Post by ♫.Starredmyst on Oct 4, 2008 20:55:08 GMT -5
So, while we're in the middle of about a half-dozen ceremonies, a very important resource page we'd forgotten about has occurred to me. =D Here's a list of phrases used for ceremonies:
IN-CLAN CEREMONIES.xx
GATHERINGS AND OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS.xx
NOTE;;
IN-CLAN CEREMONIES.xx
Call to Highrock;Leader. "Let all those cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting."
Kit to Apprentice;Leader calls kit(s) to be named forward.
Leader. "From this day forward, until he/she has earned her/his warrior name, this apprentice will be called [apprentice name]. [Mentor], you are now ready to take on an apprentice. [elaboration on why mentor was chosen/would make a good mentor]"
Mentor approaches Highrock and touches noses with apprentice. The Clan chants the apprentice's new name.
Apprentice to Warrior;Leader calls apprentice(s) to be named forward.
Leader. "I, [Leader's name], 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. [Apprentice's name], do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this 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's name], from this moment you will be known as [warrior name]. StarClan honors your [virtue] and your [virtue], and we welcome you as a full warrior of [Clan name]."
Leader rests his muzzle on the new warrior's head, as the warrior licks his shoulder. The Clan chants the warrior's new name.
That night, the new warrior holds vigil over the Clan.
Warrior to Elder;Leader calls warrior(s) to retire forward.
Leader. "[Former warrior], is it your wish to give up the name of warrior and go to join the elders?"
Warrior. "It is."
Leader. Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given us. I call upon StarClan to give you many seasons of rest.
Leader lays his/her tail upon new elder's shoulder. New elder bows his/her head and goes to stand with elders.
Warrior to Deputy;If the old leader or deputy has died rather than retiring, the ceremony for a new deputy must take place by moonhigh on the former deputy/leader's death. The former deputy/leader's body is laid out before the Clan, and the ceremony occurs before their burial.
The Clan assembles before the former leader/deputy's body.
Leader. "I say these words before the body of [former leader/deputy], so that his/her spirit may hear and approve my choice. [explanation of choice] [New deputy] will be the new deputy of [Clan name]."
If the deputy has not died, cats will assemble at Highrock; deputy's elder ceremony may be simultaneous.
Leader. "[Explanation of circumstances of ceremony.] [New deputy] will be the new deputy of [Clan name]."
Deputy to Leader;The former deputy travels to Moonstone or its equivalent, where he/she speaks to his/her warrior ancestors for the first time. He/she is met by all of StarClan.
StarClan. "[greeting to new leader] Are you ready to receive your nine lives?"
New Leader. "Yes."
One by one, nine cats who knew the new leader in life approach him/her. Each touches his/her nose to the new leader's.
StarClan Cat. "With this life I give you [virtue]. Use it well [in/to/as/etc. -- use of virtue]."
The new leader "experiences" each virtue in a rush of emotion and physical sensation.
StarClan rise to their paws. The former leader of the Clan remains in the center of the clearing with the new leader.
Former Leader. "I hail you by your new name, [Leader's new name]. Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants to you the guardianship of [Clan name]. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with honor and dignity."
StarClan chants the leader's new name.
Kit to Medicine Cat Apprentice;This occurs at the half-moon gatherings of medicine cats, at Moonstone or its equivalent, with the medicine cat holding the ceremony rather than the Clan leader. The new apprentice will already have been given an apprentice name in a normal ceremony by the Clan leader.
Medicine cat. "[New apprentice], is it your wish to enter into the mysteries of StarClan as a medicine cat?"
New apprentice. "It is."
Medicine cat. "Then come forward."
The new apprentice approaches Moonstone or equivalent.
Medicine cat. "Warriors of StarClan, I present to you this apprentice. He/she has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant her your wisdom and insight so that he/she may understand your ways and heal his/her Clan according to your will."
The new apprentice touches the Moonstone with the rest of the medicine cats.
