Initiation

(Revision as of 19:18, 24 Sep 2004)

Coming from the Latin, initiation implies a beginning. The related term, initiate, means to begin or start a particular action, event, circumstance, or happening. But it is also an ending as existence on one level drops away in an ascension to the next.

An initiation is also a ceremony by which a person is introduced into a society, or other organized body, especially the rite of admission into a secret society or order.

Normally an initiation rite would imply a shepherding process where those who are at a higher level guide the initiate through a process of greater exposure of knowledge. This may include the revelation of secrets, usually reserved for those at the higher level of understanding.

References

Large portions of this text was originally taken from: Wikipedia. (2004). Initiation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initiation). Retrieved Sept. 24, 2004.