Ceremonies comprise a backbone of clan life. They mark most important milestones in the life of the clan cat and most significant events find one of the ceremonies at the center of them. The great majority of ceremonies are preformed during clan meetings.
Ceremony List, by Tab
- Meetings
- To call a Clan Meeting
- To hold a Medicine Cat’s Meeting
- To hold a Blue Moon Naming Meeting
- Promotions
- To make a Kit into an Apprentice
- To make an Apprentice into a Warrior
- To make a Warrior into an Elder
- Leadership
- To select the next Deputy for the Clan
- In the Instance of Deputy Death
- In the Instance of Deputy Resignation
- To Name & Ordain a Leader
- In the Instance of Leader Death
- In the Instance of Leader Resignation
- To select the next Deputy for the Clan
- MCs
- To Name a Medicine Cat’s Apprentice
- To give an Medicine Cat’s Apprentice an Adult Name Without Promoting
- To make a Medicine Cat’s Apprentice into a Medicine Cat
- If they do not already have an adult name
- If they have an adult name already
- Infrequent
- To announce a death
- To Give a Dying (or potentinaly Dying) Apprentice a Warrior Name
- To Rename a Cat
To call a Clan Meeting
LEADER: “Let all cats old enough to catch thier own prey join here [insert phrase appropriate to clan] for a clan meeting.”
Phrases
- THUNDERCLAN: beneath the Highrock
- RIVERCLAN: in the shade of the TwinWillow
- WINDCLAN: below camp on the flatlands
- SHADOWCLAN: in the shelter of the briar patch
To hold a Medicine Cat’s Meeting
- When to hold the ceremony: The Medicine Cats (and their apprentices) meet every waxing half-moon (the 7th day of the moon).
- Who is the Senior Medicine Cat?: The Senior Medicine Cat is the oldest of the gathered medicine cats.
MED-CATS: Gather at Mothermouth.
SR-MED-CAT: Declares that they should go down. After they speak silence is to rule.
MED-CATS: Descend through Mothermouth to lie with noses touching the Moonstone. They then fall into a sleep-like trance. To anyone not asleep with them, they would appear deeply unconscious until the moment the vision releases them. During this trance they experience a vision from StarClan. When they wake, the file back up to the surface. Once all are out of mothermouth, they may (and frequently do) discuss the vision before returning to their clans.
To hold a Blue Moon Naming Meeting
- When to hold the ceremony: Blue Moons are named on the waning half-moon (the 22nd day of the moon) directly before the moon starts. That is to say, if the blue moon is to be between Lion’s Glory and Cheetah’s Flight the Medicine Cats will be informed by StarClan during the Medicine Cat’s Meeting at the waxing half-moon (the 7th day of the Moon) that they must meet again to name the blue moon on the wane.
- Who is the Senior Medicine Cat?: The Senior Medicine Cat is the oldest of the gathered medicine cats.
MED-CATS: Gather at Mothermouth.
SR-MED-CAT: “Let us go learn the name of the moon to come.”
MED-CATS: Follow the Senior Medicine Cat and Descend through Mothermouth to lie with noses touching the Moonstone. They then fall into a sleep-like trance. To anyone not sleep with them, they would appear deeply unconscious until the moment the vision releases them. During this trance they experience vision from StarClan that informs them of the name to be applied to the blue moon. They may also receive other visionary information that might aid the clans in what is to come. When they wake, the file back up to the surface. Once all are out of mothermouth, they may (and frequently do) discuss the name of the blue moon and any visions before returning to their clans.
NOTE – The wordings of this ceremony may be altered slightly as long as the core meaning and style is maintained.
To make a Kit into an Apprentice
- Preformed after the Clan Leader calls a Clan Meeting
LEADER: “We are here today to give [Number of Kits] their apprentice name/s. Come forward [List Kit’s Names].”
KITS: Come forward.
LEADER: “[Warrior’s Name], you will be mentor to [Kit’s New Apprentice Name]. [Warrior’s Name], You are [Trait of Warrior] and [Second Trait of Warrior]. Pass on all you can to this young apprentice.”
WARRIOR: The Warrior should approach the apprentice and touch noses with them.
