Post by Sporelett on Jun 25, 2010 18:32:01 GMT -5
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When the leader dies, the deputy takes over the Clan. The deputy goes to the Moonstone (Moonpool, etc.) and receives nine lives from nine cats they knew that have joined StarClan. Each of the nine lives hold a special quality that are found in leaders (courage, justice, love, etc.). Usually the lives are bestowed in the following fashion: First the leader is stripped of their current life, then one by one, the StarClan cats walk forward and touch their nose to the leader’s nose. They say the following words:
Medicine Cat Apprentice Ceremony[/b]
When a cat is chosen to train in the ways of a medicine cat under the guidance of StarClan, this ceremony is performed the next time the medicine cats meet at the Moonpool on the half-moon.
Medicine Cat Ceremony
When a medicine cat feels that their apprentice is skillful and wise enough to become a full medicine cat, they perform a medicine cat ceremony at the Moonpool during the bi-monthly medicine cat meeting. The medicine cat usually also makes sure that StarClan approves of the apprentice being raised to full medicine cat status.
Renaming Ceremony
If a cat suffers some sort of life-changing event or permanently scarring injury, they may choose to have their name changed. In such cases, the leader performs a special ceremony to strip them of their current name and assign them a new one. First the leader calls the cat in question to stand before him/her, and then they speak the following words:
Death Ceremony
To honour the dead, the cat's closest friends share tongues with him/her for the last time. The medicine cat says a few words, like a funeral.
CEREMONIES
Calling a Clan meeting[/u]
Since this is a thread for ceremonies, it seems important to list the traditional words that a Clan leader uses to call a Clan meeting in order to begin most ceremonies. The place the leader calls the meeting from differs from Clan to Clan (Highrock, Tallrock, Highledge, etc.), but the rest of the words are, for the most part, the same.Leader: Let all those cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the ________ for a Clan meeting.
Apprentice Ceremony
When a kit reaches six moons of age, and is physically well enough to become an apprentice, an apprentice ceremony is held. At this time, the leader calls all Clan members to their meeting place (Highrock, Highledge, etc.) and begins by announcing the naming of the new apprentices. Then they call the kit(s) forward and speak the following words:Leader: From this day forward, until he/she has earned his/her warrior name, this apprentice will be called _____paw.The new apprentice’s name loses the suffix ‘kit’ and gains the suffix ‘paw’ instead. The leader then chooses the new apprentice’s mentor, and lists any traits that they hope the mentor will pass on to his/her apprentice. Then the mentor touches noses with their new apprentice. Once this is done, the leader names the next apprentice and assigns their mentor, and so-forth until all the apprentices have their names and mentors. Finally, the Clan cats call out the name(s) of the new apprentice(s) and the congratulate them.
Warrior Ceremony
When an apprentice has either been fully trained or has performed a great deed of bravery, then they are named as warriors. The prefix of the name stays the same, but the last part changes. A leader performing a warrior ceremony usually spends some time beforehand deciding what the warriors' new names will be, and their names usually reflect something about them. The leader calls the Clan together, and then says the following speech:Leader: I, _____star, leader of ______Clan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this(these) apprentice(s). He/she/they has/have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him/her/them to you as (a) warrior(s) in his/her/their turn. _____paw [add another cat or two, if there are more than one], do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?The leader then rests their muzzle on the new warrior's head, and the warrior licks the leader's shoulder in turn. The Clan then chants the warrior's new name, and the ceremony ends with the warrior(s) being left in silent vigil in the camp. It means that the warrior(s) must stay in the middle of camp to guard the camp in silence. At sunrise, they can speak and finally go to sleep.
Apprentice(s): I do.
Leader: Then by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name(s): _____paw, from this moment on you will be known as [warrior name]. StarClan honours your [virtue] and your [virtue], and we welcome you as a full warrior of _____Clan.
Deputy Ceremony
Deputies can die, be exiled, or retire. Always before the next moonhigh, the leader appoints the new deputy. Here is the speech leaders must use:Leader: I say these words before StarClan, that the spirit(s) of [either the previous deputy or “our ancestors”] may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy will be [warrior name].
Leader Ceremony
When the leader dies, the deputy takes over the Clan. The deputy goes to the Moonstone (Moonpool, etc.) and receives nine lives from nine cats they knew that have joined StarClan. Each of the nine lives hold a special quality that are found in leaders (courage, justice, love, etc.). Usually the lives are bestowed in the following fashion: First the leader is stripped of their current life, then one by one, the StarClan cats walk forward and touch their nose to the leader’s nose. They say the following words:
StarClan cat: With this life I give you [quality]. Use it [whatever you use the quality for].Most lives are very painful, because most warriors’ lives are filled with battles, hunger, and suffering. However, some (such as Silverstream’s life) are less painful than others. Once the life is given, the cat walks away and the next StarClan cat takes their place. This continues for all nine lives.
Medicine Cat Apprentice Ceremony[/b]
When a cat is chosen to train in the ways of a medicine cat under the guidance of StarClan, this ceremony is performed the next time the medicine cats meet at the Moonpool on the half-moon.
Medicine Cat: [Apprentice's name], is it your wish to enter into the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?*Apprentice obliges*
Medicine Cat Apprentice: It is.
Medicine Cat: Then come forward.
Medicine Cat: Warriors of StarClan, I present to you this apprentice. She/he has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant her/him your wisdom and insight so that she/he may understand your ways and heal her/his Clan in accordance with your will.*Lies down before Moonpool*
Medicine Cat Ceremony
When a medicine cat feels that their apprentice is skillful and wise enough to become a full medicine cat, they perform a medicine cat ceremony at the Moonpool during the bi-monthly medicine cat meeting. The medicine cat usually also makes sure that StarClan approves of the apprentice being raised to full medicine cat status.
Medicine Cat: I, [med cat name], medicine cat of _____Clan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She/he has trained hard to understand the way of a medicine cat, and with your help she/he will serve your Clan for many moons. [Apprentice name], do you promise to uphold the way 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?
Medicine Cat Apprentice: I do.
Medicine Cat: Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your true name as a medicine cat. _____paw, from this moment you shall be known as [new name]. StarClan honours your [virtue] and [virtue], and we welcome you as a full medicine cat of _____Clan.
Renaming Ceremony
If a cat suffers some sort of life-changing event or permanently scarring injury, they may choose to have their name changed. In such cases, the leader performs a special ceremony to strip them of their current name and assign them a new one. First the leader calls the cat in question to stand before him/her, and then they speak the following words:
Leader: Spirits of StarClan, 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 he/she 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 he/she will be known as [new name].Other words may follow, such as the reasons for changing the cat's name and what their new name stands for. The leader then rests their chin on the cat's head, and the renamed cat licks the leader's shoulder as they might after a warrior ceremony. The Clan calls out the cat's new name, and the ceremony is complete.
Death Ceremony
To honour the dead, the cat's closest friends share tongues with him/her for the last time. The medicine cat says a few words, like a funeral.
Medicine Cat: May StarClan light your path, [deceased cat]. May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep.Then they stand vigil with the dead cat until sunrise, to make sure that they will travel safely to StarClan. Then, the elders (and sometimes a close friend or family member) take the body just outside of camp and bury it. Cats buried near camps will never be forgotten & are often visited by their friends.[/blockquote][/size]