Medicine Cat Apprentice to Medicine Cat;This takes place at the half-moon meetings between medicine cats, with the medicine cat of the Clan rather than the leader holding the ceremony. It is usually performed when the medicine cat retires. Naturally, there is no ceremony if the former medicine cat dies in a crisis -- the medicine cat would go to Moonstone to be accepted by his/her ancestors.
Medicine cat. "I, [medicine cat], medicine cat of [Clan name], 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 an 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. [Medicine cat apprentice], from this moment you will be known as [medicine cat name. StarClan honors your [virtue] and your [virtue]."
Former medicine cat rests muzzle on new medicine cat's head. New medicine cat licks former medicine cat's shoulder in respect.
The meeting continues as usual afterward: the cats touch the Moonstone or equivalent and speak with StarClan.
GATHERINGS AND OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS.xx
Clan Gatherings;[/blockquote]who?
.__all clans
.__the leader of each clan selects a number of elders, warriors and apprentices to attend. The deputy and medicine cat always attend, unless prevented
what?
.__all clans gather together to share news; detailed explanation below
when?
.__each full moon
.__clouds obscuring the moon is considered a sign of StarClan's disfavor; if this happens, the Gathering will not occur/will end early
where?
.__some meeting place where all four territories meet; Fourtrees or equivalent
details.
.__before joining the Gathering, the Clan lines up just outside of the meeting place. At the leader's signal they run down to the rest of the cats.
.__cats are free to wander about and talk with other Clans before the leaders begin to speak. They learn for themselves of recent events, make their own judgments on each Clan's strength, talk with new cats and do their best to give a good impression of their own Clan.
.__to begin the Gathering, one of the Clan leaders let out a yowl to silence the cats below. The Clan leaders stand on the Great Rock [or equivalent] above the rest of the cats, with their deputies at the foot of the rock. One by one, each leader takes their turn to tell events that have happened in the Clan: deaths and births, naming ceremonies, prey shortages or other disasters, the like. They may also make requests of other Clans, or work out problems during the time of peace.
.__the Gathering lasts as long as the moon is in the sky.
Medicine Cat Gatherings;who?
.__medicine cats of each clan, and their apprentices
what?
.__medicine cats come together to discuss prophecies and events in the Clans, and to share tongues with StarClan
when?
.__each half-moon
where?
.__place where communication with StarClan occurs; Moonstone or equivalent
details.
.__the medicine cats and their apprentices gather before moving on tothe Moonstone [or equivalent]. Each cat touches their nose to the stone, and are drawn into StarClan to speak with their ancestors.
.__StarClan may speak with the medicine cat or deliver them a dream. The medicine cats generally do not share their dreams afterward.
.__During the trip, or before or after "sharing tongues," medicine cats may informally update each other on Clan goings-on.
Moonstone Visits;who?
.__clan leader/medicine cat
what?
.__visits Moonstone to speak with StarClan
when?
.__whenever necessary
where?
.__place where communication with StarClan occurs; Moonstone or equivalent
details.
.__the Clan leader feels the need to speak with StarClan, or the medicine cat may need to before the monthly meeting.
.__every apprentice is expected to visit Moonstone before becoming a warrior. As such, the leader is usually accompanied by a warrior and an apprentice or two [the medicine cat often goes alone, or only with their own apprentice]
.__the Clan leader enters the Moonstone and touches his/her nose to it. They then have dreams with StarClan.
NOTE;;
Many of these ceremonies vary from telling to telling. There is no definitive resource explaining what parts of the ceremony are traditional words, and what parts are improv -- Secrets of the Clans only explains what each ceremony is. I've referenced the books and a number of sites to figure out what's what, but there might be errors here -- if you recognize one, please let me know.
Also; you'll notice I didn't include the dying apprentice ceremony, or the name change one. As far as I can tell, both of these were improvisation on Firestar's part, so they're not really traditional words.
