Initiation
Saturday, April 7, 2007 at 09:06AM One of the big events this year is Initiation. Initiation is a specific rite of passage that focuses on entrance into something. In this particular case it is moving into a specific tradition. My Reclaiming Initiation is scheduled for October. I'm looking forward to connecting the lineages of this relatively new (less than 25 years), but powerful, tradition. I've had other Initiatory rites in my life. Most recently I went through a Ngondro Empowerment with the Khenpo Brothers. It was a lovely ceremony and the practices of the Nyingma Tradition are part of my own tradition. The Khenpos are also who I took refuge, White Tara and Medicine Buddha Empowerment from. The swirling energies of all these lineages through my body is quite interesting. I am simply unable to do all the different practices associated with each of them. However, they are a part of who I am and who I want to be going forward. They power associated with history and the power created by others who have channeled this very energy are part of me.
I'm in the process of forming another initiation team. Go figure! Right now, I'm having to put my dissertation team together to submit a graduate plan of study. It feels a wee bit early to do this, yet, I'm taking my first steps this summer by taking my comprehensive exams that are based on the completion of the core classes required for my PhD. An initial hurdle is done at that point.
What is it that makes initiation so powerful? For me, it is not only the mark of starting something and being a part of something, but it is also about letting something from the past go. It is difficult to say, in all instances, what that something I'm letting go is, but nonetheless, that's part of the process. What death must occur in these rites of passages? What am I letting go of? These seem like key questions to the repeated initiations I'm a part of. I also find myself being really committed to make this academic initiation a sacred event. What the hell does that look like? How can I make that happen? Stay tuned.
Magic
Reader Comments (1)
Stan-What a powerful conjunction of transitions! I am in awe, and wish you all blessings at every magical step.