Today, our children are often ‘named’ at an ‘at-home ceremony’, where family and friends gather to celebrate the birth of the child and also to personally welcome this particular child into their family unit. Naming celebrations are generally informal and casual affairs, as one would expect at an occasion that is usually attended by many small children. Typically, they are hosted in parks or a family home B.B.Q., though occasionally at a small function centre or restaurant. This often coincides with a child’s first birthday and it is not uncommon that they occur even later and become a part of the parent’s marriage day commitment. This is called a Family Commitment Ceremony, where all members pledge their love, loyalty and commitment to each other. Perhaps it is also recognition of our transition to parenthood, acknowledging the presence of our offspring and their impact on our lives. It is a sharing with our nearest and dearest, and it is the occasion when we bestow the chosen names upon our children. It is a completion of the birthing process and the start of the next stage of development. Some parents select God Parents to become involved in their child’s upbringing. This can be as flexible as possible according to the beliefs of the parents. A Certificate of Appointment may be issued to the godparents as show of gratitude from the parents. Others may choose to include all present at the ceremony, to remain close to their child throughout their life. Whatever format is chosen, it is clear that the message is one of love, care and commitment to this child. Certificates issued to the Grandparents may also be included especially if they live a distance away and the parent’s wish for them to be included in some way with their child’s life. Beside naming and welcoming the newcomer, Naming Ceremonies are a great way to foster community and kinship with your family and friends. It can be a rewarding experience for all involved, and what better reason to have a party.

A Wiccaning ritual often includes the summoning of deceased ancestors to watch over the child, to guide them on their path, and bless them with goodness and light. Variations of this ritual include choosing guardians within the coven to look out for the child, similar to the role of the Godparents in a Christening or Baptism ceremony, making wishes and blessings for the child’s future and the lighting of candles. It is also important that the child is introduced to the elements and Gods and Goddesses chosen to watch over them during the ritual. The age of the child at the time of the Wiccaning ritual is most often chosen by the parents. A Wiccaning is most commonly attended within the child’s first year, and often is used as an occasion to mark the child’s first birthday; although Wiccaning rituals can occur at any age with older children often participating in their own ritual . It is important to realise that even though a child may have a Wiccaning ritual to celebrate their birth, it does not mean that the child will be committed to a specific religious path as an adult. As Wicca is a religion of individual choice, one may choose to continue with this life path or not. Following a Wiccaning, a child is placed under the protection of specific Goddesses and Gods during their ritual, and then is allowed to choose his or her individual religious path when they feel they are old enough to make a decision. A Wiccaning ceremony is also an affirmation of the parents and the other Coven members or other Wiccan group’s ongoing commitment to the child as they grow. This commitment is based on the tenets of love, caring, teaching and the ability to grow and learn within nature based religions, with the freedom to explore other spiritual pathways.

This was a critical time of life where the young man would enter into greater responsibilities and larger understandings.
Across time, all cultures have understood that without the clear marker of initiation into manhood on the journey of life, young males often have a difficult time making the transition into adulthood, therefore it was understood that these rituals were one of the community’s most important ritualistic celebrations. Whilst the coming of age ceremony of many ancient cultures may appear particularly gruesome by today’s standards of initiation into adulthood, these cultures for prehistoric times onwards, created these rites of passage for a specific reason, to initiate boys into manhood. Today these ritualistic ceremonies are almost extinct, and young boys have no clear mark on their journey towards becoming a man. Today you may see this phase as being when a young man graduates college and gets a desired job, or when they are married and have a child. The issue with this in today’s society that these markers of adulthood occur latter and later into life especially in regards to marriage and children. So with these traditional rites of passage being left behind, and our modern markers of adulthood being delayed until later in life, many young men are left feeling stuck somewhere between boyhood and manhood.

In the western world there are very few male initiation rituals in modern times. The most common coming of age ritual that occurs in Australia for young men is the 21st birthday celebration, with the excessive alcohol consumption being the worst thing the initiate experiences; which is by today’s standards a pretty tame way of marking the passage into adulthood, in comparison to the ritualistic practices of scaring of the body, land jumping or circumcision of ancient cultures. With all this being said, the process of entering into adulthood and becoming a man does not occur within a single moment. These ritualistic rites of passage into adulthood are an important celebration to let the young man know that the community will begin to think of him as a man and that he should start to behave as one, learning to deal with the responsibilities of adulthood.

