The degree system is used in some traditions to keep track of who has the most training, and has been doing this the longest. Traditionally, you spend a year and a day studying before you are initiated. When you are initiated, you become a first degree witch; a Priestess or Priest. Then you study for another year and a day, and get elevated to second degree; a High Priestess or High Priest. After another year and a day you can be elevated to third degree; still High Priestess or High Priest, but you can draw a different sigil after your name, if you are so inclined. In our tradition, we use a degree system.   First degree is the dedication, when you have decided that you belong on this path, and dedicate yourself to the Lord and Lady.   Second degree is earned when you begin to see the patterns unfolding in the world around you, and can predict them.   Third degree is gained when you begin to use the patterns, and go out to teach and heal.

The Preparation The Opening Ritual proceeds in the normal way. After the Witches Rune, The Maiden and the Summoner clear the altar of all the working tools. And the altar is made suitably comfortable for the Priestess. If the Initiate is female, she will play the part of the Priestess, with the High Priest of the Coven acting as the Priest. If the Initiate is male he will play the part of the Priest, with the High Priestess acting as the Priestess. The Ritual

The Priestess seats herself on the altar with her back to the North, holding the athame in her right hand, and the scourge in her left hand, in the Osiris position (wrists crossed in front of her chest). "The Maiden rings the bell three times" The Priest kneels before the Priestess, kisses both her knees and then lays his forearms along her thighs. He bows his head to touch his forehead to her knees, and remains there for a moment. The Summoner fetches the chalice of wine and hands it to the Priest, who then holds it up to the Priestess. The Priestess lays down the scourge and, holding the athame in both hands, she lowers the point in to the wine, saying: As the athame is to the male, so the cup is to the female, and enjoined, they bring blessedness. She then lays down the Athame, takes the chalice, kisses the Priest and drinks. She kisses the Priest again and gives him the chalice. The Priest drinks, rises and gives the chailice to the Maiden with a kiss. The Maiden drinks and gives the chalice to the Summoner with a kiss. The wine is passed woman to man, man to woman, with a kiss untill all have drunk, and the chalice is returned. The Priest kneels before the Priestess, and the Summoner fetches the plate of cakes and presents them to the Priest, who holds them up in both hands to the Priestess.

The Priestess touches each cake with the moistend tip of her athame while the Priest says: O Queen most secret, bless this food unto our bodies, bestowing health, wealth, strength, joy and peace, and that fulfilment of Will, and Love under Will, which is perpetual happiness. The Priestess takes a cake and bites into it, then kisses the Priest, who takes a cake himself. The cakes are then passed round with a kiss in the same way as the chalice, and then the dish returned. The Priest again kisses the Priestess`s two knees, lays his forearms along her thighs, and touches his forehead to her knees for a moment. Priest and Priestess both rise.

