Offerings
Family Initiation
The calling towards initiation arrives when we stand at the edge of something new in life. Not just the arrival of another birthday, or a new job, but a new way of seeing the world. Here we stand at the precipice of a new consciousness arising. Rites of Passage (ROP) is an intentional ceremonial event, held by a circle of people, to honor this new beginning, and acknowledge the death of the old way that is no longer needed. By acknowledging the old parts of us that we are ready to die away to, we leave space for the new whispers of being to emerge.
This new consciousness is often unknown to the mind, but felt in the heart. When you follow that heart whisper, you find yourself at the threshold of initiation.
In ceremony, a threshold is the transitional space between this familiar mundane world and the more mysterious spirit world. The initiatory journey acknowledges that we are held by the sacred, a larger force of spirit that is a part of our creation and that awaits us upon death. As we participate in a rite of passage, we cross the threshold between worlds and reunite with this larger aspect of our self- our sacredness.
For millenia, indigenous cultures interwove these essential rituals through village life, allowing the changing inner world of an individual to re-calibrate with the outer world, and vice-versa, at key portals along the ever-evolving human journey. Today, Mother Element is part of a strong movement across many countries and modern cultures, to reclaim these rites.
The most common passage honored across cultures is a Coming of Age event during adolescence, to celebrate young adulthood and the end of childhood. However, another critical shift in consciousness occurs earlier for youth, that sets the stage for well-being much earlier than adolescence, and often goes unrecognized. This gap leaves many overwhelmed families dealing with new "behavior" issues from their 7-9 year old that are simply unmet needs shouting for more care.
In Mother Element, we focus on honoring Middle Childhood, as an opening into feeling consciousness. We find that nourishing the whole family during the development of relational and emotional skills, builds a strong foundation to support the upcoming challenges faced in adolescence and well into adulthood.
One of the biggest hurdles in families wanting to introduce Rites of Passage, is that most of us adults have not had the experience ourselves. Of course, life has initiated us, with challenges, trials and opportunities to grow. We all build strength and character from this “school of hard knocks”. However, the critical components of ROP that allow for conscious transformation and deeper relationships with self, others and nature, are missing from that survival way of growth.
Our young children need us, as initiated adults, to hold gentle space for their sacred passages. Before claiming our role as Threshold Guardians, we Mothers must first journey through this initiatory terrain . Only then, coming out the other side, can we find comfort in this sacred role. Only then, may we be familiar with dying away to the old while welcoming unknown new aspects of self.
They offer reflection to the individuals’ journey, both acknowledging the past self and looking together at the road ahead, while modelling heart intelligence and coherence. Honoring both presence of the Sacred and the Threshold are key components that ripen the path of transformation available in a Rite of Passage.
After the foundational Embodyment dive opening healthy relationship with yourself as Woman, and the secondary step of creating healthy relationships with your children and Nature, Mother Element finally walks you through all the steps to prepare for and experience your own initiation as Mother. After the final integration phase of your own rite of passage, you are ready to co-create an initiatory experience for your child. Mother Element has all the tools for that step too!
Family Transitions... Are you prepared for navigating the changes of middle childhood?
Get my FREE Family Compass
Testimonials of Heart
Amanda and Walon
"After taking the workshop with Alison I felt empowered to explore exactly what type of celebration could honor my 9 year old boy as he takes his first steps toward adolescence and adulthood. I felt confident that whatever approach I chose to take would be the right one; that there is no ‘right’ way to do this, only that the way it unfolds ends up being the ‘right’ way every time. The process with Alison enhanced my confidence and ability to access my deeper wisdom as a Mother.
Our ROP was a most special, simple and profound ceremony. One of the great jewels of this process was coming to find the words for a core family value that I felt, but had never been asked or able to properly describe: the cultivation of loving relationships. The ceremony truly embodied this in every way; there was quiet space for reflection, contemplation and celebration of all of the stages of development leading up to the celebration of his 9th year. Sharing in this together as a family continues to contribute to the honoring of this special, and unspoken, core value of our family.
If I had not participated in this process with Alison I would not have been able to recognize the few subtle and simple ‘road blocks’ that were keeping me from expressing and honoring a very important passage for my son. It was important that I heard from her and from those in our small group just how important these ROP are to us as individuals and as a collective community. It was so affirming to be surrounded by parents who share similar, earnest desires to nurture and honor our children in the deepest way. I am so grateful to Alison for providing this unique and empowering experience and truly look forward to continuing the journey with her as I shepherd the rest of my children through each of their own unique ROP. " ~Amanda (Walon's Mom)