While modern rites of passage such as a Confirmation or Bah Mitzvah often signifies of a young man entering into adulthood. Males who are not part of these belief systems can be helped along by the fathers and father figures within the family and community, where the young man is celebrated and welcomed into the community as an adult. But it should not mean that you need to be of a religious faith to celebrate a transition into manhood. It is important that from an early age that men are showing their sons the importance of the role of a man in their culture or religion, and this can then be a lead up to the important celebration of the coming of age ritual. Creating a unique ceremony for this special occasion is only going to give the occasion more importance. For others a father and son road trip or camping trip to celebrate a young man’s entrance into adulthood is another form of marking this important occasion. Whatever way is chosen to mark this occasion, it is defiantly one that needs to re-introduced into modern times, to assist the young males of the coven or wiccan community to transition themselves into adulthood, as this is an area where our culture does not do well at. An effective coming of age should begin early in life where children are shown how to act as adults and the responsibilities and privileges that will be bestowed upon them at their coming of age ritual. a young male who has learned that responsibility comes with entering into manhood is likely to accept these responsibilities when they are given to him. In the past Pagan cultures were very good at making the coming of age rituals an important celebration, therefore in today’s society, we need to bring these ceremonies back into existence, to aid our sons in the transition into manhood.

For female children traditionally the Coming of Age Ritual occurred at following their first menstruation, and was a celebration of life. In the past this ritual was an important step on the road to adulthood, where in the present day many cultures do not signify the relevance of this stage of life, and period of transformation from child to adult.

It is now a stage of life that is not discussed and hidden away, often leaving young girls confused and with a feeling of shame. The “curse” as it was named in more modern times, was something that was seen as simply that – a curse that all young women would encounter. In the present day when a young girl becomes a teenager they may have bestowed upon them more responsibility around the household, attending to more chores and caring for younger siblings whilst the parents are away from the home for short periods. In some cultures they celebrate this stage of life between the ages of 13 and 16 with celebrations such as Bat Mitzva for Jewish girls, Quinceanera for Spanish girls and Sweet 16 parties for girls who are not of any specific faith. These celebrations signify the entrance into adulthood and the time when a young girl will encounter increased responsibility. They may be able to get their first paid employment and learn to drive a car. Here in the south, especially within Australian culture of the present day, this tradition is lost completely. There is no celebration specific with this stage of life. Young girls begin their Secondary schooling at the age of 13 and this is when they are considered a teenager and gain more responsibility. It is not until the age of 18 that they are considered an adult. It is a great shame because young girls need this forgotten celebration as a reason to feel special, especially at a time when they are dealing with the stressors of peer pressure, body image and developing an identity for themselves.

It is important to redevelop the traditions and utilise the essence of the old rituals, and adapt them to suit today’s society. These rituals then can be adjusted to suit the development, personality and specific needs of the young woman. We are now beginning to realise the importance of this ritual, and the need for them to re-introduced into today’s society. There is a hope, especially with regards to girls’ coming of age rites, that we can give onto our young women the knowledge of the past, as well as the belief of themselves as a special, worthy and important part of the Coven or Wiccan family group. If this can be accomplished during the present generation, the ritual purpose may have a chance to be renewed; and with this we give the next generation of young womem a vital foundation on which to build their own decisions regarding their spiritual and personal growth, chosen career for the future, and choices surrounding sexuality, coupling and children; and with this the strength and courage to stand against discrimination if or when they may encounter it.

A Handfasting can be ‘until death do we part’ or for a select length of time, which is up to the participants. Handfastings are celebrated much the same way as modern weddings, but there are some distinct differences. The ceremony is usually held outdoors within a ritual circle. The couple shares their vows, and then their hands are bound together with cord or ribbon as a symbol of their partnership. It is believed that as long as the knots within this binding remain tied, the couple will remain together. They then may ‘jump the broom’ together, symbolizing the joining of the couple and representing the household they will share. Of course, some sort of party and feast follows. The original concept of a Handfasting Ceremony is said to have been a ritual that originated from the ancient Celtic cultures. A Handfasting Ceremony was often used with people of the peasant class as they were not wealthy enough to arrange a dowry. Therefore the Handfasting was used to signify the betrothal of the couple, much like an engagement today. A Handfasting Ceremony also used a cord or ribbon to bind the couples hands together, and then the couple were seen as married from then on. This occurred because many of the peasants could not afford rings to symbolise their union. Often the ceremony would also include the eating of sweetcakes made by the mothers of the couple their first meal together; the drinking of the honeymead from the chalice – believed that the couple would be blessed with a joyful honeymoon, and the jumping of the besom to signify the protection and purification of the couple within the magickal circle. The jumping of the besom also symbolises crossing the threshold, and taking a leap of faith. Also because the Besom is a tool for ritual cleansing, it symbolises the couple entering the union free of burden. The besom is also associated with blessings for fertility for the couple, so it’s use in the ceremony was traditionally very important. Many of these traditions continue in Handfasting Ceremonies today.

