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Contents

Degrees of the Order

Recommendations For Degrees

Degrees Of The Order

The Order has three degrees for children and youth and five degrees for adults. You must be at least 18 years of age to apply for the adult degrees. There are also three Degrees of Distinction.

This page describes the requirements for each degree and includes lesson outlines for study.

Degrees for youth involve reaching the minimum age, being active in children and youth Academies, classes or study with a Mentor (which can be the child’s adult or guardian), completing Achievement Awards, and completing a service project either singly or with a group.

The degrees for youth are:

DEGREE
COLORS
MIN. AGE
AWARDS
Neophyte black 5-8 none
Apprentice silver 9-13 10
Mage gold 14-18 20

Descriptions of Youth Degrees may be found on the Youth page.


The degrees for adults are:

DEGREE
COLOR/ELEMENT

MINIMUM TIME OF STUDY
TITLE
Seeker white  none sister/brother
Practitioner yellow/ air year and a day sister/brother
Priest/ess red/ fire year and a day sister/brother
High Priest/ess blue/ water year and a day sister/brother
Elder green/ earth year and a day sister/brother
Ancient purple/ spirit 10 years mistress/master

There are also three special degrees of distinction for men and women who have displayed exemplary service to the Order or to the practice of Wicca in general and a third special degree to honor those active in the Order who have died.

DEGREE
TITLE
HONORING
Knight Madame/Sir Elders who have displayed exemplary service to the Order.
Honorary Knight Madame/Sir Anyone who has done great service for the Pagan Community in line with the Principles of the Order.
Ordained Priest Lady/Lord Those who have completed the requirements of the third degree, have learned the skills of ministry, and have been granted Ministry status from the Council of Elders.
Ancestor   Those active in the Order who have died.

 

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Recommendations For Degrees

The following are recommendations for adult degrees. Youth degrees can be found on the Youth page. Mentors and students work together to determine individual study plans. We urge students to use the recommendations and to substitute or add to them to create an individiualized course of study. Academies are also encouraged to use these recommendations.

 SEEKER

The goal of the degree of seeker is to make a commitment to study and practice.

  • enact a ritual of dedication to study and practice to the Order.

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PRACTITIONER

The goal of the degree of practitioner is to develop knowledge of the Craft.

Preparation:

  • Complete the requirements for Seeker.
  • Find a Mentor or Academy that teach Practitioner classes.
  • Announce your intention to continue study
  • Start a Book of Days (a journal)
  • Start a Book of Whimsy (collection of notes)
  • have a minimum of 10 hours of Pagan spiritual direction
  • Be active in all sabbats, esbats, and astors either privately or in groups

Study:

  1. Introduction to the Order/ The Five Precepts
  2. The Thirteen Principles of the Order/ Ethics
  3. The Elements
  4. The Wheel of the Year
  5. Pagan Symbols
  6. Deities
  7. Neo-Pagan History
  8. Developing A Personal Ritual Practice
  9. Meditation
  10. Spells and Magic
  11. Candle Magick
  12. Other Types of Magick
  13. Divination
  14. Numerology
  15. The Tarot, Part One
  16. The Tarot, Part Two
  17. The Runes
  18. Astrology
  19. The Pendulum
  20. Spiritual Healing
  21. The Aura and Chakras
  22. Healing With Hands
  23. Herbalism
  24. Mythology
  25. Hinduism and Paganism
  26. Taoism and Paganism
  27. Christianity and Paganism
  28. Islam and Paganism
  29. Judaism and Paganism
  30. Confucianism and Paganism
  31. Buddhism and Paganism
  32. Magickal Alphabets


Additional activities:

  • Have a degree review with your mentor
  • Participate in a Practitioner Degree initiation
  • Choose a Pagan Path

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PRIEST OR PRIESTESS


The goal of the degree of Priest or Priestess is to develop knowledge of the Craft into a personal practice.

Preparation:

  • Complete the requirements for Practitioner.
  • Find a Mentor or Academy.
  • Declare that you are willing to begin work toward the second degree.
  • Begin a new journal.
  • Organize Book of Whimsy into Book of Shadows.
  • Mentor a Seeker.
  • Help a Practitioner meet the goal of providing spiritual direction.
  • Be active in all sabbats, esbats, and astors either privately or in groups.