The Priest says: As  I proceed with this rite, I must beg purification at thy hands. The Maiden brings the Priestess the red cords, and the Priestess binds the Priest, tying the middle of the long cord round his wrists behind his back, bringing the two halves of the cord over his shoulders to tie them in front of his neck, and letting the ends hang down his chest as a cable-tow. One short cord is tied round the right ankle, the other above the left knee -- each with ends tucked in. The Priestess ties the Priests ankle and knees, and the Maiden helps the Priest to kneel before the altar and The Prietess then ties the cable-tow to the ring in the altar. The Maiden fetches the scourge and gives it to the Priestess. The Maiden rings the bell three times, and the Summoner says: Three. The Priestess then gives the Priest three firm strokes with the scourge The Maiden rings the bell seven times, and the Summoner says: Seven. The Prietess gives the Priest seven firm strokes with the scourge. The Maiden rings the bell nine times and the Summoner says: Nine. The Priestess gives the Priest nine firm strokes with the scourge. The Maiden rings the bell twenty-one times, and the Summoner says: Twenty-one. The Preistess gives the Priest twenty-one firm strokes with the scourge. The Priestess unties the cable-tow from the ring in the altar, and she and the Maiden help the Priest to stand. The Priestess unties the Priest and says: Thou art now properly prepared. The Priest then ties the the Priestess in the same manner, tying the middle of the long cord round her wrists behind her back, bringing the two halves of the cord over his shoulders to tie them in front of her neck, and letting the ends hang down her chest as a cable-tow. One short cord is tied round the right ankle, the other above the left knee -- each with ends tucked in. The Priest then leads the Priestess once desoil round the Circle, leading her by the cable-tow. They return to the altar and The Priest ties the Priestess `s ankles and knees, and the Summoner helps the Priestess to kneel before the altar . The Priest leads the Priestess by the cable-tow to each of the four quarters in turn, saying: Hear ye, Mighty Ones of the East [South, West, North]: the twice [thrice] consecrated and holy _________, High Priestess and Witch Queen, is properly prepared, and will now proceed to erect the Sacred Altar. He leads her back before the altar, unties the cable-tow and says: Now I must reveal a great mystery. The Priestess stands with her back to the altar, in the Osiris Position (again taking up the scourge and athame in her hands). The Priest gives her the Fivefold Kiss, saying: Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways. ---- kissing her right foot, and then her left foot. Blessed be thy knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar. ---- kissing her right knee, then her left knee. Blessed be thy womb, without which we would not be. ---- kissing her vagina. The Priestess assumes the blessing position, and the Priest continues: Blessed be thy breasts, formed in beauty. ---- kissing her right breast, and then her left breast. The Priest and Priestess embrace, length to length, with feet touching, and the Priest says: Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter the sacred names. ---- kissing her lips. The Priestess puts down the scourge and athame. The Priestess now lays down face upwards on the altar. Her heads is to the East and her feet to the west. The Maiden rings the bell three times. The Priest then kneels beside her, facing the North across her body, and says: Assist me to erect the ancient altar, at which in days past all worshipped, The Great Altar of all things; For in old times, Woman was the altar. Thus was the altar made and placed; And the sacred point was the point within the centre of the circle. As we have of old been taught that the point within the centre is the orgin of all things, Therefore should we adore it. (kissing her vagina) Therefore whom we adore we also invoke, by the power of the Lifted Lance. The Priest touches his own phallus and continues: O Circle of Stars (kissing her vagina) Where of our father is but the younger brother (kissing her vagina) Marvel beyond imagination, soul of infinite space, Before whom time is bewildered and understanding dark, Not unto thee may we attain unless thine image be love. (kissing her vagina) Therefore by seed and root, by stem and bud, by leaf and flower and fruit, Do we invoke thee, O Queen of Space, O dew of light, Continuous one of the heavens, (kissing her vagina) Let it ever be thus, that men speak not of thee as one, but as none; And let them not speak of thee at all, since thou art continuous. For thou art the point within the circle (kissing her vagina) which we adore, (kissing her vagina) The fount of life without which we would not be, (kissing her vagina) And in this way are erected the Holy Twin Pillars, (kissing her right breast, and then her left breast) In beauty and in strength were they erected, To the wonder and glory of all men. O Secret of Secrets, That art hidden in the being of all lives, Now thee do we adore, For that which we adoreth is also thou. Thou art That, and That am I. (kissing her vagina) I am the flame that burns in the heart of every man, And in the core of every star. I am life, and the giver of life. Yet therefore is the knowledge of me the knowledge of death. I am alone, the Lord within ourselves, Whose name is Mystery of Mysteries. The Priest then kisses the Priestess in the Sigil of the Third Degree as follows: the vagina, right foot, left knee, right knee, left foot, and vagina again, lips, left breast, right breast, and finally lips again. The Priest lays his body gently on the Priestess`s and begins to make love to her and says: Make open the intelligence between us; For these truly are the Five Points of Fellowship -- Foot to foot, Knee to Knee, Lance to Grail, Breast to breast, Lips to lips, By the Lord; In the name of Lady; Encourage our hearts, Let the light crystallize itself in our blood, Fulfilling of us resurrection. For there is no part of us that is not of the Gods. When both Priest and Priestess reach their orgasm, they kneel facing each other and embrace and kiss. The Priest rises; the Priestess remains where she is. The Priest goes to the cardinal points in turn and says: Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East [South, West, North]; the thrice consecrated High Priestess greets and thanks you. The Maiden rings the bell three times.  Third Degree Initiation, the coven gathers round and congratulates the Priestess with a kiss or a handshake as is appropriate.