RITE OF PASSAGE FOR GIRLS
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On the first full moon after a young girl sees the blood issue forth from her
womb, she should have all the women in her family come to her house. All bring
food and drink dyed red. All should bring a gift wrapped in red paper for
the young woman that should not be used for a year, except for the little red
notebook her mother gives to her. After the circle is cast, the new woman goes
to her mother and says: "DEAR MOTHER, WHO HAS GIVEN ME LIFE IN THIS WORLD,
I BRING YOU GREAT NEWS. FOR TODAY I BECOME ONE with OUR GREAT MOTHER, AND
THROUGH HER, THE ETERNAL SPIRIT." And let the mother say unto her daughter:
"LET US REJOICE THIS DAY, AND SING PRAISES TO OUR GREAT MOTHER
WHO HAS MADE OF THE FRUIT OF MY FLESH, A WOMAN." All raise their glasses in
a toast, led by the newwoman.

"PRAISED BE OUR GREAT MOTHER WHO HAS MADE ME A WOMAN.
PRAISED BE OUR GREAT MOTHER WHO HAS MADE ME IN HER IMAGE."

After everyone drinks, she says:

"SUCH IS THE BLOOD OF OUR GREAT MOTHER.
FROM THIS DAY FORWARD MAY I BE ONE WITH HER AND,
THROUGH HER, ONE WITH THE ETERNAL SPIRIT.
FOR LO: I BLEED YET I AM WHOLE.
IN OUR GREAT MOTHER'S IMAGE I AM MADE,
THEREFORE, I REJOICE!"

Sexuality is opened up here, women discuss childbirths while letting the girl
participate and ask questions.  Everyone eats and drinks and has a good,
if quiet and contemplative, time. The girl is treated as if it is her
birthday, and in a way it is. She has crossed the threshold into a totally
new phase of her existence. This is her new form of birth, from be-ing in the
womb of chidhood to be-ing born with blood into woman-hood.  The women then
help the girl pack for a camping trip overnight.  She has a comfortable change
of clothes (preferably red), food dyed red, a red candle, a red towel, the
little red notebook, and a seashell, all wrapped in a red blanket or
sleeping bag.
And let the daughter pledge the following:

"AS THOU HAS GIVEN ME LIFE THROUGH LOVE, AND LOVE IN LIFE,
MAY I GIVE THEE LIFE THROUGH LOVE."

Let the new woman lead the women in a toast before drinking the red wine:

"SUCH IS THE BLOOD OF OUR GREAT MOTHER
WHO IS THE  WAXING AND WANING OF THE MOON,
THE EBB AND FLOW OF THE TIDES.
FOR THE FATHER, HER SON, IS BORN, DIES,
AND IS BORN AGAIN,
BUT OUR GREAT MOTHER ENDURES FOREVER."

Break the sacred bread and say:

"SUCH IS THE FLESH OF OUR GREAT MOTHER,
THROUGH WHICH WE PARTAKE OF THE PLEASURES OF THE FLESH.
FOR THE FATHER, HER SON,
IS BORN, DIES, AND IS BORN AGAIN,
BUT OUR GREAT MOTHER ENDURES FOREVER."

Before night falls, the girl goes out into a forest, by a lake, or in a cave,
whatever suits her or is available. She sets up camp there. She lights the
candle at Moonrise or nightfall, whichever comes FIRST.
She meditates on be-ing a woman, on the color red, on the Great Goddess,
the full Moon, and all other symbols which help her to come to terms with her
new existance as a woman.  When she has come to terms with her woman-hood and
her power, she goes to sleep and dreams on the entire day. She writes down
her dream in the little red notebook her mother has given her. Out of this
dream she chooses a name, and this will be her magical name. When she wakes up
the next day, she should (if possible), bathe in a pool or stream and dry off
with the towel.  She should (again, if possible), meditate naked on the
symbolism of water or the seashell.  She then picks up something that catches
her eye--a rock, a nut, a pinecone, etc. and leaves the seashell as a thanks
offering to Mother Nature.  The little red notebook can be used by her as a
grimoire or a dream journal.

*See She Lives! by Judith Laura.  
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