Rite of passage is an important integration of mind, body spirit during crucial developmental stages of every human being. Stages during which every entity of a human being—the mind, body and spirit yearn for integration and unity.
Developmental stages usually present great degrees of life uncertainties, psychological wars between various levels of a young person manifesting from changes in biological growth process, physical changes in the body, self identity quest and in some cases self-esteem issues. Even the lower animal kingdom observes within their kinds some levels of rite of passage after which they push their offspring away to fend for themselves however, not until the completion rite of passage.
These crises resulting from absence of integration of mind, body and spirit during developmental stages also manifest in the life of the young people negative behaviors, disrespect for parents and authority figures, anger, drugs abuse and dependence; promiscuity; gang affiliation; antisocial behaviors, conduct behaviors and complete lack of direction and purpose for future and life. As a healing clinician working with youth in the Western culture, I observe up close these crises and their impact in the lives of young people. I also observe a dramatic life transformation in the lives of these young people the moment they open up to integration of the mind, body and spirit.
The problem in many of these cases is that the Western psychiatry and psychology labels these children with a diagnosis that completely discounted the child’s spirit self and recommends medicating the child with chemicals in the name of treatment. The other problem however is, crisis of the spirit does not respond to chemical intervention. Healing is not in the medication. Healing is in skillful engagement of the individual’s spirit and the healing process that integrates the mind, body and spirit
Observation of rites of passage is one of the major differences between the Western Culture and cultures outside the Western world. The Western orthodox medicine and psychology does not acknowledge existence of the spirit outside theological principles, as an integral and important aspect of a human being. For this reason, training in the Western healing excludes the most important aspect of a human being—the spirit. In my opinion this is one of the fundamental shortcomings of the Western approach to wellness and healing.
In my native African culture particularly, the Onitsha culture of the Eastern Nigeria, those of us studying generational psychosocial trends have observed dramatic life consequences in the lives of today’s youth as a result of diminishing decline of adolescent rite of passage. These consequences are sharply identical to the previously mentioned crises observed in today’s youth across the Western world.
The Onitsha people of the Eastern Nigeria used to be the most educated, resilient, moral, highly motivated and career driven of any group of people in the continent of Africa. The Onitsha people also have the most amazing culture of any culture in the world grounded in her citizens’ adolescent rite of passage. Most of these qualities are lacking in today’s Onitsha citizens. Many of us watching closely these generational trends have pointed to decline of the ancient rite of passage which integrates mind, body and spirit very early in the lives her citizens and provide structured life direction leading to successful life.
I have been watching powerful documentaries on Nation Geography TV channel “Taboos” showing initiation rituals many of which have been described as rite of passages. It is very important to point out there is a major difference between initiation ritual and developmental rite of passage. Developmental rite of passage does not involve human torture to the point of loss of life, severe body mutilation or traumatization of any entity of the self. Rather, developmental rite of passage facilitates peaceful and harmonious transformation, integration and unification of the mind, body and spirit.
Dr Lynn Freeman who was at a time the faculty chair person for Integrated Health Studies at Saybrook University helped me during my Doctorate program at the University design a course titled Adolescent Rite of Passage: Psychological and Psychophysilogical dynamics. This work allowed me to explore and shared narratives of psychological and Psychophysilogical dynamics of my own adolescent rite of passage. The work will be published in the very near future in the IIWIH website.
Dr Chris O’Banye
http://iiwih.org
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