Sue Mosher convened an Open Space session around this question:

What does the disappearance of initiation rituals from modern culture tell us about the rite of passage faced by humanity as a whole?

It turned into a one-on-one conversation with Anodea Judith, in many ways a continuation of the discussion that followed her presentation on Tuesday night. We shifted the focus from the original question to the ways that the hunger for initiation shows itself and the types of initiation currently available in Euro-American culture, both formal ritual initiation and self-initiation. One of the symptoms of a lack of formal initiation in our culture is the amount of ego that exerts itself throughout society, even at conferences dedicated to world-changing like this one.

Young people who become self-aware are self-initiating by aligning themselves with the work to which destiny calls them. As Juliana said during the youth presentation on Wednesday evening, for young people, "All the actions we do, all the initiatives, are our initiation." An initiation typically involves a death to the old life and induction into the life of the tribe, including its mysteries. Young people who make such choices leave behind the ways of a disconnected life and begin living in connection to others who can teach them what they need to know for their chosen work.

But what about those who are past the traditional age of initiation? Life often performs its own initiation, through serious illness, parenthood, military service, and other life-changing events. Some people find self-initiatory experiences in the use of psychedelic drugs, Outward Bound-type adventures, or serious study.

We also wondered who is providing initiatory experiences for CEOs, politicians, and other leaders who might be seeking to expand their consciousness and connection. Does anyone know of resources in that area?