Rites of Passage

opulencevision
Feb 17
3 min read

What’s in a Name? A Modern Rite of Passage

In many spiritual traditions, names hold power. To name something is to acknowledge its existence, to call it into being, and to define its essence. But in a world that often moves too fast, where rites of passage have faded into the background, we rarely take the time to truly claim who we are.

Modern culture lacks meaningful rites of passage, and that absence can leave people feeling detached from purpose or their own life, like they’re drifting without a clear transition into new phases of life. The sacraments, at their core, are about acknowledgment, commitment, and transformation—just like the JEMMs.

In Catholicism, two sacraments stand out as powerful rites of passage: Baptism and Confirmation. While I no longer consider myself a devoted Catholic, I recognize the deep wisdom within these traditions. They mark significant thresholds in a person’s life—moments of recognition and responsibility, of being seen and stepping forward with intention.

Baptism: Acknowledgment & Acceptance

Baptism is a moment of being recognized. A child is welcomed into their spiritual community, and their parents and godparents make a vow—to guide and protect them, to ensure they have the foundation they need to step into their destiny. It is a sacred acknowledgment that this life matters and that it is now held within a greater circle of belonging.

Baptism is about being recognized—your community sees you, welcomes you, and holds space for your journey.

Confirmation: A Declaration of Identity

Confirmation, on the other hand, is the moment when a person chooses for themselves. No longer under the sole guidance of their parents, they claim their own spiritual path. They declare their name—sometimes adopting a new one—and step into a new phase of their journey, committing to their growth, their purpose, and their evolving relationship with the divine.

Confirmation is about choosing—you declare your own commitment to your spiritual path, your purpose, and your evolution.

Reclaiming Rites of Passage

In modern culture, we have lost these kinds of thresholds. We move through life without clear markers to signify growth, transformation, or self-realization. And yet, the need for these rites is still present within us. We seek moments that allow us to step forward and say:

This is who I am. This is who I am becoming.

This is why I created the JEMM: What’s in a Name?

Today's JEMM is about recognizing the divide between your origin story and your hero’s journey—the difference between Clark Kent and Superman, between who you were and who you are stepping into. Just as Confirmation allows for the declaration of a name and a purpose, this practice invites you to claim yours.

Your Personal Rite of Passage

What if we all took the time to recognize our own transformations? What if we intentionally marked the moments where we release the past and embrace the future? Whether through movement, ceremony, or personal reflection, we can create our own sacred rites of passage that help us step boldly into our next chapter.

Are you ready to cross the threshold? To take ownership of your journey? To declare who you are meant to be?

Because once you name something, you give it power.

The Year of the Snake JEMM: Shedding the Past, Embracing the Future

As we stepped into the Lunar New Year of the Snake, I’ve designed a special JEMM to serve as a modern rite of passage. This JEMM is about shedding old skin—reflecting on what we’ve built in 2024, what we want to leave behind, and what we wish to carry forward into 2025. It’s a practice of conscious evolution, where we honor the dragons we’ve created and allow them to soar into the coming year of the Horse in 2026.

The movement practice itself mirrors the transformation of a snake—undulating, twisting, and releasing. It’s about physically and energetically shedding layers, so that we can emerge renewed and aligned with our deepest intentions. This JEMM is designed to be a turning point, a declaration of who we are becoming.

I have completed this JEMM for myself over the last month or so; I created a playlist and a workbook for pre and post dance reflections. I invite you to join me in this JEMM practice—to move, reflect, and claim your next evolution. This is your moment to declare who you are and what you stand for.

Are you ready to shed the past and step into your power?

Stay tuned for more details on how to participate in this powerful practice. Let’s make this year one of conscious transformation and embodiment!