Rite of Passage
Vagabond Voices writing and living prompt.
This is True
Where is the journey
from who we are to
who we must be to weather
the cycle to come?
Where is the dirt
path, the wisdom
of elders?
This is true,
they would say,
were they here.
Where are the nights
alone screaming up
at the stars as yuccas
stab into the cosmos.
Where is the sweat
lodge, body, melting,
purified, essence discovered?
Where is the lone
traveler tearing
through borders like rice paper,
pushing past the caligraphy
that spiders and scrawls over
maps, seeking the other
that she may know
herself?
Where?
Rite of Passage — what does that mean to you?
What does that mean in normal times, in your present, in your past…these days?
What have you learned in your wanderings, your travels, your relationships, your connection with your ancestors, your culture…or your search for belonging?
Do we need rites of passage today?
Can we still embark on rites of passage in these times?
My challenge to you:
Take the idea of a rite of passage and run with it.
The literal, the non-literal, the lyrical, the messy, the heartfelt. Bring yourself, your traditions, your languages, and all your emotions.
Your experiments. Your creative messes. Your musings.
If you decide you just absolutely need a rite of passage right now and you go out and have yourself an experience?
Maybe that’s enough…maybe you return wiser and tell us all about it.
And if you have to create your own rite of passage in these odd times by any means at your disposition? That is a radical act of creativity right there.
This is pure invitation, not obligation.
As always, if you’d like to submit a story on the prompt to Vagabond Voices, I would love to welcome it here.
There is no deadline. You can show up with your rite of passage months from now. We’d love to hear about it.
If you’ve got another story to share with us in the meantime? Well, share that. We’re eager to listen around the campfire.
If you are new to the Vagabond Voices publication, you can ask to join us by leaving a comment below.
Join the community, write for us, read with us…and more.
If you’d like to stay aware of all our community events — like writing workshops, book chats, the latest on our anthology…or just get a few extra writing prompts, you can sign up here.
Curious to know what we’re reading the first few months of 2021? The book list is here.
Here is some inspiring writing from our community.
Enjoy!
By Lee Ameka:
By Mary McGrath
Thanks for reading!
