TRIPLE PASSAGES

InterSpiritual Rites of Passage for Women

3 Immersive weekend experiences

at Lotus Bend Sanctuary, Manchaca, TX (just SW of Austin)

october 16-18, 2026 January 7-10, 2027 April 30 - May 3, 2027

Arrive by 5pm on Friday, with heavy hor’s duerves served at 5:30. 

Opening Circle begins at 7pm.

Conclude by noon on Sunday, with an optional light lunch before heading out.

Rites of passage

Rites of Passage are an integral aspect of indigenous cultures, and include ritual and ceremony to mark, celebrate, and hold space for significant growth points for community members, as well as important events and celebrations in the life of the entire community.  Contemporary culture has lost connection with these types of practices, for both men and women.  We recognize that this loss has left a gaping hole - physically, energetically, psychologically, and spiritually - for our culture, for our families and relationships, and for each individual.  As a way to fill that gap, Triple Passages brings ritual, ceremony, and healing practices from different spiritual and psychological traditions, to women in the 21st century. 

Traditionally Rites of Passages for women have supported them in embracing their sacred nature,  and empowering them to live into their wholeness.  These types of Rites have historically centered around women’s menstrual cycles, which signify moving from maidenhood to motherhood, and then into cronehood.  As well as these physical initiations involving a woman’s bleeding cycles, there are also psychological and spiritual initiations for which Rites of Passage can be a container.

Another aspect of Rites of Passages for women has included honoring the cycles of Mother Earth.  Indigenous communities have followed the sun and the moon, the seasons of planting and harvesting, of growth and dormancy.  Women gathering intentionally, while engaging in deep ritual and healing work, actually serves the whole community.  We work with Mother Earth and the cycles of the Universe to hold space for whatever is taking place in our families, our communities, our nations, our world.

Ritual and ceremony are hallmarks of any rite of passage.  These are intentional and devotional actions and practices that work with the elements (earth, wind, fire, water), holding space for healing and transformation to occur.  The rituals and ceremonies are carried out in “seclusion” – separated from the daily and regular routines of one’s home, work, family,  and community.  They are practiced in a sacred space, one that is chosen and set apart especially for this deep work.

triple passages, interspiritual rites of passage for women

Triple Passages include three immersive weekend experiences, each one building on the one before.  Although not required, maximum benefit from Triple Passages occurs from participation in all three weekends.  There are no prerequisites for attending the first of the Triple Passages, Embracing Eve.  The next two, however, both require having participated in the one before it.

I. embracing eve, the mother october 16-18, 2026

Embracing Eve, the first of the Triple Passages weekends, focuses on nurturing and nourishment, the archetype of the Mother, the beauty and sacredness of Mother Earth and our bodies, and our Mothers and Foremothers.  Eve, the Mother of All Living Beings, is our Goddess and Guidess for the weekend.  We recognize that our Mother Wounds, body shame, and religious trauma can be activated in this weekend!  We intentionally create space, rituals, and practices to hold what comes up, honoring where each woman is in her relationship with her own mother, her body, and her spiritual tradition.*

II. descent into the underworld, excavating shadow

january 7-10, 2027

With the Sumerian Sister Goddesses, Inanna and Erishkegal, as our guides in the second of the Triple Passages, we traverse 7 Gates as we journey to the “Underworld.”  The Underworld is a metaphor for taking a deep dive within our own psyches, and listening for what might be ready to reveal itself to our conscious minds.  The underworld is dark, as in a cave that slowly descends deeper into the earth.  In addition to the light, we will leave behind color, music, and zesty or flavorful food during this initiation.  As we decrease the stimulation of our senses, we increase our ability to listen deeply to our stories, our intuitions, and our connections with the Divine Feminine.  We anticipate healing, expressing emotions, and engaging our fears with courage.  This experience is designed to be a bit uncomfortable; yet, we respect our protective systems, while inviting them to soften and loosen, allowing us to see what is ready to be known.  All parts of us are welcome and held with compassion, respect, and courage.  We offer creative and somatic practices to go beyond the confines of our ego minds.

