(Reading time 7min)

Now that I'm nearing my first forty years of life, I have developed a tendency to look back (yes, I know, typical attitude of the "oldies") and in some ways try to "tie up" what has happened, what I have learned from all these experiences of my life so far.

Some time ago, in the middle of the night, in a semi-empty apartment overlooking Lake Lugano, in Switzerland, while a huge tree in front of my windows swayed in the wind, like an old wise sage, and the moon peeking out from the clouds in total silence, I suddenly woke up.

A nightmare.

I dreamed I was on top of this building, in New York, where I had a photoshoot years ago. In the Financial District. An incredible view of the city, the bay, a luxurious, bright apartment, and then, at a certain point, for no apparent reason, I go out onto the balcony during a break, place my hands on the double glass barrier, and effortlessly jump over the other side and.. I start to fall down.

Like the last scene of Vanilla Sky, in which Tom Cruise, in a poetic and romantic way, commits suicide (or wakes up..), I’m dropping lifelessly towards a bustling street in Manhattan, in broad daylight.

And my life starts to scroll before my eyes. The most important events. A quick flash, images overlapping rapidly. Just before hitting the asphalt and likely shattering my entire body, I wake up.

And I find myself in the stillness of a quiet Swiss night, with the lake before me illuminated by pale moonlight and not a fly in sight.

I replay all the events that occurred in my dreams: scenes from my childhood, teenage years, and adulthood. Some were nice, some sad, some funny, some happy.

'What a life,' I think.

I head to the bathroom, pee, flush the toilet, and return to bed. A question now echoes in my mind.

'When did I become a man?'

Yes, I've had countless experiences and gradually gained more awareness and wisdom. But was there a specific moment when this transition occurred, when I left my childhood behind and embraced manhood?

In the famous Hero's Journey, in which Joseph Campbell traces a universal narrative line in which the protagonist (the Hero) must go through a series of passages that will lead him to a new awareness, the hero sometimes encounters a "death". This should not be taken literally, but symbolically. It represents the passage to adulthood with the consequent "death" of childhood. A passage, which inevitably leaves a trail of pain and suffering behind.

The young man who transitions from being his mother's son and begins by being his father's.

In today's Western society, these 'initiation rites' or 'passages' have disappeared. We live in a confused world, filled with child-like children and child-like men, yet we rarely encounter those who have truly made this transition to embrace their new selves.

It's curious how we generally reserve the right to proclaim ourselves a "superior culture" compared to others in the world because we have strong economies and technology, we live in comfortable houses and apartments, we have Netflix and Uber Eats and Amazon, but then fundamentally, we are lost because we don't have that inner compass that directs us in the right direction, in line with our heart and our principles.

Other cultures of the world, on the other hand, still keep these traditions alive, and have rituals to transform, spiritually, young people into men. More spiritual order.

Let’s have a look.

VISION QUEST

In Native American culture, young people must go through this passage, which has the task of showing them their purpose in life, their role within the tribe (community).

Before the ceremony, they consult with the Shaman, the Medicine Man, to know if they are ready for such a practice. If confirmed, they spend several days in complete fasting and visit sweat lodges to purify their bodies and spirits.

Then, they venture alone in the forest, leaving everything behind, to a sacred place chosen by the elders of the tribe, where they will remain until the spirit animal appears to them with the message they must receive.

Then, there is a return to the tribe (in the Hero's Journey there is always a return, in which the initiate, brings the message, the vision to the tribe, which then help him to integrate everything).

In fact, this experience not only benefits the individual, but the entire community. Sharing is fundamental because it can help others to undertake their spiritual journey and at the same time strengthens this union, communion with the world of spirits and the natural and animal world.

"There are ancient secrets and lessons hidden in nature. If you seek for guidance, you will discover truth."

DANÇA DA TUCANDEIRA

In the heart of the Amazon, the Sateré-Mawéquesta tribe has a particular ceremony to mark the passage of young people into adulthood.

The initiates must, in turn, in front of the whole tribe, wear gloves made by weaving dried plants, infested with carnivorous ants (Tucandeiras).

As part of the ceremony preparation, ants are caught on the same day and sedated with special herbs prepared by the Shaman. While still asleep, they are placed into gloves and secured to prevent escape. During the ritual, initiates take turns inserting their hands into these gloves while the tribe supports them with dances and songs, helping them endure the painful bites of the angry ants. Initiates support one another, ensuring everyone remains physically and spiritually present during this painful passage, which must be repeated on different days for a total of twenty times. The ants' venom, absorbed with each bite, causes pain and paralysis, driving the initiates into a total state of trance. They must surrender to the pain, 'let themselves die,' as resistance only amplifies the agony.

It will take 24 hours for these toxins to dissolve from the body.

"if you go through life without suffering anything or without any kind of effort, it won't be worth anything to you”

WALKABOUT

In Australia, Aboriginal tribes have a rite of passage known as the WALKABOUT. During this ritual, a young man ventures alone into the desert and must survive for months relying solely on his strength and knowledge. This period is also dedicated to self-discovery, connecting with ancestral spirits, and honoring his land.

This journey is both physical and spiritual, as solitude often brings unresolved issues to the surface. Only those deemed ready are chosen for this journey and are trained in the 'sacred knowledge' by the tribe's elders in the years prior. This knowledge includes hunting, plant identification, dream interpretation, and astrology.

Before embarking, the young men are painted with specific colors and wear minimal clothing. Upon their return, they are welcomed back as men by the tribe.

There are many, many initiation rituals around the world. The constants are always the same:

• Suffering
• Pain
• The sensation that there is an end/death

The message must be clear: a passage occurs, we are given the obligations of adulthood. You now hold the destiny of our people in your hands, this is not trivial. You best be prepared.

The most beautiful thing, which also connects to Campbell's Hero’s Journey, is indeed that after the vision, revelation, the journey into the abyss, there is always a phase of “return,” where the initiate shares what they have learned with the community, the tribe, the group, so that the teachings received can benefit everyone.

Like the famous poem by Muhammad Ali,

ME, WE.

A hug

M