--Robert L. Moore, Senior Professor of Psychology, Psychoanalysis, and Spirituality at Chicago Theological Seminary
Through both my formal and informal studies of Men and Natural Spirituality, I have identified 7 points of transition in a Man's Life:
1. Birth
2. at the age of about 6 or 7
when a boy realizes that
he is not like mommy and
begins to identify with
his Father
3. Puberty
4. Moving from Boyhood to
Manhood
5. Masculine Maturity
(middle-age)
6. Eldership
(often neglected)
7. Changing Worlds (Death)
While each of these points in a Man's Life need to be recognized with ceremony that includes his community, one of the most important of these is the transition from Boyhood to Manhood. This can be a traumatic event for a young Man, stunting the maturity of his masculinity if not handled properly.
For Tribal People, this time was often marked by a Vision Quest. This provided a time of Introspection for the young initiate as well as a way to find his place within community. Because we live in a time when Ancient Teachings are again being made available to us, we can now re-discover this time honored tradition, and revive Rites of Passage for the other transition points in a Man's Life as well.
