Demeter
November 3rd, 2002, 09:47 PM
This weekend I had my Third Degree ordination ceremony. (Yes, it's legal!) It was a truly amazing moment for me, and I wanted to share some of it with you.
Here are the vows that I took as part of the ceremony:
I, Dorothy McComb, known before the Gods as Ishtar, do hereby state and swear:
I have been called to devote my life to be of service of humanity. I have chosen to manifest this calling in the form of a spiritual Ministry.
I commit myself to doing what is right, and hurting no one within the laws of the Gods and man.
I pledge myself to live openly in my faith, without fear or shame, with pride and love for the Gods and their teachings.
I vow that mine shall be a practical ministry. I shall teach and counsel and heal when asked, to the best of my ability.
I vow I will offer help to those who seek my aid, to the limit of my strengths and wisdom.
I vow that I will not violate the trust of those who entrust it to me.
I recognize that each individual follows their own path to spiritual awakening and I vow to respect all paths and honor each person's personal journey toward their personal truth. I shall not proselytize my personal beliefs.
I further recognize the diversity of the world and vow to perform my ministerial duties without prejudice of any kind.
These vows I hereby make a matter of public record and promise to keep for the good of all.
I declare and certify that I freely and earnestly take the vows above.
*****
The Initiation was combined with our coven's Samhain ceremony on November 2. As part of the ceremony, I received anointings of my feet, hands, heart, lips, third eye, temples, and crown chakra. I had attempted to make a new white robe for the occasion, but realized that I have forgotten everything about sewing that I ever learned in Home Ec 25 years ago, so obtained an alb from a religious supply store; with appropriate trim and a newly braided belt, it was perfect (now I just have to find out if they'll make one for me in black, or maybe I should try to make a black robe now that I have the leisure to learn how to sew a straight seam without time pressure ...).
Here are the vows that I took as part of the ceremony:
I, Dorothy McComb, known before the Gods as Ishtar, do hereby state and swear:
I have been called to devote my life to be of service of humanity. I have chosen to manifest this calling in the form of a spiritual Ministry.
I commit myself to doing what is right, and hurting no one within the laws of the Gods and man.
I pledge myself to live openly in my faith, without fear or shame, with pride and love for the Gods and their teachings.
I vow that mine shall be a practical ministry. I shall teach and counsel and heal when asked, to the best of my ability.
I vow I will offer help to those who seek my aid, to the limit of my strengths and wisdom.
I vow that I will not violate the trust of those who entrust it to me.
I recognize that each individual follows their own path to spiritual awakening and I vow to respect all paths and honor each person's personal journey toward their personal truth. I shall not proselytize my personal beliefs.
I further recognize the diversity of the world and vow to perform my ministerial duties without prejudice of any kind.
These vows I hereby make a matter of public record and promise to keep for the good of all.
I declare and certify that I freely and earnestly take the vows above.
*****
The Initiation was combined with our coven's Samhain ceremony on November 2. As part of the ceremony, I received anointings of my feet, hands, heart, lips, third eye, temples, and crown chakra. I had attempted to make a new white robe for the occasion, but realized that I have forgotten everything about sewing that I ever learned in Home Ec 25 years ago, so obtained an alb from a religious supply store; with appropriate trim and a newly braided belt, it was perfect (now I just have to find out if they'll make one for me in black, or maybe I should try to make a black robe now that I have the leisure to learn how to sew a straight seam without time pressure ...).