NOTES – The wordings of this ceremony may be altered slightly as long as the core meaning and style is maintained. The assignment of kit to mentor and the giving of the apprentice name should be repeated for each kit to be made an apprentice.
To make an Apprentice into a Warrior
- Preformed after the Clan Leader calls a Clan Meeting
LEADER: “[Apprentice’s Name], come here.”
APPRENTICE: The apprentice then comes forward to join the Clan Leader.
LEADER: “[Apprentice’s Name], [reason that the choice to raise the apprentice to warrior must be explained here]. It is time for you to become a warrior. I, [Leader’s Name], leader of [Clan], call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. S/he has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his/her turn. [Apprentice’s Name], do you promise to uphold the warrior code 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. [Apprentice’s Name], from this moment forward you will be known as [Apprentice’s Warrior Name]. StarClan honors your [some virtue of the apprentice-turned-warrior], and we welcome you as a full warrior of [Clan].” The leader then rests their muzzle on the bowed head of the apprentice-turned-warrior
APPRENTICE-TURNED-WARRIOR: Licks their shoulder of the Leader in a respectful manner.
CLAN: Then greets the new warrior by their new name.
NEW WARRIOR: The New Warrior then must stand vigil alone that night, in silence.
NOTES – The wordings of this ceremony may be altered slightly as long as the core meaning and style is maintained.
To make a Warrior into an Elder
- Preformed after the Clan Leader calls a meeting.
LEADER: “[Warrior’s Name], come here.”
WARRIOR: The warrior then comes forward to join the Clan leader.
LEADER: “[Warrior’s Name], after a long life of service to you clan the time has come for you to rest. [Can include more commentary about the deeds of the warrior who is retiring.] Are you ready to enter the Elder’s Den?”
WARRIOR: “I am.”
LEADER: “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your place in the Elder’s Den. {Optional: [Warrior’s Name], from this moment forward you will be know as [Warrior’s Elder Name].} StarClan honors your [virtue of the warrior-turned-elder], and we welcome you an an Elder.”
CLAN: Cheers to celebrate the new elder
NOTES – The wordings of this ceremony may be altered slightly as long as the core meaning and style is maintained.
To select the next Deputy for the Clan
In the Instance of Deputy Death
- Preformed at Moonhigh.
LEADER: “Cats of [Clan], listen and I will appoint the new deputy.”
CLAN MEMBERS: Assemble in the appropriate location.
LEADER: “I say these words before StarClan, that the spirits of our ancestors may hear and approve my choice… The new deputy will be [Senior Warrior’s Name].”
CLAN MEMBERS: May now greet the deputy in the manner they see fit.
In the Instance of Deputy Resignation
- Preformed at Moonhigh following a standard meeting call is given.
CLAN MEMBERS: Assemble in the appropriate location.
LEADER: Speaking to the current Deputy. [Current Deputy], you have decided to [Statement]. Are you prepared to pass the responsibility for your clan on to another?
CURRENT DEPUTY: Provides a statement of agreement or disagreement, as appropriate.
LEADER: “I say these words before StarClan, that the spirits of our ancestors may hear and approve my choice… The next deputy will be [Senior Warrior’s Name].”
CLAN MEMBERS: May now greet the deputy in the manner they see fit.
Statements
- Retire to the Elder’s Den
- Return to the duties of a Warrior
To Name & Ordain a Leader
In the Instance of Leader Death
- Preformed following the death of the previous leader, at the first Moonhigh following that death that the Deputy can make the trip to Highstones.
DEPUTY: Leaves their selected sentry to stand watch at Mothermouth, while they descend into the tunnel and lay with nose touching the Moonstone.
STARCLAN: Gathers around the deputy, speaking together “Welcome, [Deputy’s Name], are you ready to receive your nine lives?”
DEPUTY: Gives assent in some way, be it physical or verbal.
STARCLANNER 1: Says “With this life I give you [TRAIT 1]” and touches the Deputy.
STARCLANNER 2: Says “With this life I give you [TRAIT 2]” and touches the Deputy.
STARCLANNER 3: Says “With this life I give you [TRAIT 3]” and touches the Deputy.
STARCLANNER 4: Says “With this life I give you [TRAIT 4]” and touches the Deputy.
