.::Guide To Ceremonies::.

[Bree]

This is for the main Clans, and the Rogue Clan. Thanks!~

.::Apprentice::.
Process- When a kitten is six moons old, he or she is ready to become an Apprentice. Until this time, their name ends with the suffix '-kit'. When a kitten becomes an Apprentice their name ends with '-paw', showing the path their paws are on.

.:Warrior Apprentice:.
The Clan Leader calls a Clan Meeting to appoint a new Apprentice and assign a mentor to him or her. The following words are used, by tradition:

Leader:

[Insert Kit Name Here], you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be trained. From this day, until you receive your Warrior name, you will be known as [Insert Apprentice Name Here]. I ask CelestialClan to watch over you and guide you until you find in your paws the strength and courage of a Warrior.

The leader calls up the Warrior he has chosen as a mentor.

Leader:

[Insert Warrior Name Here], you are ready to take on an Apprentice. You had received excellent training from [Insert Ex-Mentor Name Here], you have shown yourself to be [Insert Three Virtues Here] and I expect you to pass on all you know to [Insert Apprentice Name Here].

The Mentor touches noses with the Aprentice, and the Clan greets the new Aprentice.

.::Medicine Cat Apprentice::.
The Leader calls a Clan Meeting, after the Clan's Medicine Cat announced that he or she wished to mentor an Apprentice. The following words are used, by tradition:

Medicine Cat:

Cats of [Insert Clan Name Here], as you know, I will not be around forever. So it's time I took an Apprentice. I have chosen a cat who has shown [Insert Three Virtues Here]. Your next Medicine Cat will be [Insert Apprentice Name Here].

Leader:

[Insert Apprentice Name Here], do you accept the post of Apprentice to [Insert Medicine Cat Name Here]?

Aprentice:

I do.

Medicine Cat:

Then at the half-moon, you must travel to the Celestial Pool to be accepted by CelestialClan before the other Medicine Cats.

Leader:

The good wishes of all [Insert Clan Name Here] will go with you.

The mentor touches noses with the Apprentice, and the Clan greets the new Apprentice.

.::At the Celestial Pool::.
At the next half moon, the Medicine Cat goes with the Apprentice to the Clans' sacred place to present him or her to their Warrior ancestors, where the Apprentice confirms his or her wish to be a Medicine Cat. The following words are used, by tradition:

Medicine Cat:

[Insert Apprentice Name Here], is it your wish to enter the mysteries of CelestialClan as a Medicine Cat?

Apprentice:

It is.

Medicine Cat:

Then come forward.

Medicine Cat:

Warriors of CelestialClan, I present you with this Apprentice. [Insert Gender Here] has chosen the path of a Medicine Cat. Grant [Insert Gender Here] your wisdom and insight so that [Insert Gender Here] may understand your ways and heal [Insert Gender Here] Clan in accordance with your will.

The Medicine Cat and the Apprentice lay down and have a dream from CelestialClan.

.::|Warrior Ceremony|::.
Process- An Apprentice-ship usually lasts six moons or more. Once the mentor is satisfied with the Apprentice's progress and skills, he or she recommends them to the leader of the Clan. Then, the Apprentice must pass an assessment, when their abilities as a Warrior are checked. In cases when the Apprentice has just made an important contribution to the Clan, the leader may decide that there is no need for an assessment.

If the Clan Leader is satisfied, he or she calls a Clan Meeting and calls the Apprentice. The following words are used, by tradition:

Leader:

[Insert Mentor Name Here], are you satisfied that this apprentice is ready to become a Warrior?

Mentor:

Yes, [Insert Gender Here] is ready

Leader:

I, [Insert Leader Name Here], leader of [Insert Clan Name Here], call upon my Warrior ancestors to look down on this Apprentice. [Insert Gender Here] has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend [Insert Gender Here] to you as a Warrior in [Insert Gender Here] turn.

Leader:

[Insert Apprentice Name Here], 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 CelestialClan, I give you your Warrior name. [Insert Apprentice Name Here], from this moment you will be known as [Insert Warrior Name Here]. CelestialClan honors your [Insert Three Virtues Here], and we welcome you as a full Warrior of [Insert Clan Name Here].

The leader rests his or her muzzle on the Apprentice's head, and he or she licks the leader's shoulder. The rest of the Clan then greets the new Warrior by calling him or her by their new name. The Warrior will sit a silent vigil guarding the camp that night, except if that is not possible.

-Virtues-
During the Apprentice's Warrior ceremony, two major virtues of the Apprentice are listed; the first is usually (but not always) courage. Some examples of virtues:

Courage

Determination

Enthusiasm

Independence

Strength

Spirit

Honesty

Patience


Forethought

Loyalty

Intelligence


-Dying Trainee Ceremony-
When an Apprentice is on the verge of death and has proven him/herself to be worthy of a Warrior name, there is a special ceremony used so that the Apprentice may take a Warrior name to CelestialClan.

Leader:

I ask my Warrior ancestors to look down on this Apprentice. [Insert Gender Here] has learned the Warrior Code and given up [Insert Gender Here] life in the service of [Insert Gender Here] Clan. Let CelestialClan receive [Insert Gender Here] as a Warrior. [Insert Gender Here] will be known as [Insert Warrior Name Here].

.::Elder Ceremony::.