III. divine feminine rising - emergence and empowerment

april 30 - may 2, 2027

This third of the Triple Passages weekend, marks a completion of a cycle that began during the Embracing Eve weekend.  As we emerge out of the chrysalis of transformation, we tap into our strengths, our personal power, and our leadership.  We have drilled deep and unlocked psychic energy that had been trapped in the Underworld.  Now, like a ladle dipping into a well, we pull that energy up into the light of day, and allow it to flow, to flame, to grow, to emanate!  We process what has taken place in our lives since we began the Triple Passages, naming and honoring parts of ourselves that are coming forward in more pronounced and profound ways.  We explore many facets of the Goddess archetype, as She appears in so many cultures, religions, myths, and fairy tales.  We listen for which one is calling for us to embody Her at this particular time in our journeys.  She is I.  She is Us.  She is Me.  She is We.  We call Her forth in all her power and glory!  We also make space for the Divine Masculine, her consort, Lover, yang to Her yin, and partner.  We acknowledge and honor this energy within us, and within our relationships with others.

Architecture of the Sacred Space

  • Beautifully cultivated gardens and grounds with native plants and flowers, a labyrinth, Buddha altar, Mother Mary altar, koi fish pond, peaceful meditation areas – all set apart for our group only. Visit Lotus Bend Sanctuary virtually here.

  • Periods of silence

  • Sunrise and sunset rituals

  • Freshly prepared and nourishing food

  • Participants and Guidesses dressed in white

  • Unplug from phones and electronics, social media

  • Themed altar for our specific Passage and Goddess, including candlelight and incense

  • Sun Soaking, Star Gazing, Moon Bathing, Tree Hugging

  • Fire Ceremony

  • Agreements for confidentiality, respect, compassion for self and others, authenticity, and sovereignty

  • Intentional and spontaneous heartfelt sharing and deep listening

  • Singing and dancing

  • Nature walks

 *Triple Passages are born out of a Women’s Rites of Passage offering passed along to me by a group of older women in Austin,  TX in 2026.  Daphne Levey and Cindy Ybarra guided me through each of these weekend experiences, based on what had been created in the early 2000’s. I have meditated and worked with the material, music, rituals, and theology to design Triple Passages. It reflects and includes the areas of training, expertise, and wisdom I have honed over the years, as well as my InterSpiritual devotions and practices.  The original Rites, although including Divine Feminine archetypes from other traditions, focused heavily on Christian theology. In Triple Passages, we offer a bridge from what has been harmful to women, and all of the Earth, in the Church, to a Divine Feminine spirituality and psychology that includes Yeshua/Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mother Mary, and many of the other persons of traditional Christianity. 

Alisa’s lineage

My lineage is from Contemplative and Esoteric Christianity, emerging out of my upbringing in the traditional Episcopalian denomination of the Church.  With that has come the Christian meditation practice of Centering Prayer, intense study of canonical scripture, and deep exploration of many of the Christian mystics and Gnostic texts.  It has lead me to a deep devotion for and with Mary Magdalene and the Black Madonna.

I have also pariticpated in a yoga practice for 20 years, that includes a strong dose of Buddhism and Hinduism, chanting and mudras.  I have been attuned to Reiki energy Work, and am familiar with the chakras as energy systems in the body.    I have been a student of Jungian-based DreamWork, and am a Level 2 trained Internal Family Systems psychotherapist.  I am a visual artist – acrylic paints and mosaic – and a musician.  I incorporate drumming and sound healing into healing work and meditation.  I welcome the medicine of plants and herbs, as salves, teas, oils, and tinctures, as well as guides for our expansion of consciousness.  I am drawn to the ceremonies and rituals that honor the earth and the cosmos, which I understand to be integral to our indigenous and shamanic roots.    I include intuitive practices such as working with Oracle and tarot cards.  I received certification as a “Spiritual Director” through a Benedictine Monastery; however I have begun to call myself an InterSpiritual Guidess, to incorporate the wisdom of all of these traditions and modalities.