Beltane at the beginning of May is traditionally the time for Handfasting Ceremonies to occur . Beltane is the time of the sacred marriage between the Goddess and the God. In a Wiccan Handfasting the bride represents the Goddess and the groom represents the God. The couple are not seen as two individuals coming together, but two halves that go together to make up a whole being. The Wiccan marriage is based upon mutual respect and support, with your partner being more than just your husband or wife but also your best friend, Wiccans may wish to go through a legal marriage ceremony at the same time as their Handfasting to make their union official within their country. But what is important to the couple is that a High Priest or High Priestess performs the Handfasting within a sacred ritual circle, and they are able to celebrate their union with their loved ones and have a special feast.

During a Handfasting Ceremony the couple vow to remain within the partnership for as long as love shall last, after which each is permitted to leave the relationship and go their separate ways. The Ceremony is conducted by the High Priest or Priestess, and usually occurs at Beltane, or at a time when the moon is waxing. Traditionally all those attending the ceremony would be dressed in white or attend skyclad, although today this is not the case. Modern Handfasting ceremonies often follow a Celtic or medieval theme, with period dress worn by the couple as well as all attendees to the ceremony.Today a Handfasting Ceremony can be utilised in many ways, but most often to signify a betrothal or engagement. With the laws of many countries being as they are, Handfasting Ceremonies are a perfect way for same-sex couples to make their commitment known. But most of all a Handfasting ceremony can be added to any form of Wedding Ceremony regardless of the religions of the couple to make the partnership legal within the Pagan community since “tying the knot” is a phrase that universal to most cultures. Those who wish for their Handfasting to be a legal wedding as well as a legal Handfasting will require that their High Priest / High Priestess be certified as a Legal Marriage Celebrant within Australia to perform wedding ceremonies.

Handfasting Ceremonies can also be included as part of a traditional wedding, modern wedding or theme wedding.

Like other religions, Wiccans do not take their marriage vows lightly, and yet they realise that no matter how idyllic a relationship may seem in the beginning, people can change over time. Over the years, the passion and spark of love within the relationship may be extinguished, no matter how much the couple will fight against it. When this happens, most Wiccans believe that not good is being served by continuing to remain in a committed relationship with that person. It is far better to break the ties that once binded them in Handfasting, and let each partner go their separate ways, perhaps to find love and happiness again with another. Within the wiccan ritual of Handparting the couple agree to part, and to do so in love and with honour towards each other, It is very rare that a Wiccan couple will end their relationship in bitterness and animosity.Neither should be coerced into signing a document that they do not feel is fair, and the partnership is not final until the Handparting ceremony is performed.
Within some religions a divorce is viewed as a negative occurrence since the vows taken at the time of marriage often state ’til death do we part’. In Wiccan tradition this is not the case, since this vow is never given, rather the vow of ‘as long as love shall last’ is used. Therefore the Handparting Ceremony is an end to the relationship without negativity being attached to it. When possible, it is important that both partners are in attendance at the Handparting Ceremony, as this ceremony can bring closure and signify a true ending to marriage or a committed relationship. Just like the ritual of Handfasting, the Handparting ritual also occurs within a ritual circle, and the hands which were once bound are un-bound. This can also signify the severing of the emotional and magickal ties that the couple had to each other. Each person can then leave the circle to go their separate ways, to live a life free to their own wishes. This by all means does not signify that the relationship has been denied, ignored, or forgotten, it just means that each partner is free to go on with their own life. It is also seen as desirable to have the same person who had officiated over the Handfasting ceremony, to officiate over the Handparting Ceremony also.

