Rite of Water
RITE OF WATER
I still remember riding over that first "monster wave" as a toddler in my yellow floatie ring and the thrill of looking down the face (and it was probably only 2' high) is as clear as day. I never knew how much this event affected me until I moved to Colorado but more on that next month when I'll be relaying my mountaineering stories here.
The ocean is where I learned to be both vulnerable and strong as a young girl. Spending significant amounts of time in the ocean is an important rite of passage in our community. This socialization also creates a strong bond and identity within the family unit-
even to our extended family of sailors and surfers. As a family of ocean-goers, we are instantly incorporated into a larger social group that honors vulnerability, courage, and a free-spirit.
My children have also known the lure and danger of the ocean their entire lives. From the time they could crawl I found myself photographing them in the waves and depths of the Pacific Ocean. I tell the story of them learning to trust their own power and vulnerability in my series Rite of Water.