me or social status. Rites of passage typically describe something that is done that marks a sacred transformation. These rituals are usually physical rituals, but can also be philosophical rituals as well. Van Gennep divides rites into three sub-categories, rites of separation, transition rites, and rites of incorporation. Each rite does not necessarily go through these three stages, and every person does not necessarily go through all of these rites. The book then goes on to explain the characteristics of each sub-category, and all the numerous rituals and ceremonies that are considered rites of passage. Rites of Passage come from multiple origins, some are religious, such as sacraments, some are from society, such as a sweet 16 party, and some are just from culture. An individual’s life is filled up of many series of passages from one age to another, occupation to another, status to another and so on. Whenever there are defined distinctions between these passages, special acts and ceremonies are often followed. Rites are divided into numerous categories, and vary depending on culture. The book begins with the sub-divisions and categories of rites. There are different forms of rites, sympathetic, contagious, direct, indirect, positive, and negative rites. Sympathetic rites are those rites based on belief of the world and dead. Contagious rites are based on a belief that natural or acquired characteristics are material. There is then a distinction between direct and indirect rites. Direct rites are designed to produce results immediately. Indirect rites are initially slow, which set into motion some type of autonomous power. There is then a distinction between positive and negative rites. Positive rites are rites equivalent of positive decisions, and negative rites are equivalent of negative decisions. Negative rites are now known as taboos and are considered prohibitions. Rites are then divided into three sub-categories, rites of separation, transition rites, and rites of incorporation. A complete scheme of rites of passage includes preliminal, which are considered rites of separation, liminal, which are considered transition rites, and postliminal, which are considered rites of incorporation. Van Gennep considers the goal of rites is to ensure a change of condition or a passage from one “world” to another. To Gennep, the transition is symbolic, which involves separation, transitional, and incorporation. The separation aspect is the individual leaving one world. The transitional aspect is the actual transition between worlds. The incorporation aspect is the entrance of the new world and the new life that follows.>