MISOGI - what our youth need

Our society is sick, our family units are disjointed, and our communities are suffering. The rates for depression, anxiety, and social disorders are rising in our youth. Maybe we need a sharp, transformational step change to help our youth figure out who they are, and their positive place in the world. Misogis are an emotional, spiritual, and psychological challenge that is masked as a physical challenge. It was first described as a purification ritual by the Japanese Samari warriors over 2000 years ago. They would stand under icy waterfalls to help with transformation and self improvement.

In 1909 Arnold van Gennep wrote a text named 'The Rites of Passage'. He discussed the variations of the misogi that are documented through the ages. Greek, Mesopotamian, Buddhist, Norse, Christian, Hindu, and the ancient Egyptians all have some version of 'the hero's journey'. This rite of passage to becoming a healthy functional part of the tribe (or the wider community) is when the young person  leaves the comfort of a loving home for adventure. There are challenges that will test the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of the youngster. After the challenging time they will return with increased knowledge, skills, confidence, and experience, with a better understanding on who they are and how they can live with purpose in the world.

Young men in Aboriginal culture (indigenous people of Australia - with over 60,000 years of history) would go on a walkabout where they would go alone for up to 6 months into the Outback. This was incredibily inhospitable with plenty of dangerous creatures and searing temperatures. If preparation wasn't adequate they wouldn't survive and return to the tribe. If they made it they returned tougher, and more capable to take more responsibility within the community. 

The Inuit have a similar rite of passage. When the children are strong enough the elders lead them into the Arctic for the first hunt. This journey can last for weeks as the young person must hunt down a caribou, or seal. This tough supervised test teaches them quickly how to survive and gives them respect for the harsh conditions outside the comfort of their home.

One of the toughest rites of passage is completed within  the Maasai tribe in Kenya and Tanzania. The young men were sent out into the wild to hunt a male lion with a spear. To make it even tougher they would chase the lion while rattling bells to make the lion square up with the young hunters. This could be another contributing factor to why Kenyans, and Ugandans are the best runners in the world.  If they succeeded they made the transition into a warrior. The Maasai association (group that preserves the heritage) casually notes "Many are lost to lions". 

The idea of the rite of passage is the elders in the tribe teach you life skills to then go out and put to the test to allow the young in the community to reach their potential so as to benefit everyone in the community. 

There are three key elements to a misogi

3)Incorporation - The person completes the challenge, is transformed by the process and renters life as an enhanced human.

Our society has major issues at both ends of the parenting spectrum resulting in no effective transition into positively functioning members of our communities.

At one end we have a smothering approach that doesn’t allow kids to make mistakes, feel uncomfortable, and experience failure & self growth. This helicopter parenting style was first described in the 1990’s and it has now deteriorated into ‘bulldozer’ parenting where parents activity remove any obstacles in the kids way. This is in direct opposition to what the stoics stated - Embrace the obstacles as these shape us, they are the way. Prevention of kids from exploring their limits is contributing to high mental health problems. One study showed an 80% increase in depression rates in US college kids following the 1990s.

At the other end of the spectrum we have a complete absence of active parenting. Some parents are dealing with their own trauma, are in jail, hooked on substances to numb the pain, so are in no position to love and challenge their offspring to be the best they can be. These kids then find there own challenges- usually in anti-social behaviour as part of gangs (we all want to belong), crime, substance abuse, and violence.

Our society is falling apart at the seams as many are too comfortable, smothered by well meaning parents,  and lack the positive holistic health aspects of being uncomfortable. At the other end we have children lacking positive role models in the family unit, they receive  no love, have little self worth so lash out. It takes a village to raise a child and the village of Aotearoa needs to stop using this topic as a political football and work together to make change.

Once we invest heavily as a village in the growing child we then need to ensure ALL children have the ability to take a quest, a journey, a misogi at around 12-14 years of age to help kickstart the transformation to a positive functioning part of our community. This could be in the form of outward bound, an eco therapy course, high performance sport, a creative art camp - IT HAS TO BE INDIVIDUALISED to best suit the young person and make sense to the family unit. The real trick is the child must venture forth from the comfort of a loving home. Too many do not have this luxury. 

A one year military style camp is too little too late. We need social wrap around services much earlier before the horse has bolted. We need more investment in time, resources, and support when children are between the ages of 18 months and 4 years of age. Many studies show the massive returns on helping shape the young developing mind, body, and spirit.  Dysfunctional whanau behaviour that results in physical and/or psychological  abuse of a child must be stamped out - this needs to be done from within whanau and community. Aotearoa statistics on child harm should make us all sick to the stomach.

I am dismayed by our government, and ALL the parties behaviour around child welfare, poverty (not just finance, but spirit, and hope) and youth crime. Nationals military style camp for a year is far too simplified - how about start a cross party working group to de-politicise this crucial issue. Rather than completely dismiss the suggestion- build on it, offer better solutions. This isn’t a right VS left problem this is Aotearoa’s problem. It’s OUR problem. The deteriorating mental health of our young people is directly related to our family units health within our communities. Let’s work together on supporting & challenging families to do better for our developing kids. 

For Physiotherapy, Coaching, Training Plans, YouTube, FREE recipes, and more Articles

Connect below

https://linktr.ee/everfitcoach