Each ceremony is initiated by the family or neighborhood in their religious or spiritual tradition of choice. We celebrate the cycles of nature as well, in full moon ceremonies and seasonal celebrations like solstice, equinox, and harvest. At any given time during the year one can enter a neighborhood and experience the song and dance of community ritual. By reclaiming ritual as a central part of our lives, we gained a reverence for life, and enhanced our connection as a community. Again, we went back to the basics of effective child rearing that have passed the test of time in many of your cultures around the world.
Every mother is supported to nurse.
Work and community environments were modified so that babies can be carried in arms throughout the day. We also realized that placing the entire burden of child-rearing on the biological parents made very little sense, often leading to the parents feeling overwhelmed and frustrated and the baby being deprived of attention. Presently children receive care primarily from the elders, who have the time and the life wisdom to offer the attention children need. I cannot stress enough how vital elders have been to fostering stability in a child's life and in the passing of customs and values. No longer must children rely on peer groups or young parents to answer their questions of the world.