My oldest daughter was celebrating her 16th year of life, while my youngest is trying to understand the significance of being 5 and entering kindergarten. Please, I can't forget to mention, my 14-year-old is evolving in her incubation chamber (her room) watching old Michael Jackson videos.
Each is growing a year older, yet all are experiencing very different phenomenons of life.
In indigenous African culture, there are different initiation rites to lead individuals through the transformation processes of life. These ceremonies or rituals are done to ensure each person understands their responsibilities and acquires all the knowledge needed to be successful while encountering new life experiences.
Birth - During this rite, the welcomed infant will complete a naming ceremony. Culturally Africans believe each person is born with a specific purpose and a message to share with the world. During the naming ceremony, the infant received his or her name, and it is now the responsibility if the infant's family and community to help the infant remember their purpose.
Adulthood - Around the ages of puberty, pre-teens are taken through various rites and ceremonies to teach them how to become productive members of society. These lessons are often done away from their families and conducted by respected elders. During these rites, society rules and restrictions are reinforced, while participants receive a deeper appreciation of their life's missions.
Marriage - This rite is an essential component of all successful culture. This ceremony not only joins two families, but also joins two life missions. Marriage in indigenous African societies was communal and not based on external lusts of the flesh and fleeting emotions of attraction. Marriages were respected institutions to assist the young man and women on the journey of completion of their life's missions. Spousal unions were key factors of building thriving communities; the emphasis was the community, not the individuals. When a marriage was successful, the community thrived.
Eldership - There is a significant discrepancy between being an older person and being an elder. An older person has just lived longer, but an elder is a man or women who has earned admiration and respect in their families and communities. Elders are the keepers of traditional and providers of cherished wisdom. Becoming an elder in an African population is the highest compliment. Elders and infants are a prized possession of all African communities. These two groups, elders and infants, are said to be the to God
and the spiritual world. Infants have just left the spiritual world and elders are closer to returning.
Ancestorship - When a respected elder passes, then the final rite of Ancestorship is initiated. Ancestors are the respected deceased of the community. The esteemed ancestors are called on behalf of their families and communities to solidify certain matters in the physical world. Indigenous African traditions believe staying in continuous communication with their respected ancestors after they have passed, is a source of increased power, balance and divine reciprocity.
We have no direction and indeed no clue of our life's purposes and missions. We're tumbling continuously in hopes of finally landing in a safe place. Letting the life and traditions of others toss us beyond all comprehensible control. It's time we learn who we are and stop allowing other people determine our velocity and bearings.
Each is growing a year older, yet all are experiencing very different phenomenons of life.
In indigenous African culture, there are different initiation rites to lead individuals through the transformation processes of life. These ceremonies or rituals are done to ensure each person understands their responsibilities and acquires all the knowledge needed to be successful while encountering new life experiences.
There are five initiation rites in indigenous African culture:
1. Birth
2. Adulthood
3. Marriage
4. Eldership
5. Ancestorship
Adulthood - Around the ages of puberty, pre-teens are taken through various rites and ceremonies to teach them how to become productive members of society. These lessons are often done away from their families and conducted by respected elders. During these rites, society rules and restrictions are reinforced, while participants receive a deeper appreciation of their life's missions.
Marriage - This rite is an essential component of all successful culture. This ceremony not only joins two families, but also joins two life missions. Marriage in indigenous African societies was communal and not based on external lusts of the flesh and fleeting emotions of attraction. Marriages were respected institutions to assist the young man and women on the journey of completion of their life's missions. Spousal unions were key factors of building thriving communities; the emphasis was the community, not the individuals. When a marriage was successful, the community thrived.
Eldership - There is a significant discrepancy between being an older person and being an elder. An older person has just lived longer, but an elder is a man or women who has earned admiration and respect in their families and communities. Elders are the keepers of traditional and providers of cherished wisdom. Becoming an elder in an African population is the highest compliment. Elders and infants are a prized possession of all African communities. These two groups, elders and infants, are said to be the to God
Ancestorship - When a respected elder passes, then the final rite of Ancestorship is initiated. Ancestors are the respected deceased of the community. The esteemed ancestors are called on behalf of their families and communities to solidify certain matters in the physical world. Indigenous African traditions believe staying in continuous communication with their respected ancestors after they have passed, is a source of increased power, balance and divine reciprocity.
Like leaves blowing in the wind, many of us are still mentally between birth and adulthood.
We have no direction and indeed no clue of our life's purposes and missions. We're tumbling continuously in hopes of finally landing in a safe place. Letting the life and traditions of others toss us beyond all comprehensible control. It's time we learn who we are and stop allowing other people determine our velocity and bearings.
By traditional African standards, we're all behind and living outside of our life's purposes. We could learn something for the rites if of indigenous African cultures. When we know better, we can do better! No more leaves blowing in the wind, but immortal spirits motivated by ancestral excellence, rooted in divine purpose.
I'm here to be a mother, so welcome to my motherly advice or as I like to call it Motherly Love!
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