Read http://muskratmagazine.com/my-berry-fast/
What was your first reaction to the story by Akeesha Footman?
How does the berry fast help Ojibwe women discover purpose and meaning in their lives?
Between the ages of 14 and 16, young Sikhs are initiated into the Khalsa. Those who wish to be
initiated into the Khalsa must be in possession of the five Ks:
kesh – uncut hair (a gift of God to be preserved);
Kanha – wooden comb (a sign of cleanliness for the hair and for the mind);
kirpan – sword (represents honour, self-respect, and self-defence);
kachera – short trousers as an undergarment (sign of high moral character);
Kara – steel bracelet (sign of unity in the Khalsa community).
At the initiation ceremony, the young person drinks amrit (sugary water) and promises to live a highly moral life.
What do you think?
Based on what you’ve read in this topic, how are these cultural rites of passage alike and different?
