RITE OF PASSAGE FOR BOYS
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On the first morning after the boy discovers his seed
has issued forth from him in the night, He shall then praise
the Father, saying:
 
          "STRONG AND BRAVE IS THE FATHER, HER SON, WHO
           TEMPERS HIS POWER WITH LOVE.  AS TODAY MY SEED HAS
           STREAMED FROM ME, SO MAY THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE
           OF THE FATHER STREAM TO ME.  AND LIKE HIM, MAY I
           TEMPER MY POWER WITH LOVE.  BLESSED BE THE FATHER,
           HER SON, IN WHOSE IMAGE I AM MADE."
 
     All the men of the Coven or Grove come over.  Women stay
home, except for the women and girls who live with the boy,
who go out for the day to leave the men alone.  The men bring
over foods and drinks dyed green and gifts wrapped in green
wrapping paper.  The father gives the boy a little green
notebook.  These gifts, with the exception of the notebook,
are not to be used for one year.  Everyone wears green.
There is feasting and general merriment, but of a more
contemplative type.  As the food is eaten, advice is given
and anecdotes shared.  The men help the boy pack a bundle for
an overnight camping trip.  A green candle, a comfortable
change of clothes (preferably green), a green towel, food
dyed green, the little green notebook, and a pinecone, all
wrapped up in a green blanket or sleeping bag.  Before dark,
the boy goes out to a lake, a cave, a forest, or whatever he
likes or is available.  He camps there.  At sunset, he lights
the candle and meditates upon be-ing a man, on the full Moon
(the symbol of maturity), and the color green.  When he has
come to terms with his self, his be-ing a man, and his power,
he goes to sleep and dreams on the entire day.  He remembers
his dream and writes it down in the little green notebook.
Out of his dream he chooses a new name.  This will be his
magical name.  When he wakes up the next day, he bathes in a
pool or stream (if possible), and drys off with the towel.
He meditates naked (again, if possible), on the Great God,
the rape-fighter, and on his connection with Him.  He can
meditate on the symbolism of the pinecone.  He then picks up
something that catches his eye--a stone, a feather, a shell,
etc.  He leaves the pinecone as thanks.  When he gets back
home, the men form a circle around him and declare him the
Great God.  He tells them his new magical name and they chant
it.
     And let this young man turn to those who have gathered
and say:
 
          "FATHERS AND BROTHERS FROM WHOSE STRENGTH I DRAW
          STRENGTH, REJOICE WITH ME.  FOR THIS DAY DO I
          REJOICE IN THE STRENGTH OF THE FATHER, HER SON."
 
     He then goes to his father and says:
 
          "FATHER, WHOSE SEED I CARRY, REJOICE WITH ME.  FOR
          ON THIS DAY HAVE I GROWN STRONG IN THE FATHER, HER
          SON."
 
     His father shall respond:
 
          "MAY HIS COURAGE AND STRENGTH EVER BE YOURS."
 
     Let the new man sprinkle seeds in a circle around him,
saying:
 
          "AS THESE SEEDS NOW STREAM FROM MY HAND, SO HAS MY
          SEED STREAMED FROM MY LOINS.  MAY THE FATHER, HER
          SON, HENCEFORTH GIVE ME THE STRENGTH NOT TO SCATTER
          MY SEED WITHOUT DISCIPLINE.  AND JUST AS I DO NOT
          NOW SCATTER THIS SEED TO THE WIND, BUT PLANT IT
          DILIGENTLY IN THE EARTH, SO MAY MY SEED NOT BE
          SCATTERED.  BUT MAY THE POWER OF THE FATHER, WHICH
          DAILY GROWS WITHIN ME, ALWAYS BE TEMPERED BY THE
          LOVE OF HER SON.  AND AS HER SON IS DEVOTED TO OUR
          GREAT MOTHER, MAY I ALSO ALWAYS BE DEVOTED TO SHE
          WHO IS THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE."
 
     The circle of men then says:
 
          "BRAVE, STRONG AND LOVING IS THE FATHER, HER SON.
          MAY WE BE BRAVE IN HIS FOOTSTEPS.  MAY HIS STRENGTH
          BE OUR STRENGTH.  AND MAY THE STRENGTH OF THE
          GREAT MOTHER ALWAYS BE TEMPERED BY THE LOVE OF HER SON.
          FOR THE FATHER, HER SON, IS BORN, DIES, AND IS BORN
          AGAIN, BUT OUR GREAT MOTHER ENDURES FOREVER."
 
     The young man is now treated as a young adult as opposed
to a child.
     He can keep the little notebook as a grimiore or a dream
journal.


See She Lives! by Judith Laura.