A Quaker Approach to Pilgrimage

There is no traditional structure that I have found within the Society of Friends to help people transition from childhood to adulthood or between other life stages. Perhaps for good reason?

Many people who have undertaken a traditional religious rite of passage–catechism, bat mitzvah, confirmation–express a similar sentiment:

“It was okay–I guess I learned about my faith tradition–but it was something I did because I turned 12, and it wasn’t really a life-changing thing at all. It was just another thing.”

A pilgrimage or rite of passage does not have to be just another thing – it can be a journey developed and undertaken specifically and intentionally to seek self-knowledge and personal growth while exploring one’s place in community.

How can we create a structure for Quakers to have the opportunity to experience life change without forcing life change upon them?

Continue to the next page to explore this query.