STARCLANNER 5: Says “With this life I give you [TRAIT 5]” and touches the Deputy.
STARCLANNER 6: Says “With this life I give you [TRAIT 6]” and touches the Deputy.
STARCLANNER 7: Says “With this life I give you [TRAIT 7]” and touches the Deputy.
STARCLANNER 8: Says “With this life I give you [TRAIT 8]” and touches the Deputy.
STARCLANNER 9: Says “With this life I give you [TRAIT 9]” and touches the Deputy. The 9th StarClanner then gives the new Leader name to the Deputy-Turned-Leader.
STARCLAN: Raises a cry of the new name.
NOTE: While the basic format is given, the cats giving the lives can interact with the receiver of the life freely, exchanging words prior to the life actually being given, or directly after the transfer.
In the Instance of Leader Resignation
- Preformed when the Leader decides to step aside and permit the current deputy to become Leader.
OLD-LEADER & DEPUTY: Leaves their selected sentry to stand watch at Mothermouth, while they descend into the tunnel and lay with noses touching the Moonstone.
STARCLAN: Gathers around the Leader and Deputy, speaking together “Welcome, [Leader’s Name], are you ready to pass your lives on to [Deputy’s Name]?”
OLD-LEADER: Gives assent in some way, be it physical or verbal. STARCLAN: Gathers around the deputy, speaking together “Welcome, [Deputy’s Name], are you ready to receive your nine lives?”
DEPUTY: Gives assent in some way, be it physical or verbal.
INDIVIDUAL-STARCLANERs: The givers of each of OLD-LEADER’s lives come forward and touch noses with OLD-LEADER, collecting the life from them. They then touch noses with DEPUTY to grant that life to deputy. New StarClanners come forward to provide DEPUTY with any lives that OLD-LEADER had lost, taking the total number of lives to 9. The 9th cat will pronounce the new name of the EX-DEPUTY, and they become LEADER.
STARCLAN: Cries the name of the new [LEADER].
OLD-LEADERs NAME-GIVER: The cat who gave OLD-LEADER their name originally comes forward. “Your service to your clan is honored, but without the nine lives of a leader you cannot live up to the name you carry. We shall know you now as [OLD-LEADER’s NEW NAME].
STARCLAN: Echoes the thankyou, so that all present have thanked the retiring leader.
NOTES:
- While the basic formula is given, the cats giving the lives can interact with the receiver of the life freely, exchanging words prior to the life actually being given, or directly after the transfer.
- The exact wordings here are suggestions, so long as the patterns and steps are all observed.
- The Deputy-turned-leader will receive the normal -star name.
- The Old-leader’s -star suffix is revoked, and replaced with either a new elder’s name or their former warriors name.
- On return to camp the new leader will announce their own name, and then the new name of the ex-leader. That night they should name the new Deputy via normal protocol.
To Name a Medicine Cat’s Apprentice
- Preformed after the Clan Leader has called a Clan Meeting. The MC should be sitting front and center.
LEADER: “[MCs NAME] feels it is time for him/her to pass on what she knows and ensure a Medicine Cat and [CLAN]’s future. [KITs NAME/MCA-TO-BE], please come forward and join [MCs NAME].”
MCA-TO-BE: Walks forward to stand before the Leader and Medicine Cat.
LEADER: “[MC], you will be mentor to [MCA-TO-BE’s APPRENTICE NAME]. If it is StarClan’s will, teach them all you know.”
MED CAT: The MC should approach the apprentice and touch noses with them.
To give an Medicine Cat’s Apprentice an Adult Name Without Promoting
- The MC’s apprentice must be at least 12 moons of age and shown enough maturity and reliability to be viewed by the clan as an adult. This ceremony is used in cases where full promotion is not intended.
LEADER: “[MC Apprentice’s Name], come here.”
APPRENTICE: The MC apprentice then comes forward to join the Clan Leader.
LEADER: “[MC Apprentice’s Name], while you are not yet ready to be recognized as a full medicine cat the time has come for the clan to know that you are an adult. I [Leader’s Name], leader of [Clan], call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. While they have not yet completed his/her journey the one to reach adulthood has been completed. 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 S/he will be known as [Insert New Name Here].
