Women's rites of passage : how to embrace change and celebrate life

One's whole life is like a ritual or a ceremony. . . . Sacredness is everywhere. . . . Genuine heartfelt ritual helps us reconnect with power and vision as well as the sadness and pain of the human condition. —Pema Chodron Campbell: The myths and rites were means of putting the mind in accord with the body and the way of life in accord with the way that nature dictates. Moyers: So these old stories live in us? Campbell: They do indeed. The stages of human development are the same today as they were in the ancient times. Moyers: And these myths tell me how others have made the passage, and how I can make the passage ? Campbell: Yes, and also what are the beauties of the way. —Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers, The Power of Myth

What is it that enables some people to cope with the big changes in their lives while others seem undone by them? For psychiatrist Abigail Brenner, the answer lies in the act of consciously and ritualistically marking those changes. Rite and ritual, bringing the unconscious to consciousness, can help in the process of sorting through and making sense of life themes. In doing so, we realize the goal of our rites of passage, which is to create a roadmap that gives tangibility, meaning, and full expression to the structure of our lives. In this provocative and lucid book, Dr. Brenner describes how rites of passage have changed over time. Traditionally, society had a strong hand in marking passages, insuring that its members always knew their identity, their place, and what was expected of them. Women’s Rites of Passage grew out of Abigail Brenner’s desire to answer some fundamental questions about the role of rites of passage in contemporary women’s lives. Relying on a research study involving over 50 women, the author shows how women today understand the need to take responsibility for their lives and for directing their own paths, and are beginning to do so by creating their own very personal rites of passage. Distilling the best of the scholarly material, made accessible and interesting to a mainstream audience, combining this with inspiring personal stories, and completing the perspective with Dr. Brenner’s expertise and guidance, Women’s Rites of Passage is a richly rewarding book that will help reconnect women to their important life transitions, while giving them the tools to honor those transitions and to understand their significance in the broader scheme of their lives.

Acknowledgments xi Introduction Opening the Door 1 11 19 51 79 109 131 151 171 193 213 235 237 Part 1 The Passages Chapter 1 Defining Passages Chapter 2 Passages of the Body Chapter 3 Passages of the Self Chapter 4 Passages through Loss Part 2 The Tools Chapter 5 Myths and Symbols Chapter 6 Exploring the World Chapter 7 Ritual and Creativity Chapter 8 Religion and Spirituality Chapter 9 Community and Family Chapter 10 Conclusion: Connecting the Dots Epilogue Notes Women's Rites of Passage grew out of Abigail Brenner's desire to answer some fundamental questions about the role of rites of passage in contemporary women's lives. Relying on a research study involving over 50 women, Brenner shows how women today understand the need to take responsibility for their lives and for directing their own paths, and are beginning to do so by creating their own very personal rites of passage. A provocative assessment of the differences between modern women who respectively embrace and resist change explains how women can take responsibility for their lives and choices by creating personal rites of passage, drawing on scholarly research and inspirational personal stories to offer tribute to key life transitions. Original.