All over the world human cultures have designed rituals to commemorate the transitions which occur in each human life, to shine a light on the individual’s journey to a new level of responsibility and authority within their community. One of the most important of these rituals—and one conspicuously absent from mainstream Western culture—is the rite of passage out of childhood. This is a pivotal moment in every person’s life when they step out of being taken care of full time and begin to learn to care for themselves and for others. What happens when a civilization neglects this vital transition? We find ourselves surrounded by adults in a state of unfinished adolescence, unable to fully take responsibility for themselves or authentically serve their world. The consequences are manifest all around us.

At Boys’ Sacred Fire we make this transition our focus. We offer the opportunity for boys, families, and communities to recognize and ritualize this vital threshold in a way that builds each teen’s capacity for self-understanding, responsibility, leadership, and service. With over twenty-five years of first hand experience designing and running rite of passage events, and thousands of years of human culture as our inspiration, we give boys the opportunity to connect directly to their sacred essence so that they can become spiritually grounded adolescents on their way to a flourishing and fulfilled adulthood.