From: hulda@eagles.uucp (Hulda Thunarsson)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Re: Men's Mysteries
Date: 28 Sep 92 15:19:46 GMT
Organization: Eagles Reaches Church of Asatru - Elder Hof





holzman@fnalno.fnal.gov (Daniel B. Holzman) writes:

> In article <BuotnJ.7Bv@encore.com>, aaldrich@encore.com (Al Aldrich) writes:
> > was mentioned. The idea being that if one has to `earn' something, that the
> > experience is much more likely to have lasting significance. This is actual
> > a bit off the subject header, but it goes back to rites of passage.
> 

                        Rites of Passage

The following is on Norse rebirth and rites of passage taken from an article
written by, Edred Thorsson in a quarterly magazine:

  The concept "rites of passage" may be understood principally as the 
transformation of a person/figure by means of a three-fold paradigm first 
outlined by van Gennep, and more recently by Fithtner:

I. SEPERATION   1. isolation from mother
                2. apperance of a (male) sponser... (often related to the
                                                     mother)
                3. geographical seperation

II.TRANSFORMATION   test and trials of various types, as well as, in many
                    cases, reception of numinous knowledge

III.INCLUSION       re-integration into the larger society (or into a new
                    life) in a new role, often accompanied by ritual formulas.


  This examlpe may be found throughout out sagas. 
Example:
        Sigurdr is seperated from his mother and sent to be educated (in 
rune-lore, languages, and boardgames) by the dwarf-smith, Reginn.
(Volsunga saga ch.13)
Sigurdr's fosterage comes to an end with the reception of the symbols of
manhood..... his steed and weapon. (83)
Sigurdr is re-integrated into the larger society after the initial phase
of his heroic career when he is received by ritual feast upon his return from
battle. (85)

"  Many of the rites of transformation also function as incremental
 "re-integrations" into archetypal or "other-worldly" realms."

             
Much of the same is shown in The Eddas (I personally prefer the translation
by James Chisolm) involving the God Vidarr. Also appearing in the same 
article by Edred I found the "Rites of Birth"

"Essentially made up of three parts:"
1) the acceptance (by father or chieftain)
2) vatni ausa   (sprinkling with water)
3) nafn gefa    (giving the name)


I think using the above outline/formula could provide a very powerful and
long remembered rite for the young man. Depending on wheather the boy has been
raised pagan or if you wish to introduce him into the pagan community at this
time, I feel its flexible.

1)  He may be sent to the High Priest or a male friend you admire and trust,
    to spend the week-end, a month, a camping trip, etc...

2)  Receive counsel, test skills, what-ever "you" feel a boy "needs" to
    transform into a man. (Possibly just several man-to-man talks)

3)  Then receive him back into the family with a large pot-luck supper.
    Inviting friends, neighbors, coven, etc... 

I think the feast should envolve some type of ritual acceptance of the lad.
If its pagan oriented then acceptance as "one of the coven members".
Sprinkled with water and given his "witches name".

Whatever your tradition is or even if you want to preform the "rite" in a
mundane setting, I see this as a "workable" outline.

As for age... the female spieces does not start the menstrual cycle at a set 
age, therefore I think the timing of the male "passage" should be left open
to each individual.


Books you may want to use for ref.:
Withdrawl and Return a ritual pattern in the Grettis saga... Lotte Motz
The Rites of Passage: Havamal Stanzas 1-5 (found in The Eddas trans. by
James Chisolm) The classic study of rites of passage, or rites of transfor-
mation, by Arnold van Gennep (Rites of Passage, trans. M.B. Vizedon and
G.L. Caffee. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1960
Initiation Ceremonial from Norse Literature by Mary Danielli    


                                          Hulda Thunarsson