Category Archives: Rites of passage

The Mask you live in – revisited

Posted on July 23, 2016 by

  Reading some notes I’d taken while watching the Miss Representation Project’s film, The Mask You Live In, a couple of years ago.  This film is about the unrealistic stereotypes we railroad boys into, so that they deny their emotional … Continue reading →

Posted in Boys, Bravery, bullying, Child-rearing, Community, Emotional literacy, Fathers, Football, Games, Happiness, Men, mental health, Peace, Rites of passage, rituals, Sadness, Sons, Substance abuse, suicide, Teens | 2 Comments

Firemaker, Myth Maker, Adventurer, Warrior

Posted on July 5, 2013 by

As my son’s and my annual pilgrimage to Firemaker Wilderness Survival Camp in the Comox Valley quickly nears, I find myself pondering many questions. Last year, I left camp feeling enthused with a passion to create a work shop of … Continue reading →

Posted in Aggressive, Bows and Arrows, Boys, Bravery, Child-rearing, Community, Cooperative, Creativity, Games, Internet, Nurture, Play, Play Physical, Rites of passage, rituals, Sons, Uncategorized, Unstructured, Video games, violence | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

3) Physical Force With vs. Against – Con’t

Posted on August 25, 2011 by

Here I am again after a two week haitus.  I apologise!  Thankfully my partner is holding the ship afloat.  Thanks Edgymama!   Are boys naturally more aggressive?  It would seem that generally speaking they are.  But over the last months I … Continue reading →

Posted in Aggression, Bows and Arrows, Bravery, Breeding, Child-rearing, Community, Daughters, Ethnocentric, Fathers, Games, Guns, Nurture, Peace, Play, Rites of passage, Sons, Uncategorized, Weapons | Leave a comment

Boys rites of passage – the role of community

Posted on August 16, 2011 by

What is the place of community in a boy’s rite of passage? It is to nurture and rear a confident individual, one who feels a sense of belonging and commitment, and invests in its well-being. It also means realizing that … Continue reading →

Posted in Aggression, Capitalism, Child-rearing, Community, Daughters, Happiness, Hockey, Homelessness, Organized sport, Rites of passage, rituals, Sons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Breeding – the automatic making of an adult?

Posted on August 2, 2011 by

Carrying on with the notes that Robert Campbell wrote down for me to share on this blog about boys’ rites of passage,  he says that simply being able to breed allows a man to count as an adult in our culture. This regardless of a man’s proficiency in … Continue reading →

Posted in Bravery, Breeding, Child-rearing, Community, Emotional literacy, Fathers, Housework, Nurture, Peace, Rites of passage, rituals, Sons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Physical strength, stamina, and endurance

Posted on July 19, 2011 by

I met some interesting and sensitive men recently at an week long primitive skills event, a few of which I had a chance to ask about boys’ rites of passage in our culture and what they thought about them. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Aggression, Child-rearing, Emotional literacy, Happiness, Organized sport, Peace, Rites of passage, rituals, Sons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Smashing windows and burning police cars – modern boy’s rite of passage?

Posted on June 20, 2011 by

By now many people have heard about the shameful rioting that took place in Vancouver following the Stanley Cup loss last week. Is this the modern boy’s rite of passage I’ve been writing about on my previous two postings?  Smashing windows, … Continue reading →

Posted in Aggression, Child-rearing, Ethnocentric, Games, Hockey, Organized sport, Peace, Rites of passage, rituals, Sons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Boys’ coming of age rituals – showing boys they’re part of the community

Posted on June 6, 2011 by

Following up on my previous post about the essential truths to be communicated in rites of passage from boys to men,  here are some specifics about the characteristics of such a ritual. It seems like the main thing is that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Child-rearing, Emotional literacy, Happiness, Peace, Rites of passage, rituals, Sons | Leave a comment

Anger and Sadness – A Hero’s Journey

Posted on June 1, 2011 by

I really enjoyed my co-blogger, edgymama’s, post last week on boy’s coming-of-age or initiation rituals. She shared some essential spiritual truths to be passed on through ritual to help boys cross the threshold from childhood to adulthood.  These truths might … Continue reading →

Posted in Aggression, Emotional literacy, Rites of passage, rituals, Sons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Boys’ coming of age rituals – the essential truths to communicate

Posted on May 24, 2011 by

I’ve been reading a book called Wild Things : the art of nurturing boys and came across a section on the importance of establishing rites of passage for boys crossing the threshold between childhood and adulthood. It reminded me of … Continue reading →

Posted in Emotional literacy, Rites of passage, rituals, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments