A conversation on a recent hike surprised me in the best way. My friend and I wandered into a chat about how we grew up and what shaped us, and it pulled up old memories I had not thought about in a long time. I shared a bit about my upbringing and the sense of community that came with it, but what really landed for me was how many different ways people mark the big moments in their lives. It does not matter if it comes from a formal tradition or something more personal. We all have these turning points that nudge us forward and help us understand who we are right now.
Lately I have been noticing how many shifts in my own life feel like they are asking me to pause and pay attention. Some changes are easy to name and others are messy or in progress, and I am realizing that the in-between space is where a lot of the real movement happens. It is not always comfortable, but it is honest. So for this Wise Walk, I thought we could take a moment to look at whatever passages we are each moving through and give ourselves a little grace as we find our footing.
- Where are you in this present moment, and can you sense whether it marks a rite of passage in your life?
- What shift, milestone, or change feels most present for you right now, even if it is still taking shape?
- How is your career, environment, or relationships inviting you into a new phase of growth?
- Is there something you are preparing to welcome or create, whether a relationship, a move, a new project, or a dream you are finally giving energy to?
- What passages in your life feel ready to be acknowledged, honored, or named out loud?
- When you think about separation, what are you slowly releasing or loosening your grip on?
- Where are you standing in a liminal space, not quite who you were and not yet who you are becoming?
- How does uncertainty show up for you in this season, and what helps you stay grounded as you move through it?
- What inner resources or strengths are helping you navigate this in-between phase?
- Where can you feel the beginning of reintegration, that subtle shift that tells you something within is changing?
- How might you celebrate or honor the moment you recognize yourself emerging on the other side of this threshold?
- What does stepping into your next version of self look or feel like in your body, your heart, or your daily rhythm?
Thank you for spending this time with me. I hope today's conversation helps you notice the passages unfolding in your own life and gives you a little more appreciation for where you are right now. Until next Thursday's Wise Walk, remember to read the signs, trust your path, and get your stride on.
In this episode:
- [05:08] The term rite of passage comes from French anthropologist Arnold van Gennep, who coined it in 1909 and described three phases: separation, liminal, and reintegration.
- [07:39] In the different ceremonies there's a separation of who we were, then a transformation of stepping into a new identity, and it's about incorporating yourself as a new emerging entity.
- [08:16] Not all of the rites of passage that I've experienced are religious. My current situation and moving is a massive rite of passage. I've separated from my home, and I'm in a liminal phase of uncertainty.
- [09:04] I'm moving to a phase of re-emerging into something different.
- [10:13] Retirement is a rite of passage as well as changing careers.
- [11:37] Going back to school or going through a phase of education and knowledge are all rites and passage.
- [12:50] I've moved many times, and it's a literal rite of passage. It has emotional, mental and spiritual passages that we have to overcome to get where we want to go.
- [13:12] Divorce is another rite of passage.
- [14:23] I like the idea of honoring all rites of passage whether it's transitional or an expansion of heavy stuff.
- [15:04] I'm also going through a professional rite of passage with all of the new certifications I'm getting like shamanic Reiki and healing and energy work and drum making.
- [16:07] I'm going to embrace and celebrate this liminal phase, because there is beauty in being in the corridor of not knowing exactly.
Memorable Quotes:
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- "Some moments in life tap you on the shoulder and remind you that you're changing, even if you didn't mean to." - Mary Tess
- "Every rite of passage has a little uncertainty in it, and that's what makes the celebration on the other side so meaningful." - Mary Tess
- "When you pause long enough to notice a transition, you give yourself a chance to honor who you're becoming." - Mary Tess
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