Evolver Calgary February Spore: Rites of Passage

In traditional societies, rites of passage play a crucial role in the continuity of culture and the life of the individual. Initiatory rituals, like the walkabouts of the Australian Aboriginals or the Sun Dance of the Lakota, weave deep levels of meaning into the stages of life and death, introduce candidates to the spiritual realms that exist beyond the world we know, and mark the transition into adulthood. Many initiatory rituals involve intense suffering and privation, or the ingestion of psychoactive plants in ceremony. Rites of passage end with a community celebration and a collective witnessing of the initiate's return.

Modern civilization did away with rites of passage, leaving most people with no way to access deeper dimensions of spiritual wisdom with the sanction of our community. Our current educational and cultural system tends to indoctrinate people into a particular cultural program and set of disempowering beliefs, leaving them dependent on authority structures, rather than shepherding them through an initiatory process that brings them to a state of self-knowledge and personal responsibility. This lack of initiatory knowledge feeds the widespread depression, divisiveness, and cynical disregard of the environment we find across the planet today.

How can we address this loss of ritual in today's culture? Can we create new rites of passage that mesh with our contemporary sensibilities? Does the rising interest in Eastern spiritual disciplines, shamanic ceremonies, neo-tribal festivals like Burning Man, and mystery schools reveal a reemergence of this arcane awareness around the world? Could civilization itself be acting out a hero’s journey, embarking on a quest of separation, initiation, and reunion? If so, how do we participate in this cultural shift?

This month the Evolver Social Movement invites you to join 40+ Evolver Spores as we explore how we can reintroduce rites of passage into our modern consciousness to create authentic experience, self-knowledge, and harmony amongst ourselves, our communities, and the world.

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Join Evolver Calgary this month as we hear first hand experiences and detailed analysis of modern avenues for personal rites of passage. We will be having exciting presentations from a few thought provoking individuals during this month's Spore.

Sequoyah Trueblood: Inter-Cultural Sharing and Life Ways Facilitator

Sequoyah is enrolled with the Choctaw nation of Oklahoma, USA, has lived predominantly with the Mohawk nation in Kanawake, Canada for almost two decades, but has been invited to many regions and lands throughout Mother Earth and calls wherever he is at that moment "home". His current path enables him to pass on the heart of the original teachings of the Sacred Mystery to all who will allow him to do that. They are the original teachings that bind all peoples, all cultures, and all nations together here on Mother Earth, and are open to everyone, always. Sequoyah will be speaking about his personal experience and knowledge of Rites of Passage and may even have a participatory experience for us to share!

Dr. David Lertzman

Dr. Lertzman has been involved for over 20 years with in wilderness experience programs with Aboriginal and other youth, as well as adults, and has also offered University courses delivering related programs. He has written a research paper titled, "Rediscovering Rites of Passage" which focuses on the importance of Rites of Passage and their place in modern society.

Jen: Burning Man Festival

Burning Man is an annual experiment in temporary community, dedicated to radical self-expression and radical self-reliance. The journey starts with buying your ticket and ends when you get home from the event. This year’s theme is Rites of Passage. Jen (aka Lamer), the Alberta Regional Contact for the Burning Man Organization, will be speaking about the 'rite' of going to Burning Man. It may change your life.
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Wednesday, February the 16th at Prema Sai Wholistic Living

Please aim to arrive around 7:15 as we would like to be started at 7:30!

Hope to see you all there :o)