Study:

  1. Introduction to Second Degree work
  2. Developing the Inner Temple
  3. Meditation on Air
  4. Meditation on Fire
  5. Meditation on Water
  6. Meditation on Earth
  7. Meditation on the Root Chakra
  8. Meditation on the Center Chakra
  9. Meditation on the Solar Plexus Chakra
  10. Meditation on the Heart Chakra
  11. Meditation on the Throat Chakra
  12. Meditation on the Third Eye Chakra
  13. Meditation on the Crown Chakra
  14. Meditation on God
  15. Meditations on Goddess
  16. Meditations on Child
  17. The Tarot Labyrinth
  18. Rune Meditations
  19. Raising Energy
  20. Psychic Awareness
  21. Psychometry
  22. Scrying
  23. Dreamwork/ Clairvoyance

Additional activities:

  • Have a degree review with your mentor.
  • Participate in a Priest or Priestess Degree initiation.

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HIGH PRIEST OR PRIESTESS

The goal of the degree of High Priest or High Priestess is to expand your personal practice to the aid and betterment of yourself and others.


Preparation:

  • Complete the requirements for Priest or Priestess.
  • Find a Mentor or Academy.
  • Declare that you are willing to begin work toward the third degree.
  • Begin a new journal.
  • Mentor a Priest or Priestess or begin a study group.
  • Separate Book of Shadows into separate books.
  • Be active in all sabbats, esbats, and astors either privately or in groups.

Study:

  1. Introduction to the Third Degree
  2. Meditation on Father Sky
  3. Meditation on Mother Earth
  4. Meditation on Spirit
  5. Advanced Energy Raising
  6. Aspecting Deity
  7. Group Development
  8. Group Conflict Techniques
  9. Group Ritual Techniques
  10. Music and Dance in Ritual
  11. Drumming in Ritual
  12. Theater Techniques
  13. Effective Public Speaking
  14. Effective Teaching
  15. Community Service
  16. Forming A Legal Group

Additional Activities:

  • Lead at least two rituals.
  • Practice healing and divination techniques and record results
  • Assist in a service project.
  • Have a degree review with your mentor.
  • Participate in a High Priest or High Priestess Degree initiation.

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ELDER

The goal of the degree of Elder is to be reborn into a new spiritual person.

Preparation:

  • Complete the requirements for High Priest or High Priestess.
  • Declare that you are willing to begin work toward the fourth degree.
  • Begin a new journal.
  • Mentor a High Priest or High Priestess.
  • Create separate and beautiful grimoires.
  • Start a new Academy, Circle, or group within the Order.
  • Be active in all sabbats, esbats, and astors either privately or in groups.

Study:

  1. Introduction to the Fourth Degree
  2. Seeking Wholeness
  3. Ritual of Forgiveness
  4. Meditation on Death
  5. End of Cycle Preparations
  6. Community Service
  7. Purification
  8. The Ritual of Rebirth
  9. The Life of an Ancient

Additional Activities:

  • Prepare and enact a three day Ritual of Rebirth.
  • express your learning to others.
  • Create and direct a major service project.
  • Have a degree review with your mentor.
  • Participate in an Elder degree initiation.

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ANCIENT


The goal of the degree of Ancient is to honor a commitment to the Order and the Craft.

Activities:

  • Complete the requirements for Elder.
  • Begin a new journal.
  • Assist an Elder in a Ritual of Rebirth.
  • Establish a method in which you maintain a deep and connected Pagan practice for a minimim of ten years.
  • Maintain an active and supportive relationship with the Order.
  • Be reviewed by a local Council of Elders.
  • Participate in an Ancient Degree initiation.

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Knight

The degree of Knight is an honorary degree awarded to those in the Order who deserve special recognition for outstanding service to the Order. Honorary degrees are awarded by members of the Order who have reached the degree of Elder.

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Honorary Knight

Honorary Knight is similar to the Knight degree except that people awarded this degree do not necessarily have to be a member of the Order. The degree is meant to honor those who have displayed outstanding service to the Pagan Community at large and whose actions are in line with the Principles and Precepts of the Order. Honorary degrees are awarded by members of the Order who have reached the degree of Elder.

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Ancestor

The degree of Ancestor is given posthumously to any member of the Order to recognize his or her achievements and to honor his or her memory as a brother or sister of the Order. The degree of Ancestor can be conferred by any active members of the Order.

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last update October 9, 2008