So what can we do to create valid modern rites of passage? Do we create our own as individuals? Would they work equally well as something you could celebrate as a community? Maybe rites need to make you feel part of something bigger than yourself and this is something that is hard to find in an extremely individualized society. On a side note, this is probably also the reason so many feel attracted to extremism and radical opinions. In the end, humans are social animals (or so they keep telling us) and we need the flock’s approval, whoever the flock may be. Personally, having left my country of origin at a young age and subsequently having lost almost my entire family (and certainly the most important person in it, my mother), I feel left out of everything, like I’m my own planet and my son is my satellite. The pandemic and my desire to not put my family at unnecessary risk, has only exacerbated this feeling. So do we search for a community? Considering how many people are identifying more and more with extreme beliefs on each and every side of the spectrum, I would be wary to just advise people to “find their own people/soul family”. I would rather advocate compromises and to try to understand other people’s viewpoints. This means accepting others which is something humans have difficulty with at best but it might just be worth it. If nothing else, it’ll teach us (and our children) tolerance and understanding.