CLAN: Greets the renamed cat by their new name.
To make a Medicine Cat’s Apprentice into a Medicine Cat
If they do not already have an adult name
- The MC to be must first attend an MC’s Meeting and be approved by StarClan as ready, then returns to camp where the Clan Leader calls a Clan Meeting
LEADER: “[MC Apprentice’s Name], come here.”
APPRENTICE: The MC apprentice then comes forward to join the Clan Leader.
LEADER: “[MC Apprentice’s Name], you have been found worthy by your Mentor and StarClan themselves. It is time for you to receive your name as a fully recognized Medicine Cat. I [Leader’s Name], leader of [Clan], call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. S/he has already been found worthy by you, and I commend him/her to you in his/her turn. [MC Apprentice’s Name], do you promise to uphold the Warrior’s Code and the Medicine Cat’s Code?”
APPRENTICE: “I do.”
LEADER: “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your medicine cat’s name. [MC Apprentice’s Name], from this moment forward you will be known as [Apprentice’s Medicine Cat Name]. StarClan honors your [some virtue of the apprentice-turned-MC], and we welcome you as a medicine cat of [Clan].” The leader then rests their muzzle on the bowed head of the apprentice-turned-med-cat
MCAPPRENTICE-TURNED-MED CAT: Licks their shoulder of the Leader in a respectful manner.
CLAN: Then greets the new MC by their new name.
NOTES – The wordings of this ceremony may be altered slightly as long as the core meaning and style is maintained.
If they have an adult name already
- The MC to be must first attend an MC’s Meeting and be approved by StarClan as ready, then returns to camp where the Clan Leader calls a Clan Meeting
LEADER: “[MC Apprentice’s Name], come here.”
APPRENTICE: The MC apprentice then comes forward to join the Clan Leader.
LEADER: “[MC Apprentice’s Name], you have been found worthy by your Mentor and StarClan themselves. It is time for you to become a fully recognized Medicine Cat. I [Leader’s Name], leader of [Clan], call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. S/he has already been found worthy by you, and I commend him/her to you in his/her turn. [MC Apprentice’s Name], do you promise to uphold the Warrior’s Code and the Medicine Cat’s Code?”
APPRENTICE: “I do.”
LEADER: “Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your position as Medicine Cat. StarClan honors your [some virtue of the apprentice-turned-MC], and we welcome you as a medicine cat of [Clan].” The leader then rests their muzzle on the bowed head of the apprentice-turned-med-cat
MCAPPRENTICE-TURNED-MED CAT: Licks their shoulder of the Leader in a respectful manner.
CLAN: Then greets the new MC by their new name.
NOTES – The wordings of this ceremony may be altered slightly as long as the core meaning and style is maintained.
To announce a death
- Done when a cat has died, after calling the clan together.
LEADER: “[Name] has left us to join StarClan. S/he has served [Clan] well. I welcome all those who wish to stand vigil and share tongues this last time.”
CLAN: Members may choose to stay up the night standing vigil over the body, sharing tongues with the dead, and telling tales of their life’s accomplishments. Come morning the Elders, and perhaps any warriors willing to volunteer their strength, are responsible for burying the dead.
To Give a Dying (or potentinaly Dying) Apprentice a Warrior Name
- Done when needed, without calling the clan together.
LEADER: The leader speaks to the apprentice, “I ask my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. S/he has learned the warrior code and has given up his/her life in service of his/her clan. Let StarClan receive him/her as a warrior. S/he will be known as [Apprentice’s New Warrior Name], so [insert reason for name here].”
NOTE: This ceremony is used only in dire circumstances.
To Rename a Cat
Performed after the clan is called together for a Clan Meeting
LEADER: “[Cat Name], Come forward.”
CAT: Comes forward, to stand in the appropriate location.
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 S/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 S/he will be known as [Insert New Name Here].” The leader then rests their muzzle on the bowed head of the Cat
CAT: Licks the shoulder of the Leader in a respectful manner.
CLAN: Greets the renamed cat by their new name.
NOTE: This is another ceremony not to be used lightly. It is almost never used where kits and apprentices are concerned.