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acknowledge and accept that the individual has changed and honor them for it. A Rite of Passage is designed for the specific purpose of allowing the community to bear witness to the individual who has come to this realization and is dedicating themselves to the Warrior Path. The initiation helps the soldier integrate wartime experiences into their identity and accept that these experiences have not left him unchanged. The community acknowledges this change and embraces it. The changes within the soldier are not hidden or ignored, and by doing so releases the soldier and itself from preconceived expectations thus allowing all parties to move forward.
Following a Warrior Path means an adherence to a specific code of honor. The Warrior is expected to demonstrate self-discipline, courage, and above all, self-responsibility. The Warrior is one who sees hidden truths through silence and observation following an admonition to be still and listen. She takes the time to develop a complete understanding of a situation before acting. He looks for the best solution, the right action and once a decision is reached, he dares to act on it. To dare is to win. She has the will to follow-through and bring her goal into being. Action is deliberate and motion is not wasted in useless activity. He takes full responsibility for his actions and the consequences thereof.
This code is reinforced through the stories told around the fire and during ceremonies. The tales of the Tuatha De Danaan, the Norse Gods, the Greek myths, the Babylonian tales of Gilgamesh and Sumerian tales of Inanna, and others reinforce the significance of following the code and, more importantly, of breaking it. Oathbreakers are punished severely, greed and slovenly behavior reaps just desserts, and action with honor is rewarded. Punishment and reward come in the mythic context of the Hero's Journey. The entire society or tribe thrives when the heroes follow the code of honor. When the Champion of Erin, Cuchulain, defeated the corrupt King Bris in battle, he stayed the hands of those that would kill Bris. The fallen King paid for his life by revealing to Cuchulain and the people of Ireland the Mysteries of farming so that they would never go hungry again. The tribe fails to prosper when the Hero fails. Midas faced starvation when, in his greed, he asked Bacchus to grant that everything he touched be turned to gold. He was unable to eat or drink as his food turned to gold as soon as it touched his lips and wine turned into melted gold as he drank. King Conchobar brought the Kingdom of Ulster to ruin when he broke his word and killed the sons of Usnach to whom he had promised safe passage. Ulster diminished then fell, the buildings falling to pieces and the grass growing up over them. Dumuzi, consort of Inanna, was banished when she |
Swords into Ploughshares 3 |
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A Pagan warrior: Sgt. Stewart on a humanitarian mission in Afghanistan. |