First I was my regular self, and I came to the group, and I was not part of the group. Then the group had me begin the rites of passage, and I was no longer my regular self, nor was I one of the group. Then I completed the rites of passage, and I was recognized as part of the group, and my identity was updated for the better.

Good way of putting it. I do agree that this can be valuable (and something I should think about specifically when planning the Retreat). I'm not sure if lack-of-it was the issue in your ritual (will comment on that in the other thread)