Rites of Passage Spore

'Rites of Passage'
February 23rd, 7-9pm
@ Earth Honey Haven
Northwood Ct & Manzanita, in the Oakland Hills
Oakland, CA 94611

please RSVP on Facebook for address & parking info: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=192586287437755

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 ritu...als 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 Evolver SF Bay Area invites you to join us for an evening of experiential & thought-provoking goodness on the subject of 'Rites of Passage'. We will be:

- Transforming ourselves into another realm through tribal face painting

- Having a 'round table discussion' on modern day 'Rites of Passage', how they apply to society today & where we can recognize & honor the rites of passage we incur on our journeys.

- Sound healing journey featuring Isaac 'Awesome' on didgeridoo

- 'Doin' the dance' of transformation & community celebration, for ourselves & for our current global transformation.

- Potluck!! Bring an oh-so-tasty dish to share with our Evolver tribe!

- More to be announced...

- Sliding Scale Donation: $10-20 ($5 if you bring a dish!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Earth Honey Haven is located in the Oakland Hills, so we will be doing a BART pick-up @ the Rockridge Station for anyone in need. The pick-up will be @ 6:30 sharp, so please be there a bit before that time. Please leave a comment if you will be needing to hitch a ride from the BART.

Please RSVP on our Facebook event page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=192586287437755

We look forward to seeing & being with you!

With gratitude & meows,
the Evolver Bay Area crew....