Are You Coming Into Womanhood?
During the adolescent AGe, you go through a big transition ... from a girl to entering society as a woman ready to take on the World.
Known by different names in different cultures ... these transitionsteps all help you discover who you are, where yo belong in the world and howto step into and fill the shoes of womanhood.
From the Intonjane (practiced by the Swahili) to the Bat Mitzvahs (of Judism) ... each offers the elder women of the society the opportunity to work with girls and pass on the secret knowledge and traditions of their culture. Through rituals, initiations, training, retreats, festivals and celebrations .. girls are transformed into women ready to succeed at creating a career, home and family.
A Time of Secret Sharing
This is the time when secrets are shared and hidden knowledge is revealed which help girls assume the responsibility and leadership positions they will hold in their families, friendships, schools, work life communities and culture.
The secrets shared helps transform ignorance into knowing ....
- The Secrets and Inside Knowledge about Sensuality, Sex and Love
- The Secrets and Insights about Money, Status and Marriage
- Realistic Ideas about Education, Careers and Culture
- Esoteric Wisdom about Feminine Creative Energy (Its Changing Modes and Use)
- Archetypes and
Group activities and rituals help transform innocence into experience ...
- a Ceremony of Innocence to acknowledge the beginning of the process with a symbolic immersion into the sacred waters of the feminine
- a Spiritus Mundi activity to help identify the potential, destiny, life role and mentors of the individual by seeking guidance from ancestors, animal totems, or other personal or cultural spiritual wellspring
- Secret Knowledge Teachings to pass on the traditional skills and tribal wisdom of the current and past cultural ages
- Kindred Friendship activities to establish supportive, lifelong relationships, reveal cooperative alliances, resolve competitive rivalries, and form new social groups
- Lion & Lamb activities to assist in the individual in finding her place to shine in the community while also instilling service and commitment to the community's needs, values and welfare by taking up and fulfilling the obligations, responsibilities and roles of an adult
- a Coming Out Ball to reintroduce the young woman to her family, friends and community and acknowledge the end of the process
Mentors help the individual transition into her life role and fulfill her destiny. Assistance is provided through specialized knowledge, introductions, career assistance and problem resolution. And if the student is ready, a view of why a woman can also become the verb to "woo man" later in life.
to be continued