men go to extremes to have create radical experiences - be it binge drinking, dangerous adventures or taking risks in relationships/work/life.
I believe if we went back to rituals that strip us of our endless comforts of modern age - and connected with our true self - our soul, we have a better chance of silencing ourselves to hear what is our core purpose in life. It is my believe that we are all here to improve ourselves for a higher calling. Each life-time is an important chapter on the journey. The longer I spend my years trying to figure out HOW I am to contribute and give in this life - I will loose focus on the WHAT I am to give. I have been fortunate to have been through a few vision quest experience - nothing as extreme as these examples. I will ponder these and other ways of stepping into the mature male over time at this blog. Stay tuned!
Monday, August 25, 2008
More about killing the boy
Warning - this piece is not a recommended path but simply a documentation of 5 very bizarre ways of boys-to-men rites of passage from around the world. Click on the picture and watch the videos at the link. Here's the main point I want to make - we are so far removed from ritual of our indigenous origins in the post-modern world that we have gone to the other extreme. Many men go to extremes to have create radical experiences - be it binge drinking, dangerous adventures or taking risks in relationships/work/life.
I believe if we went back to rituals that strip us of our endless comforts of modern age - and connected with our true self - our soul, we have a better chance of silencing ourselves to hear what is our core purpose in life. It is my believe that we are all here to improve ourselves for a higher calling. Each life-time is an important chapter on the journey. The longer I spend my years trying to figure out HOW I am to contribute and give in this life - I will loose focus on the WHAT I am to give. I have been fortunate to have been through a few vision quest experience - nothing as extreme as these examples. I will ponder these and other ways of stepping into the mature male over time at this blog. Stay tuned!
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Wow. After reading about and watching those videos on extremes rites of passage, I am left repulsed, offended and horrified. I suppose in the passage to manhood, there is some value in the idea of deprivation of some kind; and certainly enduring discomfort to some degree. But this kind of suffering is to me seems way over-the-top and just sick. I cannot imagine that there is a net benefit in that. More harm than good is my opinion. But what do I know, I'm not in those tribes! And I'm grateful for that.
ReplyDeleteI do believe SOME kind of return to initiation rites is a good thing. But I'm not sure how I feel about the whole symbolic notion of "Killing The Boy." I'm sure I'll have more ideas about this topic after my initiation into the ManKind Project's New Warriors coming up soon.
I hope there's no frog poison involved.