Rites of Passage and the Symbolism of "Death"
to "die" is to validate the process
to "die" is also to be brought to the threshold of the sacred
to "die" is to sacrifice and give up something of significance - food/water, fingers
to "die" is to render the neophyte void, as nothing, emptied and thus receptive - get down to bones and see your skeleton
to "die" is to get down to the bones, what is permanent, immortal - to the soul = "dialogue with the souls, the spirit world" and from the bone can come a resurrection, e.g., salmon bones