Apprentice Ceremony
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Leader: From this moment, until he has earned his warrior name, this apprentice shall be known as _____. ______, you will be mentor to this apprentice. You are _________, and I hope you will pass this knowledge to your new apprentice.
*Warrior and apprentice touch noses*
Warrior Ceremony
Leader: I, _____, leader of ___clan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn. _____paw, do you promise to uphold the warrior and to 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. ____paw, from this moment you will be known as _____. StarClan honors your bravery and courage, and we welcome you as a full member of ___clan.
*Leader lays her head on new warrior’s shoulder; new warrior licks leader’s shoulder and goes over to other warriors; new name is chanted by Clan.*
Deputy Ceremony
Leader: I say these words before the body of ______, so that his/her spirit may hear and approve my choice. ______ will be the new deputy of ______clan.
*You can change the first part up depending on whether the deputy is still living or not.
Name-Changing Ceremony
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 she/he 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 she/he will be known as ______, for _______.
*Leader lays her head on newly named warrior’s shoulder; newly named warrior licks leader’s shoulder and goes over to other warriors; new name is chanted by Clan.*
Elder Ceremony
Leader: _______, is it your wish to give up the name of warrior and go to join the elders?
Old 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 Ceremony
Cats of StarClan: Welcome, ______. 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*
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*
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*
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 _______.
*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 StarClan and the warrior code.
*Bolt of pain with new life; very painful; given by old leader*
*Old leader signals new leader to rise; new leader obliges*
Old 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 chant new leader’s name*