lady of the lake's priesthood
ACOLYTE
Age 7 to 10 Years of age
DEVELOPMENT - Of the Mind - Knowledge -
- Learn to recite poems, eulogies, genealogies, etc. befor the high council, though cannot compose or cast them
- Cannot attend religious ceremonies
TATTOO - Triskele on the left cheek - sign of the priesthood
NAMING CEREMONY - initiated with water and accepted into the priesthood. Taught to forget life and family before the priesthood.
BARD
10 to 16 years of age
DEVELOPMENT - Of the Mind - Knowledge
- Continue to study how to recite poems, eulogies, genealogies, etc. before the high council, though now learn to compose them as well.
- Also learn to compose aers (satires) and geisa, though still cannot cast them
- Cannot attend religios ceremonies
- begin to practice the art of dercad
MINOR CLERIC
16 to 19 years of age
DEVELOPMENT - Of mind and body - discipline
- Must recite by heart a number of random poems, eulogies, genealogies etc. before the high council
- Allowed to compose and entertain with poems
- Can practice composing eulogies and casting satires, but only under the supervision of a high priest.
- Begin studies to become a seer
- Learn basic powers to control elements
- Learn discipline of mind and body, and the basics of sacrificial rites, though may only attend religious ceremonies if invited by high priest.
- Spend more time studying skills such as dercad
- Must remain celibate
TATTOO - knotted band around the upper right arm
MAJOR CLERIC - OLLAMH
19 to 21 years of age
DEVELOPMENT - Of mind and body - discipline
- Strength, courage and endurance emphasized. Learn to control impluses such as anger and lust
- Must remain celebate and may not marry
- Prepare to enter the Filidh, the road to becoming a priest. At this point, there is no turning back
- May compose satires, poems and genealogies on own. May compose and cast satires, geisa, and aers under light supervision.
- Increase concentration, so as to improve skills as a seer and be able to master powers over the elements and read the signs within naturs.
- Begin the study of herbs and incantations
- Continue to perfect to art of dercad
- May now attend religious ceremonies without being invited, though must still be invited to participate
- Transgressions now dealt with more severly.
TATTOO - snake of knots coiled around right forearm, the head of which rests in the palm of right hand - sign of healer
Also knot tattoed at the nape of the neck, signifying the joing of mind, body and soul
GOLDEN YEAR - 19 years of age - vow loyalty
begins the stage of preparation to enter the Filidh or the priest hood. This begins the rank of ollamh or major cleric and signifies the candidates pledge to the priesthood and the goddess.
THE FILIDH - NOVITIATE PRIEST
21 to 27 years of age
DEVELOPMENT - Of mind, body, and soul -
- Development of the soul.
* study and perfect deep dercad. study moral philosophy, though may not teach it.
- Perfect skills as a seer such as divination, and prophesy
- Begin the study of moral philosophy
- Can begin to teach acolytes and bards, though cannot yet teach moral philosophy
- Period of intense study, during which marriage is not allowed.
- Learn strict discipline of mind, body,
- Able to practice the basics of sacrificial rites, though may only attend religious ceremonies if invited by high priest.
- Spend more time studying skills such as dercad
- Must remain celibate
TATTOO - knotted band around the upper right arm