Subj : COA pt 3/3                                                              

 And this is pt3 of 3 of the Coming of Age for a Young Woman by Arwen Nightstar



     HPS:  I present to you _______ a maiden on her way to being a 
           woman.  This is her next step.

     North:  I am the North.  I am the mountain, the meadow, the bones
             that you walk with.  I will bring you courage.  I will
             bring you knowledge.  What will you bring me?

     Maiden:  I acknowledge you, Northern Cave.  Thank you for your
              gifts.  I bring you (symbol/toy) to prove my willingness
              to step into womanhood.

     North silently takes the gift and offers her own gift to the maiden.

     At this point, the maiden's helper should take the gifts from the
     maiden so that her hands are free.  The HPS will lead the girl to
     the altar where Spirit is waiting.

     HPS:  I present to you _________ who had journeyed the four
           directions and is ready to meet Spirit and fully comit
           to being a woman.

     Spirit:  Is this spoken truly?
     
     Maiden:  Yes, I am ready.

     Spirit:  I am Spirit--the center, the inner core, the kernel of
              life that is unique within you.  I will bring you your
              psychic self.  I will bring you the Goddess and the God.
              Here is a gift freely given...a picture of the Great
              Goddess...she of a thousand names...She who is.  (hands
              the maiden the mirror wrapped in cloth.  After the girl
              has looked into the mirror....Spirit says) "You are
              the Goddess.  The Goddess is you.  Treat yourself with
              love and respect and honor for the Lady deserves no less.

     Maiden:  I acknowledg you Spirit and I thank you for your gifts.
              I would give you this gift in return.  It symbolizes
              my last link with childhood and my willingness to become
              an adult.  (If the maiden wishes, she may briefly tell
              the coven what this (symbol/toy) represents to her.)

     Spirit takes the gift with reverence and passes it around the
     coven.  As each covenor takes the gift, they may offer a wish
     for the maiden.  When it reaches Spirit again, Spirit will hold
     it high and say:

              "Your gift is to the Goddess and to her it must return.
              <Handing the gift back to the maiden>  Maiden no more, 
              but woman take this to remind yourself that always
              Thou art Goddess.  Never let childhood be so far behind
              that you cannot turn easily to regain a laugh or play
              a silly game.  
              (turns to coven)  I present ________a woman.

     Cakes and wine (Kool-aid would be a pleasant reminder of youth)
     and tell stories about covenor's coming of age.

     Take down circle in the usual way.

***End notes****

   The young woman and her mother or chosen helper should take
   the four gifts to the four quarters and donate them to a 
   chosen charity.

   Pre-circle chat with her mother and or HPS should include
   sexual awareness, sexual identity, safe sex, abuse issues,
   body awareness......

   It is also important to really emphasize that womanhood does
   not mean leaving one's childhood in the dust!  Be playful
   so that the maiden will have visual notice that adults
   can and DO play silly!


     *********************END***************************

http://www.anisoptera.com