CLAN CEREMONIES

CLAN CEREMONIES

APPRENTICE CEREMONY
leader: (kit), you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as (new name, ending with "paw"). your mentor will be (name of warrior). i hope (name of warrior) will pass down all he/she knows on to you.

leader calls forward the chosen mentor.

leader: (warrior), you are ready to take on an apprentice. you had received excellent training from (former mentor), and you have shown yourself to be (quality) and (quality). you will be the mentor of (apprentice), and i expect you to pass on all you know to (apprentice).

new mentor and apprentice pair touch noses as clan shouts apprentice's new name.


MEDICINE CAT APPRENTICE CEREMONY
medicine cat: (apprentice), is it your wish to enter the mysteries of starclan as a medicine cat?

apprentice: it is.

medicine cat: then come forward.

medicine cat: warriors of starclan, i present you with this apprentice. (he/she) has chosen the path of a medicine cat. grant (him/her) your wisdom and insight so that (he/she) may understand your ways and heal (his/her) clan in accordance with your will.

new mentor and apprentice pair touch noses and enter sleep to receive dreams from starclan.


MEDICINE CAT CEREMONY
medicine cat: i, (name), medicine cat of (clan), call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. (he/she) has trained hard to understand the ways of a medicine cat, and with your help (he/she) will serve (his/her) clan for many moons.

medicine cat: (apprentice), do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between clan and clan and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?

apprentice: i do.

medicine cat: then by the powers of starclan I give you your true name as a medicine cat. (apprentice), from this moment you will be known as (new name). starclan honors your (virtues), and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of (clan).

medicine cat rests chin on apprentice's head while he/she licks medicine cat's shoulder. other medicine cats greet cat by new name. enter sleep and receive dreams from starclan.


WARRIOR CEREMONY
leader: i, (leader), leader of (clan), call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. (he/she) has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and i commend (him/her) to you as a warrior in (his/her) turn.

leader: (apprentice), do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?

apprentice: i do.

leader: then by the powers of starclan, i give you your warrior name. (apprentice), from this moment you will be known as (new warrior name). starclan honors your (virtues), and we welcome you as a full warrior of (clan).

leader rests chin on apprentice's head while he/she licks leader's shoulder. clan shouts warrior's new name. warrior will sit silent vigil for rest of night.


DEPUTY CEREMONY
leader: i say these words before starclan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors (or former deputy name) may hear and approve of my choice. the new deputy of (clan) is (warrior's name).


LEADER CEREMONY
leader drinks from moonfall. enters sleep and is ripped awake by nine starclan cats who usually played a significant role in leader's life. each cat gives leader a life.

life-giver: (touches nose to the top of the new leader's head) with this life i give you (gift). use it well (to, in, as, for, etc.) (use of gift).

after leader has received all nine lives, previous leader says this.

previous leader: i hail you by your new name, (star). your old life is no more. you have now received the nine lives of a leader, and starclan grants you the guardianship of (clan). defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity.

starclan cats shout leader's new name.