What is the meaning of an experience?

What is the meaning of an experience? ^^BELLRINGER ^^ Quick minute to discuss and clarify a few things about the course sheet and policies…PLEASE TAKE THESE PACKETS OUT Fast check of HW

What did you bring in for class? • How does this item/picture/article relate to the idea of a ritual or Rite of Passage? • What does it make you think about?

Today’s objectives: • Students will be able to explain what a ritual is. • Students will be able to give examples of both traditional (primitive) and modern “rituals.” • Students will be able to explain the RITE OF PASSAGE and why it is important, individually and culturally.

THE RITE OF PASSAGE WORKSHEET • PAIR UP WITH THE PERSON SITTING TO YOUR LEFT (THERE WILL MOST LIKELY BE ONE GROUP OF THREE) • USE YOUR NOTES FROM LAST NIGHT’S READING TO COMPLETE THE QUESTIONS • 15-20 MINUTES

What is the meaning of experience? • Experience is polysemous (has many potential meanings) • Basically, it has no meaning until we give meaning to it. • (ex. Valedictorian at Graduation vs. student who spent most of his/her time in the dean’s office) • We make experience mean what we want it to mean, and we usually do this based on how we have interpreted (or have been taught to interpret) such experiences in our past. • For a culture to function, certain experiences must have common meanings.

Rituals… Help everyone understand, accept and abide by the standards, relationships or roles established by the rituals

Rite of Passage can be described as… • A RITUAL that gives significance to the experience of becoming an adult • In society, there is a need for people to act as adults and assume adult responsibilities, or else our society will collapse • Perhaps a country that is empty of rituals must be full of laws

RITUALS defined: • Any regular activity performed in a set manner can be called a ritual • Even the routine we follow when we get out of bed can be ritualistic • Rituals operate on several levels • A daily “wake up” ritual isnt as significant as a graduation ritual

Rituals continued • Ritualized patterns are “automatic pilots” guiding us automatically in our daily activities, behaviors, attitudes and relationships • Ritualized activities are habitual • …BUT there is a distinct difference between something that is simply habit and something that is ritualized…

…RITUALIZED ACTIVITIES… • Tend to serve a psychological purpose or need • Ex. Stopping to get coffee before work is a pre-work ritual for many Americans • We develop small, almost unconscious rituals to define relationships • Shaking hands when we meet someone new confirms a good start to the introduction..or even hugging pals when you see them. Some people get uncomfortable if this ritual isn’t performed and assume something is wrong.

Ritual, the Journey, and Transformation • Rituals emphasize the process of transformation of meaning • Look at our lives as webs of meaningful relationships…when part of this web is broken or disturbed, the meaning is disturbed • The process of building or rebuilding meaning manifests itself through rituals and journeys • Effective rituals are a part of the journeys toward new meaning • They help us with the transformations that keep us in harmony in our world and in our lives

Traditional cultures and rituals • Early people lived with the earth as a part of the cycle and flow of life • They understood their place in that flow and lived in harmony with it, often by using rituals • Performed rituals to • begin and end the seasons • Celebrate the rebirth of the sun at the winter solstice (now X-mas) and the rebirth of life at the spring equinox (now Easter) • Rituals installed leaders, prepared warriors, and sent the dead into the next life

Traditional cultures and rituals • Early people even ritualized small things: • The visit of a friend • The killing of animals • The felling of trees • The telling of stories • Rituals gave depth, meaning and significance to the experiences of life, and early peoples celebrated them for almost every aspect of their world

Modern culture and rituals of transition • Modern culture has devitalized ritual • Devitalize: deprive of strength and vigor (weaken) • Air horns at Graduation, the odd process of receiving your license • What are some other events or activities that you might consider Rites of Passage?

Basic training as a Rite of Passage • Rite of Passage rituals are important to help people make the adjustments they must make to be able to do certain things • Ex. In primitive cultures, tribes had rituals with dancing, drumming and chanting to prepare warriors for battle

Basic training as a Rite of Passage • In our culture, young adults entered into the military pass a long initiation called “basic training.” • Heads are shaved, they are dressed alike, and their individual egos are replaced with the military team spirit • After basic, they are warriors—a close knit team ready to follow orders instantly in life and death situations. • The basic training ritual produces a significant shift in consciousness

Ritual’s psychological power • Harmonize our attitude to a transitional situation • Prepare us to do something difficult or significant • Help us heal after a trauma or tragedy • Connect us with the “divine” • Emphasize and validate change • When everyone else is validating the change, it helps the initiate come to terms with/acknowledge the fact that it is going to happen • Helps the community acknowledge the initiate as an adult, worthy of new respect and rights

No more Rites of Passage • In our culture, there are few clear points of passage—events that tell us that we are now adults and that tell adults to treat us as equals • Distinction between childhood and adulthood becomes blurred, and the culture produces adults who act like children • “Uninitiated people” fail to realize that they are part of the community • Take the community’s support, but don’t return any support

The symbols of death and rebirth • Two common symbols for rebirth in both myths and stories: • The cave (or other dark, deep place) • Water

The symbols of death and rebirth • Dark hut/cave, often used for initiations, is a metaphor for the womb • Initiate (child) returns to the womb of Mother Earth, where he/she will be reborn as an adult • Many R of P’s require initiates to keep eyes shut, remain silent, or to forget their past…it makes them “infant adults” that must break all connections with their child lives • Water also indicates rebirth • Initiate might be pulled under water or will immerse him or herself in water (Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump) at the moment of renewal

Water and rebirth • Water represents the unconscious, the depths of self, where the would-be hero must go to discover his or her real identity, and water creatures represent the energy and life force in the unconscious FINDING NEMOhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnERX32FL24

HOMEWORK • Read Rites of Passage pg. 25 (highlight the ritual, its elements and importance) • How does each stage affect the initiate’s understanding and perspective? • COMPLETE STEPS 1-4 on Create Your Own Rite of Passage worksheet for class tomorrow—this will give you a jump start on the assignment we will do in the computer lab tomorrow.

What is the meaning of an experience?