An aging Warrior, Queen or Medicine Cat may retire as an elder due to their own initiative, when they feel they cannot help the Clan efficiently any more. They report this to the Clan Leader, who calls a Clan Meeting and addresses the elder.

Leader:

[Insert Warrior Name Here], is it your wish to give up the name of a Warrior and go to join the elders?

Warrior:

It is.

Leader:

Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon CelestialClan to give you many moons of rest.

The Clan will call out the retired Warrior's name and he or she will go to the elder's den.

Usually, an elder ceremony is held only when a cat retires due to old age. If they are forced to retire because of a severe injury, there is no ceremony.

.::Deputy Ceremony::.
If the Clan's previous Deputy died, retired, or was promoted as Leader, a new one must be appointed before moonhigh the same day, according to The Warrior Code.

After the leader decided on the new deputy, he or she calls a Clan Meeting and makes the announcement with the following words:

Leader:

I say these words before CelestialClan, that the spirit(s) [of our Warrior ancestors, or Insert Old Deputy's Name Here] may hear and approve of my choice. The new Deputy of [Insert Clan Name Here] is [Insert Warrior Name Here].

.::Medicine Cat Ceremony::.
Apprentice-ship for Medicine Cats usually lasts much longer than those for Warriors. The cat must learn about all available herbs and remedies, and the treatment of diseases and injuries.

Once the Colony's Medicine Cat is satisfied with the trainee's knowledge, they go to the Colonies' sacred place (such as the Starpool). This is the only ceremony that is not performed by the Leader in the camp. The following words are used, by tradition:

Medicine Cat:

I, [Insert Medicine Cat's Name Here]

[/i], Medicine Cat of [Insert Clan Name Here], call upon my Warrior ancestors to look down on this Apprentice. [Insert Gender Here] has trained hard to understand the ways of a Medicine Cat, and with your help [Insert Gender Here] will serve [Insert Gender Here] Clan for many moons.

Medicine Cat:

[Insert Apprentice Name Here], 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 CelestialClan I give you your true name as a Medicine Cat. [Insert Apprentice Name Here], from this moment you will be known as [Insert Full Medicine Cat Name Here]. CelestialClan honors your [Insert Two Virtues Here], and we welcome you as a full Medicine Cat of [Insert Clan Name Here].

The Medicine Cat rests his or her muzzle on the Apprentice's head, and he or she licks the mentor's shoulder. The other Medicine Cats greet him or her by their new name.

.:|Name Changing Ceremony|:.
The leader calls a Clan Meeting, and performs the change with the following words:

"Spirits of CelestialClan, you know every cat by name. I ask you now to take away the name from the cat you see before you, for it no longer stands for what [Insert Gender Here] is. By my authority as Clan Leader, and with the approval of our Warrior ancestors, I give this cat a new name. From this moment on [Insert Gender Here] will be known as [Insert New Name Here], for [Insert Description Of The Reason]".

.::|Vigil|::.

.::Warrior Ceremony::.

Newly appointed Warriors are required to stay awake for the entire night after they received their Warrior name, as decreed by the Warrior Code. They guard the camp in silence, while the other Clan members have a good rest.

In some cases, this rule cannot be adhered to, and the Warrior receives another task.

.::Vigil for the Dead::.

If a Clan cat dies, his or her body is taken to the center of the camp, and several of their Clan mates (usually the cat's family members, mentor, apprentice(s), close friends) sit vigil for them through the night, sharing tongues for the last time, before the elders bury him or her.

.::Leader Ceremony::.

Cats of StarClan:

Welcome, [Insert Warrior Name Here]. Are you ready to receive your nine lives?

New Leader:

Yes, I’m ready.

Cat #1:

With this life I give you courage. Use it well in the defense of your Clan.

*Bolt of pain with new life; feeling of hunts and battles*[/b]

Cat #2:

With this life I give you justice. Use it well as you judge the actions of others.

*Bolt of pain with new life*

Cat #3:

With this life I give you loyalty to what you know to be right. Use it well to guide your Clan in times of trouble.

*Bolt of pain with new life; less than before*

Cat #4:

With this life I give you tireless energy. Use it well to carry out the duties of a leader.

*Bolt of pain with new life; feeling of speed*[/i]

Cat #5:

With this life I give you protection. Use it well to care for you Clan as a mother cares for her kits.

*Bolt of pain with new life; feeling of ferocity*

Cat #6:

With this life I give you mentoring. Use it well to train the young cats of your Clan.

*Bolt of pain with new life*[/i]

Cat #7:

With this life I give you compassion. Use it well for the elders of you Clan, and the sick, and all those weaker than yourself.

*Bolt of pain with new life*

Cat #8:

With this life I give you love. Use it well for all the cats in your care—especially [Insert Name Of Loved One Here].

*Bolt of pain with new life; not very painful at all; pure love*

Cat #9:

With this life I give you nobility and certainty and faith. Use it well as you lead your Clan in the ways of CelestialClan and the warrior code.

*Bolt of pain with new life; very painful; given by old leader*[/i]

*Old leader signals new leader to rise; new leader obliges.*

Old Leader:

I hail you by your new name, [Insert New Name Here]. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and CelestialClan grants you the guardianship of [Insert Clan Name Here]. 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.

*CelestialClan cats chant new leader’s name.*[/color][/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]