The purpose of this dissertation, utilizing a phenomenological and heuristic approach, was to explore the essential nature of the experience of six midlife women (ages 45-57) when they enacted ritual to remember and commemorate life milestones. This research emerged from awareness that crucial periods of feminine psycho-biological transitions are given little acknowledgment in present-day culture. The literature review offers a broad exposition of themes involved in the practice of ritual linked to rites of passage. Perspectives from depth and archetypal psychology, ethnology, and alchemy, with consideration of sacred and soulmaking aspects of ritual are presented. The deleterious effects of the absence of initiatory rites and the concept of the initiatory wound is explored. Areas of women's concerns are presented with special focus on the image of the medial woman from the work of Wolff. The experiential aspect of the study consists of three phases addressing areas pertaining to the women's remembrances of transition periods of adolescence, adulthood, and midlife. In phase 1, the women as co-researchers were individually interviewed by means of audiotape and asked to reflect back to the physical/emotional markers and defining moments of major life transitions. The women then came together as a group to plan, devise, and enact ritual to recognize each of the life passages. In the last phase of the research through audiotaped interviews, the women described the impact and effects of honoring their life transitions as seen through the lens of ritual. During the study, the researcher actively participated as documentor, facilitator, and co-researcher. The findings provide glimpses into amplification of archetypal motifs, deep soulwork, and attitudinal shifts experienced by co-researchers. Several meaningful themes emerged during the ritual process, including: authenticity of intention, relatedness within the group, the security of sacred space, engagement in soulwork, psychic healing, integration, and personal validation. The final consensus of the co-researchers was that the practice of ritual opened up a potent process to put their lives in context by offering imaginal and soulful ways of looking into the significance of life passages.

Providing a personal, informed and cultural perspective on rites of passage for general readers, this text illustrates the power of rites to help us navigate life's troublesome transitions.

The Shaman Within explains how our ancient wisdoms can now be employed to tackle the big issues that trouble our minds, ravage our bodies and quash our spirits. Through a very personal journey; the travels, experiences, rituals, highs and lows of the protagonist, an amazing tapestry of insights and answers is woven before our very eyes. And the threads of this tapestry consist of the incredible healing and empowerment that our long-forgotten ‘rites of passage’ afford us. The lessons within enable us to feel more complete, at one with ourselves, our environment and the universe that created us. This book speaks to all who seek true fulfilment and imparts the tools to achieve it. ,

It's time for a childbirth revolution.The modern approach to maternity care fails women, families and care providers with outdated practices that centre the needs of institutions rather than individuals.In this book, Rachel Reed weaves history, science and research with the experiences of women and care providers to create a holistic, evidence-based framework for understanding birth.Reclaiming childbirth as a rite of passage requires us to recognise that mothers own the power and expertise when it comes to birthing their babies.Whether you are a parent, care provider or educator, this book will transform how you think and feel about childbirth.

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 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.

Van Gennep was the first observer of human behaviour to note that the ritual ceremonies that accompany the landmarks of human life differ only in detail from one culture to another, and that they are in essence universal. Originally published in English in 1960. This edition reprints the paperback edition of 1977.