Beltane at the beginning of May is traditionally the time for Handfasting Ceremonies to occur . Beltane is the time of the sacred marriage between the Goddess and the God. In a Wiccan Handfasting the bride represents the Goddess and the groom represents the God. The couple are not seen as two individuals coming together, but two halves that go together to make up a whole being. The Wiccan marriage is based upon mutual respect and support, with your partner being more than just your husband or wife but also your best friend, Wiccans may wish to go through a legal marriage ceremony at the same time as their Handfasting to make their union official within their country. But what is important to the couple is that a High Priest or High Priestess performs the Handfasting within a sacred ritual circle, and they are able to celebrate their union with their loved ones and have a special feast.

During a Handfasting Ceremony the couple vow to remain within the partnership for as long as love shall last, after which each is permitted to leave the relationship and go their separate ways. The Ceremony is conducted by the High Priest or Priestess, and usually occurs at Beltane, or at a time when the moon is waxing. Traditionally all those attending the ceremony would be dressed in white or attend skyclad, although today this is not the case. Modern Handfasting ceremonies often follow a Celtic or medieval theme, with period dress worn by the couple as well as all attendees to the ceremony.Today a Handfasting Ceremony can be utilised in many ways, but most often to signify a betrothal or engagement. With the laws of many countries being as they are, Handfasting Ceremonies are a perfect way for same-sex couples to make their commitment known. But most of all a Handfasting ceremony can be added to any form of Wedding Ceremony regardless of the religions of the couple to make the partnership legal within the Pagan community since “tying the knot” is a phrase that universal to most cultures. Those who wish for their Handfasting to be a legal wedding as well as a legal Handfasting will require that their High Priest / High Priestess be certified as a Legal Marriage Celebrant within Australia to perform wedding ceremonies.

Handfasting Ceremonies can also be included as part of a traditional wedding, modern wedding or theme wedding.

In today’s society there is no observed rituals to signify this period of a woman’s life, but within Wiccan traditions the time of menopause was traditionally honoured, and seen as marking the woman’s journey into Cronehood, where the age of sharing wisdom from experience begins. The Crone aspect of the Goddess signifies the keeper of the knowledge, the guardian of the coven’s secrets; and most importantly the significance of death, without which there is no opportunity for re-birth. Depending on the traditions of the Coven, a Croning ritual may occur in different ways, with some holding symbolic funerals for their fertility.

The rites of passage for the stage of a woman’s life known as crowning have been lost over many decades. There are many rituals dedicated to the Maiden stage of the journey, yet little documented regarding the life passage of the Crone or Croning rituals. Maybe this is because the typical view of the Crone has been replaced by the “hag” of a more modern time period. It maybe also perceived that the Crone is the transition towards death or because she may be threatening to society due to her vast amount of knowledge, and therefore given little importance as a life stage to be celebrated. Today women are beginning to realise that entering the life stage of the Crone does not mean that one’s life is over. It also does not mark the stage of life where power, beauty and sexuality comes to an end. The time of the Croning is all about the understanding of the transition, and the acceptance that one has reached the threshold of the fulfilment of female life experience and wisdom. Whilst this time of life is often viewed as the most feared and disregarded in today’s society, within the Wiccan community it is a time when a woman can continue to have a relevant role in society, and can even have more of a leadership role within the Coven.

Croning is also known by some as Eldering, and is an important stage in the life journey of any Wiccan. Modern Western society often relegates the older generation to positions of obscurity, where within Wicca the opposite actually occurs. Wiccan tradition is based around consciously honouring and valuing those who have lived and learned before us, and become the most valuable resources for the Coven and wider Wiccan community. The become the wise members of the community and take an active role in leadership, by sharing their knowledge and insight with the younger ones. They are honoured for their accomplishments and achievements more at this stage of life than any other stage previously. The Croning ceremony is often celebrated for those who have been in the coven for a long time, and who have been chosen to become and Elder within the community. Often this ceremony coincides with menopause for women, or at the age of retirement for men. The Croning ceremony is much the same as a Wiccaning ceremony, involving a party to celebrate the individual, and their new place within the community. It may also be seen as a time when the person takes a step back from active leadership within the Coven or Wiccan community, and can take a seat around the council fires and provide support to the new leaders.Wiccan women are rediscovering the old ways and traditions to mark the stages of life. Many are embracing the older Celtic traditions and Pagan religions, immersing themselves in Goddess spirituality, and with this finding a peace and strength they’d thought was lost long ago. Current day Wiccans are creating a new society that is redefining women in terms of intellectuality, wisdom, creativity, and strength rather than the focus on age, hair colour, and body image which is common in today’s society.

