Field Notes 1 | 24

RITES DE PASSAGE | 1.24

Women’s lives are shaped by countless transitions—some visible and celebrated, others quiet and unacknowledged. From adolescence to motherhood, from career shifts to navigating loss, these passages are milestones that mark our personal evolution. Each one invites us to step beyond the familiar and into the unknown, to release an identity we’ve held and embrace the next phase of our becoming. Yet, in a society that prioritizes linear progress and youth, many of these rites of passage go unseen, leaving women to navigate profound change without recognition or support. At Rituel, we believe that these transitions deserve to be honored. Every passage a woman moves through—whether it’s the shift into adolescence, the birth of a child, the dissolution of a marriage, or the loss of a loved one—carries the potential for deep transformation. By bringing awareness, ritual, and community to these moments, we create space for women to fully step into the new version of themselves that is waiting to emerge. In the early 20th century, anthropologist Arnold van Gennep introduced the concept of the "rite of passage," identifying three stages: separation, liminality, and reincorporation. These stages form the backbone of any major transition. In *separation*, we are called to leave behind our previous identity or role, to let go of the familiar in preparation for what lies ahead. This process is often marked by feelings of loss or uncertainty, as we shed the layers of who we once were. The second stage, *liminality*, is where the true work of transformation takes place. This is the in-between space, where we are no longer who we were, but not yet fully who we will become. In this phase, we are suspended between two realities, navigating uncertainty, and dwelling in the discomfort of the unknown. For women, this phase can feel particularly unsettling, as it requires us to confront societal expectations and personal fears, to make space for a new identity to form. Finally, in *reincorporation*, we return to our lives, but with new wisdom and a deeper sense of self. This phase is not simply about resuming our old roles; it is about integrating the lessons learned during the transition and stepping into life as a more aligned version of ourselves. Reincorporation requires us to embody the transformation, to allow the insights we’ve gained to shape the way we move through the world. While van Gennep’s framework provides a universal language for understanding human transitions, it takes on particular significance in the lives of women. Our rites of passage are often shaped by the expectations of a society that values youth, productivity, and stability over the cyclical nature of feminine growth. From adolescence to menopause, from navigating divorce to embracing the wisdom years, the transitions we face as women are rarely linear and often go unrecognized by the culture around us. In Western society, women’s maturation is frequently viewed through a lens of loss—loss of beauty, fertility, and relevance. Yet, what is often overlooked in this narrative is the incredible wisdom that women carry as they move through life. Each rite of passage brings us closer to our essential selves, deepening our understanding of who we are and what we offer the world. At Rituel, we honor this process of maturation, knowing that every threshold crossed brings us closer to the heart of our own mastery.