This book examines how ‘Therapeutic Recreation’ transforms the social health of children enduring or recovering from life-threatening illnesses such as cancer and leukaemia. With studies drawn from ‘Serious Fun’ projects in the USA, the UK, France, Ireland and Israel, the author explores how camp experiences in convivial circumstances help to bring about healing. Employing central concepts from sociology and anthropology, such as 'liminality', 'mimesis' and 'salutogenesis', Healing Rites of Passage explains why a brief secluded holiday can reform the campers’ shared situation of life-threatening illnesses towards health and flourishing. The whole process can be understood in terms of a 'rite of passage', as structured camp experiences enable children to shed previous ‘sick roles’ and pass through a series of challenges in order to achieve social re-integration with a renewed zest for living. An empirically grounded study that reveals the analytic value of master concepts in the social sciences, this book will appeal to scholars in the fields of sociology, anthropology, paediatrics, social theory and the sociology of health, illness and medicine.

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.

Thinkers and activists from many orientations and traditions are now coming together to explore ways to reconstitute rites of passage as a form of community healing for our public and personal ills. Crossroads is a comprehensive collection of over fifty cutting-edge writings on diverse aspects of the transition to adulthood. "In no uncertain terms, Crossroads opens our eyes to our responsibility to the adolescents who are now growing up without sacred rituals and hence without knowledge of spiritual roots in their culture. Many of the writers have first-hand experience and first-rate ideas of how to transform this cultural crisis. Crossroads also challenges us to integrate our own inner adolescent. Piercing insight with realistic hope " -- Marlon Woodman The Ravaged Bridegroom

This book considers the relevance of ritual theatre in contemporary life and describes how it is being used as a highly cathartic therapeutic process. With contributions from leading experts in the field of dramatherapy, the book brings together a broad spectrum of approaches to ritual theatre as a healing system.

A valuable resource for parents, counselors and educators of all faiths and philosophies. Includes creative ideas for celebrating contemporary rites of passage from birth to age 21. Over 20 rites of passage ceremonies, over 30 songs to honor life transitions, family rituals for celebrating birthday passages, guides for imparting age-appropriate rights and responsibilities in a young person's life, and ideas for parents and caregivers to reclaim and heal life passages from the past. Praise: "For such a ritually starved people as ourselves, (Living Passages) is a masterpiece. Shea is doing us an immense favor here, not just in offering us honest rituals and prayers for every aspect of our lives, but, in effect, letting us know we can do the same."(Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M., Franciscan Priest and author of Adam's Return) "What an encouraging and empowering book! Shea has shared her family's rich journey raising children from infancy to adulthood in a way that will inspire anyone with children to take the next step in creating meaningful celebrations and ceremonies to mark life's transitions. What a gift!" (Rahima Baldwin, Parenting Educator and Author of You Are Your Child's First Teacher)

A unique blend of scholarship and practice makes this book a compelling read detailing how rites of passage are used to link all education and youth development approaches. Eloquently crafted narratives integrating fifty years of practice provide readers with a new paradigm for youth and community development that will stimulate their imagination and impact their own practice.

Gary Null, health author and radio personality, delves into the anthropology of Native Americans to bring you the legends, the myths, and the history of their sacred healing practices: The Ghost Dance, Vision Quests, Rites of Passage, and Wankan-Tanka (White Buffalo Woman). Emphasizing the unity of all life, body and soul, man and nature, dozens of Native American healers share their beliefs, customs, and traditions.