Hearth
Rites of Passage for Girls
Rites of Passage
Throughout our lives we will go through many periods of transition. Many cultures around the world mark out particularly potent moments in life through ceremony and celebration. These ceremonies mark both the end of one life phase and the beginning of the next. These life phases go by many names and descriptions but often are various forms of childhood, adolescence, adulthood, parenthood, elderhood.
Humans go through transitions regardless of whether we are celebrated or held in them. However, when we are offered structure and support it allows us to go through these transitions with more intention and in ways that are supportive of our growth. Public acknowledgement of these transitions is also an important aspect of this work and allows both participants and their community to see and been seen in new ways easing the tensions that can arise in such moments.
Girls to Young Women
The passage from childhood through teenhood to adulthood is a long one in our culture with many internal changes along the way. We do not jump straight from childhood to the adult world, there are years and years between the two, and the transformations are profound and intense. So we ask the question: how do we acknowledge change as it occurs?
This is not a transformation only for the individual girl; often, it marks a transition for an entire family and community as a new being emerges into young adulthood full of their own ideas, beliefs, experiences, dreams, fears, wonderings, and desires. This ceremony is for both the girls and their families to celebrate and grieve the endings and beginnings that are emerging.
Girls are asked to imagine and live into who they wish to become. Families and communities are asked to intentionally acknowledge and support that process.
What is Hearth?
Hearth is a rite of passage ceremony lasting from 1 to 3 years. We ask girls to commit to the full first year, which runs March through August. The main ceremony will take place over 6 days in August with once a month preparatory meetings leading up to the Rite.
Girls will work closely with our community of guides, aunts, and elders learning physical, mental, emotional, and ceremonial skills which will support their time in ceremonial space in August. Each year a new cohort of girls will form who will go through the rite together.
If you wish to speak to someone to learn more, to sign up a girl, ask questions please email us at westernmasswildernessrites@gmail.com.
What will be taught?
We utilize many different practices and activities to support personal development. We choose what is needed to support each group as they navigate through the year.
Things taught in the past includes a mix of “hard” and “soft” skills. Hard skills include, carving, knot tying, camp set up, outdoor cooking, and more. Soft skills refer to skills such as emotional processing, intuition honing, singing, journaling, listening, and cultivation of self.
2025 Dates:
Preparatory Meetings Year 1:
March 14th 5-8pm
April 11th 5-8pm
May 9th 5-8pm
June 6th 5-8pm
July 6th 9am-3pm
July 30th 5-8pm
Preparatory Meetings Year 2:
April 11th 5-8pm
June 6th 5-8pm
July 6th 9am-3pm
July 30th 5-8pm
6-day Rite All Participants: August 9th-14th
Tuition:
First year: $1200
Second year: $600
Third year: $600
We have scholarship funds available. Please reach out to us if a scholarship is needed. We work hard to ensure that we can accommodate as many people as possible.