Boys get thrown into manhood without a map.
It's time to revive the rites of passage to guide them through the process.
Our ancestors had it right β what does this look like today?
Let's create a modern guide:ππ»
It's time to revive the rites of passage to guide them through the process.
Our ancestors had it right β what does this look like today?
Let's create a modern guide:ππ»
π΅ Age 4: The Brave Taste Tester
π΅ Task: Put out a small array of new foods for him to try. Encourage him to try a bite of each with no pressure to finish.
π΅ New Responsibilities: The boy must try one bite of food when he is introduced to new items at the table.
π΅ Rights and Privileges: He will receive a medal for his bravery to hang in his room, and he gets to start making small decisions about dinner.
π΅ Task: Put out a small array of new foods for him to try. Encourage him to try a bite of each with no pressure to finish.
π΅ New Responsibilities: The boy must try one bite of food when he is introduced to new items at the table.
π΅ Rights and Privileges: He will receive a medal for his bravery to hang in his room, and he gets to start making small decisions about dinner.
π΅Age 6: The Young Squire
π΅ Task: The boy assists his dad in the task of building a birdhouse.
π΅ New Responsibilities: He learns the basics of caring for tools and must now take ownership of home projects.
π΅ Rights and Privileges: The boy chooses a special tool like a hammer used in the project that is just his to use and care for.
π΅ Task: The boy assists his dad in the task of building a birdhouse.
π΅ New Responsibilities: He learns the basics of caring for tools and must now take ownership of home projects.
π΅ Rights and Privileges: The boy chooses a special tool like a hammer used in the project that is just his to use and care for.
Age 10: The Bonfire Oath
π΅ Task: The group gathers for a bonfire. Each child creates a shield with symbols representing their values. The fathers guide them in creating an oath of their core values and commitments. The shield is ceremonially burned in the fire.
π΅ New Responsibilities: The boy is now accountable for his words and actions with a focus on the values identified in their oath.
π΅Rights and Privileges: The dads gives their sons a coin to represent the oath. They may now help plan a special camping trip.
π΅ Task: The group gathers for a bonfire. Each child creates a shield with symbols representing their values. The fathers guide them in creating an oath of their core values and commitments. The shield is ceremonially burned in the fire.
π΅ New Responsibilities: The boy is now accountable for his words and actions with a focus on the values identified in their oath.
π΅Rights and Privileges: The dads gives their sons a coin to represent the oath. They may now help plan a special camping trip.
Age 13: The Quest
π΅ Task: Dad creates a solo challenge for his son: he must hike to a specific destination on a map without assistance and identify certain items along the way.
π΅ New Responsibilities: The boy can navigate short distances on his own and should regularly travel by foot and bicycle without assistance.
π΅ Rights and Privileges: The boy has a special lamp on his desk that he designs reflecting his new freedom to choose his clothing style and room decor.
π΅ Task: Dad creates a solo challenge for his son: he must hike to a specific destination on a map without assistance and identify certain items along the way.
π΅ New Responsibilities: The boy can navigate short distances on his own and should regularly travel by foot and bicycle without assistance.
π΅ Rights and Privileges: The boy has a special lamp on his desk that he designs reflecting his new freedom to choose his clothing style and room decor.
Age 16: The Feast of Service
π΅ Task: The boy plays a leading role to organize and execute a meal service for a local shelter.
π΅ New Responsibilities: Almost a man, the child is now responsible for finding a new way to serve others. He chooses the methods and type of service.
π΅ Rights and Privileges: The boy may now make decisions about vacations and future events.
π΅ Task: The boy plays a leading role to organize and execute a meal service for a local shelter.
π΅ New Responsibilities: Almost a man, the child is now responsible for finding a new way to serve others. He chooses the methods and type of service.
π΅ Rights and Privileges: The boy may now make decisions about vacations and future events.
Age 18: The Blessing and Charge
π΅ Task: The young man writes a passage of great significance to him. He reads it aloud, and all of the dads and grandfathers in the community lay hands on him with a blessing and a charge of what they see in him and hope for him as a man.
π΅ New Responsibilities: This is his entrance into full manhood, with the expectation that he will think critically about his role and contributions to his family, community, and the world around him.
π΅ Rights and Privileges: The new man's entire family pitches in for a special heirloom like a family ring and the freedom to plan a large trip with his friends.
π΅ Task: The young man writes a passage of great significance to him. He reads it aloud, and all of the dads and grandfathers in the community lay hands on him with a blessing and a charge of what they see in him and hope for him as a man.
π΅ New Responsibilities: This is his entrance into full manhood, with the expectation that he will think critically about his role and contributions to his family, community, and the world around him.
π΅ Rights and Privileges: The new man's entire family pitches in for a special heirloom like a family ring and the freedom to plan a large trip with his friends.
I hope that you enjoyed reading this as much as I did creating it.
Please include any ideas that this piece inspired in you: do you have a special cultural custom that helped you grow into an adult?
Should a further rite be included for 25?
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Please include any ideas that this piece inspired in you: do you have a special cultural custom that helped you grow into an adult?
Should a further rite be included for 25?
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
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