Crossroads: The Quest for Contemporary Rites of Passage

by Louise Carus Mahdi

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Author: Louise Carus Mahdi

Publisher: Open Court

Paperback:
ISBN 10: 0812691903
ISBN 13: 978-0812691900

Crossroads is a rich, multidisciplinary collection of contemporary thought on rites of passage from leading psychologists, anthropologists, social and religious leaders, medical professionals, educators, and parents. Contributions include personal first-hand accounts of rites of passage that hold a profound meaning for the authors, practical information about contemporary professional work by individuals and organizations working with youth in transition, inspiring myths and stories from many cultures, and meditations on life transitions in relation to the problems we face today, such as the epidemics of violence and teen pregnancy.

"In no uncertain terms, Crossroads opens our eyes to our responsibility to the adolescents who are now growing up without knowledge of the spiritual roots in their culture. Many of the writers have first-hand experience and first-rate ideas of how to transform this cultural crisis. Piercing insight with realistic hope!"
―Marion Woodman
author of The Ravaged Bridegroom

"Crossroads serves as a guide book to exploring all new terrains through the development of fascinating new programs in education. These new programs are designed by devoted elders to instruct and help bridge the gap . . . . Just as Black Elk, shaman of the Ogalala Sioux tribe, had a vision for the survival of his people, so too do the contributors of Crossroads."
―Ronnie Landau
The Round Table Review

Review

Crossroads opens our eyes to the responsibility to the adolescents who are now growing up without scared rituals and hence without knowledge of spiritual roots in their culture. Many of the writers have first-hand experience and first-rate ideas of how to transform this cultural crisis. Crossroads also challenges us to integrate our own inner adolescent. Piercing insight with realistic hope! -- Marion Woodman, author of The Ravaged Bridegroom

Crossroads serves as a guide book exploring all new terrains through the development of fascinating new programs in education. These new programs are designed by devoted elders to instruct and help to bridge the gap. Apprenticeship, visionquests, outdoor wilderness adventures, youth service activities, adolescent clinical programs which employ concepts of rites of passage as a methodology for healing, and others are discussed in detail. Just as Black Elk, shaman of the Ogalala Sioux tribe, had a vision for the survival of his people, so to do the contributors of Crossroads. -- Ronnie Landau, The Round Table Review

Modern society differs from all other cultures in its lack of rites at life's transitions: this new collection of fifty writings on aspects of these transitions document rites of passage in different cultures around the world, examining both myth, history, and contemporary rites of passage. Enjoy a balanced representation of races in a strong cultural investigation. -- Midwest Book Review

The writing is superb . . . this all encompassing book is a must for professionals in the helping professions, parents, and anyone interested in moving from separation to wholeness and understanding the needs of the community to heal -- Small Press

From the Back Cover

Crossroads is a comprehensive collection of fifty cutting-edge articles on diverse aspects of the transition to adulthood, covering experiences with contemporary rites of passage, the use of rites of passage to resolve the 'youth crisis' of gangs and violence, accounts of traditional rites of passage, and how-to guidelines for creating new rites of passage that may help to save our communities from despair and destruction.