Today’s society with all its complexity brings special needs for each one of us, and celebrating with ritual or marking a special occasion can be as important as the occasion itself. This can be for example, to help with the healing process after divorce, to assist with the transition from one phase of life to another, for example a retirement ceremony or after emerging from an intense medical treatment program for example a healing ceremony.
One of the most overlooked occasions in need of ceremony in the still developing culture of Australia, is the ‘introduction to adolescence’ or ‘teenage transition’ ceremony or rite of passage. Teenage years can be one of the most turbulent and troubling times experienced by young people in today’s society. It can be characterized for example by displays of anti social behaviour, testing boundaries, defying rules, rebelliousness or withdrawing.
The ‘adolescence’ ceremony, ‘teenage transition’ ceremony or ’secular bar mitzvah’ ceremony or ritual, in essence, allows young people to let go of their former childhood and enter a threshold or a new space – at the beginning of their adolescent life of new rights, new responsibilities, of acceptance, new hope and new directions. This ceremony provides an environment where caring parents and friends have an opportunity to offer ongoing support.
This ceremony, I believe has the capacity to contribute in a very positive way to the lives of young people, many of whom may feel lost or confused, misunderstood, unloved and with no real sense of purpose at this time of their lives.. Through this ceremony the adolescent becomes aware of themselves as an individual in their own right, is provided with the skills, understanding and insight into adulthood.
A ceremony with similar aims is practiced in African cultures for both girls and boys and in the Jewish culture to name just a couple. Cultures wouldn’t continue to practice this type of teenage transition ceremony over millennia if it didn’t have the desired outcomes. We can learn from other cultures, our children, our society as a whole can be the benefactors of other cultural traditions.
Consider the changes for the good there would be in our crime rate, there would be less graffiti, less hooliganism, less teenage suicide. Less teenagers would fall though societal cracks, more teenagers would have healthier attitudes, we would by and large have a happier and more productive society. So much richer in many ways. Its certainly worth thinking about.
A celebrant trained in the history and nature of ceremony throughout the ages has the ability and the skills to conduct these really meaningful and potentially healing rites of passage/ceremonies. Lets start a cultural tradition here with our young people.
About this author: Elizabeth Gray qualified as a celebrant through the International College of Celebrancy, Melbourne Australia in 2003.To view other ceremonies conducted by Elizabeth go to:
www.thevowsbook.com – a compilation of marriage ceremonies
www.renewalofvows.net – renewal of vows ceremonies
www.spiritualceremonies.info – spiritually inspired ceremonies
www.weddingvows101.net – 101 marriage or commitment vows
www.2ndmarriageceremonies.com – second marriage ceremonies
www.gaycommitmentceremony.net – gay commitment/marriage ceremonies
www.namegivingceremonies.com – name giving/naming ceremonies
www.wedding-ceremonies.net – more marriage ceremonies
www.divorce-ceremony.com - divorce ceremonies
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[...] of other ceremonies being conducted to serve the needs of people in today’s world. For example, secular bar mitzvah – adolescence, coming of age, divorce, step parent/stepchildren acceptance, home dedication, special birthdays and [...]
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