Designing your own coming-of-age ritual: L&S will always get with a family to prepare a rite of passage for their child that provides a significant passage ritual. Many families are now creating their own. The L&S suggests that it incorporate a number of elements:  | Contact with the natural environment: One or more days spent in nature, experiencing isolation, beauty and grandeur. | | Ordeal: A test of strength, self-discipline, and endurance: a fast, an all night vigil, a difficult task. | | Solitude: A complete physical withdrawal from the pressures of life. | | Public recognition: An "...announcement, ceremony or gathering with family and friends..." to acknowledge the person's new status. | | Symbolic representations: Some object that symbolizes the person's new status: a totem, ring, etc. | 
A Wiccan coming-of-age ceremony: There are very few Wiccan coming-of-age ceremonies available on the Internet. The following is one by LadyHawke. LadyHakwe, asked her 11 year-old daughter if she would like a coming-of-age ceremony. She said that she wanted one held at the Midsummer Sabbat (seasonal day of celebration). Materials needed (in addition to the usual Wiccan ritual tools): | One large white candle | | Two small candles. The colors are chosen by the child. One is chosen to symbolize childhood; the other adulthood. | | Three candle holders. | | Candle sniffer. | | Bowl of blessed water, rose petals, and rose oil | | A present symbolizing her coming of age. | Sometime before ceremony the child asks the God or Goddess to reveal her magical name to her. The ritual: | Cast circle. This is a the first part of a standard Wiccan ritual. The child is in the center. | | Present child, saying: "Creator of All in this sacred place, we present to you <the child's legal name.> We ask for Your Presence and Blessings for this ceremony celebrating her transition from child to young adulthood." | | The child lights the candle that symbolizes childhood. | | The mother asks of the child:  | "Are you ready to dedicate yourself to the Three-in-One, and to use the gifts you have been given wisely?" (The "gifts" are presumably knowledge and ability to perform rituals and magic). | | "Will you be careful of what you do, since we live in a world of cause and effect?" | | "Will you be careful of who you trust so you do not cause confusion or fear?" | | "Will you not use the Gift to hurt others, except when pursuing true Justice, for what is sent is returned?" | | "Will you not use the Gift against someone else who has the Gift, except when pursuing true Justice, for the Gift comes from the same Source?" | | "Will you only use the Gift when you feel it in your heart and know it in your mind?" | | "Are you willing to treat every man as your brother and every woman as your sister for they are by the Creator's hand?" | | | If she answers affirmatively to all that is asked of her, she lights the candle that symbolizes adulthood. | | She is anointed with the blessed water which contains rose petals and rose oil. | | She is given the present. | | The Mother says: "Through your mouth and this rite you have proclaimed that you are spirituality ready to be an adult. Welcome to the 'Journey for Greater Knowledge'. Henceforth, you shall be called <new magical name>." | | The large white candle is placed as a center piece for the celebration meal. It is lit. | | After the meal, the circle is banished. | | The white candle should be allowed to burn for at least an hour. | |
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