Traditionally the crossing over rituals would continue to have a focus centred around the elements found in nature, as with all rituals celebrating life. As there is an importance upon preserving the environment, many Wiccans choose cremation and the scattering of their ashes in a place amongst nature that had great meaning to the person when they were alive. Those who chose for their body to be buried would choose to be wrapped in a cloth rather than a wooden coffin, to speed up decomposition and provide nourishment to the earth. In the past this was a common occurrence, but in modern times this practice is often illegal in many countries. Whether a cremation or burial is chosen is not important, but the process will always follow the crossing over ritual. In the past the corpse would be placed on the alter or within the ritual circle wrapped in a cloth, with candles located at the cardinal points. The High Priest and High Priestess would perform the rite and the Comen members and relatives of the deceased would often place trinkets, ritual objects, and food and wine with the body for them to take on their journey to the Summerlands.

It is important for Wiccans to have a “crossing the bridge” ceremony to mark the celebration of their life. These rights are important for the loved ones left behind as it assists them accept the loss, and assists with the mourning process, much in the same was as a funeral for Christians. This rite is used to honour the individual who has passed over to the Summerlands, celebrate their life, and what they meant to their family and friends within the Coven and wider Wiccan community. Today this rite may also be used to honour a Wiccan who is still alive, but is in the process of passing over the bridge. It can provide this person with comfort to know their life will be celebrated and honoured by their loved ones, whilst they are still able to celebrate with them.

In today’s society there is no observed rituals to signify this period of a woman’s life, but within Wiccan traditions the time of menopause was traditionally honoured, and seen as marking the woman’s journey into Cronehood, where the age of sharing wisdom from experience begins. The Crone aspect of the Goddess signifies the keeper of the knowledge, the guardian of the coven’s secrets; and most importantly the significance of death, without which there is no opportunity for re-birth. Depending on the traditions of the Coven, a Croning ritual may occur in different ways, with some holding symbolic funerals for their fertility.

The rites of passage for the stage of a woman’s life known as crowning have been lost over many decades. There are many rituals dedicated to the Maiden stage of the journey, yet little documented regarding the life passage of the Crone or Croning rituals. Maybe this is because the typical view of the Crone has been replaced by the “hag” of a more modern time period. It maybe also perceived that the Crone is the transition towards death or because she may be threatening to society due to her vast amount of knowledge, and therefore given little importance as a life stage to be celebrated. Today women are beginning to realise that entering the life stage of the Crone does not mean that one’s life is over. It also does not mark the stage of life where power, beauty and sexuality comes to an end. The time of the Croning is all about the understanding of the transition, and the acceptance that one has reached the threshold of the fulfilment of female life experience and wisdom. Whilst this time of life is often viewed as the most feared and disregarded in today’s society, within the Wiccan community it is a time when a woman can continue to have a relevant role in society, and can even have more of a leadership role within the Coven.

Croning is also known by some as Eldering, and is an important stage in the life journey of any Wiccan. Modern Western society often relegates the older generation to positions of obscurity, where within Wicca the opposite actually occurs. Wiccan tradition is based around consciously honouring and valuing those who have lived and learned before us, and become the most valuable resources for the Coven and wider Wiccan community. The become the wise members of the community and take an active role in leadership, by sharing their knowledge and insight with the younger ones. They are honoured for their accomplishments and achievements more at this stage of life than any other stage previously. The Croning ceremony is often celebrated for those who have been in the coven for a long time, and who have been chosen to become and Elder within the community. Often this ceremony coincides with menopause for women, or at the age of retirement for men. The Croning ceremony is much the same as a Wiccaning ceremony, involving a party to celebrate the individual, and their new place within the community. It may also be seen as a time when the person takes a step back from active leadership within the Coven or Wiccan community, and can take a seat around the council fires and provide support to the new leaders.Wiccan women are rediscovering the old ways and traditions to mark the stages of life. Many are embracing the older Celtic traditions and Pagan religions, immersing themselves in Goddess spirituality, and with this finding a peace and strength they’d thought was lost long ago. Current day Wiccans are creating a new society that is redefining women in terms of intellectuality, wisdom, creativity, and strength rather than the focus on age, hair colour, and body image which is common in today’s society.