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Seven Stages of Life
10-18-2016
Lately we’ve been sharing wisdom from a First Nations perspective. So far, we’ve explored concepts such as Principals of Learning, Circle of Courage, Medicine Wheel, and impact of Residential Schools. As you can see, Canadian’s Aboriginal peoples have a wealth of knowledge about how to live a balanced and satisfying life for those curious enough to respectfully investigate. They were, and are, people of contemplation who studied not only the natural world and how to survive, but also human nature and how to thrive.
We all know that change is a natural part of life. From childhood we are taught about life cycles – caterpillars metamorphosize into butterflies, tadpoles transform into frogs, kittens mature into cats, and babies grow up. Many First Nation groups categorized the changes that naturally occur as we age into seven distinct life stages with key developments taking place in our body, mind, emotions, and spirit. A person would typically spend seven years per stage learning the life lessons needed in order to reach the next stage of maturity. Seven stages taking seven years equals full maturity at age 49.
We begin with “The Good Life.” During the first seven years, children are cared for and loved unconditionally. Typically, it was the grandmothers and grandfathers that looked after the little ones and made sure that not only were their needs met, but that they developed the self-discipline necessary to live in a communal society where everyone depended on each other.
Next is “The Fast Life.” The name suggests that the time from age 7 to 14 goes by fast as the children rapidly develop new skills and abilities, but it actually refers to the fundamental habit of many First Nations groups to partake in ritual fasting – abstinence from all food and drink for a period of time. Gradually the children participate in fasts increasing in duration in order to prepare themselves for the upcoming solitary four-day vision quests upon reaching puberty.
Once a child has proven himself capable of surviving alone by successfully completing a vision quest, he or she enters into “The Wandering Life” stage. Adolescents, between the ages of 14 to 21, were encouraged to wander from place to place with a sense of wonder. This stage is a time of inquiry when each person starts to question the meaning and purpose of life. As they search for answers, they gain increasing independence from family and village and their world expands.
This pondering of how the world works leads to the stage of “The Truthful Life” from ages 21 - 28. Self-awareness is paramount. Each person looks honestly at him or herself – these are my strengths, these are my weaknesses, this is what I have learnt thus far, this is where I am still ignorant, this is what I need from others, this is what I can give to others. Being able to be truthful to yourself means you can be truthful to others. When people recognize themselves fully, they can confidently find a suitable mate without having to pretend to be someone they are not.
“The Planning Stage” emerges out of identifying one’s capabilities and purpose in life. Now that a person knows his strengths, what is he or she going to do with that knowledge? Ages 28-35 is where one decides what will it take to achieve a “good” life. This is also the typical time for parenthood. How do the couples plan to raise their children? Their children, as all children do, will observe them and learn from their example. What will they see?
The sixth stage is “The Busy Life” also called “The Doing Life”. From 35 to 42 years old, everyone practices all the things they have learnt in the earlier years. This is the time to work, to fulfill unique life purposes, to accept full responsibility and serve others.
Finally, we have “The Elder Life” also called “The Teaching Life”. After living and learning through the previous stages, everyone has a mandate to pass on their knowledge through teaching. In Aboriginal traditions, Elders are revered and celebrated because of their vast life experiences. They were sought out to provide counsel and advice. Their role of teaching the next generation was seen as essential and held in the highest honour.
For centuries, these life stages guided Aboriginal thought and behaviour. They provided a basic framework of understanding regarding healthy development and appropriate expectations. Interestingly, we can see many parallels with Islamic views of human development and what it takes to live a fulfilling life. After all, we come from the same Creator.
Zainab Dhanani can be reached at z_dhanani@yahoo.ca
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