@radiantaurora

Part 2 Even when the ritual character of initiation trials is no longer perceived as such, it is clear that a person cannot become themselves without confronting a series of hopelessly difficult, sometimes dangerous situations — that is, they undergo “torments” and “death” and awaken to another life as a qualitatively different, “reborn” person. If one looks closely, all human life consists of a series of trials, “deaths,” and “rebirths.” Indeed, for the modern person, “initiation” no longer fulfills its ontological function, because it is not perceived as a religious and consciously embraced trial; it does not lead to a radical transformation of the initiate’s life, nor to their salvation. Initiation scenarios concern the psychological and existential planes. Yet they continue to function, which is why we say that the process of initiation coexists with the life of every human being. (Mircea Eliade)

0 reply

0 recast

0 reaction