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Clan of the Laughing Dragon
…Membership Process and Expectations

This page is designed to provide a brief overview of the structure of the Clan of the Laughing Dragon. It discusses some of the things expected of students and some of the obligations of the priesthood.

Initial Interest

When a person is first drawn to one of the member covens and expresses initial interest in joining, s/he will spend a period of time getting to know some of the basics about the group. This will involve a series of discussions with the High Priestess, a prospective member questionnaire, and attending 3 coven classes and 3 rituals as a guest. Depending on background, s/he may be required by the High Priestess of the Coven to attend a series of Craft 101 classes (either led by a member of the coven or by an approved, reputable local teacher) or through independent study as directed by the Priestess.

Pre-Dedication

If s/he is still interested in exploring the group, the Seeker will ask to take Pre-Dedicant vows, which will begin the six to nine weeks of "getting to know each other" meetings known as Pre-dedication. Not all classes or rituals will be open to the Pre-Dedicant, but many of them will be. This is the period in which current Dedicants and Initiates get to know prospective members, and vice versa, to determine if personalities complement, working relationships gel, etc. It is also the time during which the Pre-Dedicant determines if the working structure and ritual practices of the group are comfortable and appealing enough to pursue further study. (As a note, it is the Seeker's responsibility to ask to join the group. Furthermore, we follow the Celtic pattern of asking -- and being denied -- three times before being accepted into the group. In other words, once you make the choice to try us out, you must take ownership and be persistent in that choice.)

Dedication

After the period of Pre-Dedication, prospective members participate in a Dedication ceremony. This ceremony establishes that the Dedicant will give a year and a day to the studies that will lead to a "first level" initiation. At this time serious vows are taken. These vows are not to be taken lightly. (Please see the full description below regarding the Dedicant Year.)

After that period of time, if the student no longer wishes to work with Laughing Dragon, they will be set free from their vow of Dedication and sent on their way with blessings. If the student wants to continue to be a part of this group, he or she will be evaluated by the High Priestess. If that student has successfully completed all of the studies and workings required to achieve "first degree," he or she will then participate in an Initiation Ceremony. This ceremony will grant the recipient a "first degree" in the Laughing Dragon path and he or she will be considered a fully vested member of the Clan and Coven.

Each Dedicant student is allowed to work at his or her own pace. If it takes longer than a year and a day to complete the "first" studies, that is perfectly fine. Initiations will be given only when the High Priestess feels that the applicant is ready and/or the applicant successfully passes an Inquisition by the initiate members of the Clan.

Degrees

The "First" makes one a full-fledged member of the Clan of The Laughing Dragon, with all of the knowledge, mysteries, and magical practices learned in that first year. At this time, the member may choose to stay a "First" and be an open member of the Clan or may choose to continue to study and work to obtain further "degrees."

Two more levels of "degree" are offered. Each degree level will require varying periods of study and work (depending upon the calling, skill and dedication of the Initiate) and will involve greater mysteries and a deeper level of knowledge and practice of the Craft. Both the 2nd and 3rd Degrees are highly specialized, and the course of study is individualized to any given student.

If a "First" is equivalent to a Bachelor's degree in college, a "Second" is a Master's. Initiates at this level are highly skilled in a specific area of training and are permitted (under the supervision of the High Priestess or Priest) to teach others within that skill area. A "Second" will also be made privy to a deeper level of mystery and magical practice. It is during this time that those called to the Priesthood would form and lead a study group associated with the Clan.

When a "Third" is earned, it is the equivalent of having a Doctorate. If one is chosen as clergy, s/he will become a High Priest or Priestess and be expected to hive off and begin a coven themselves, following the Laughing Dragon Path. (It is also possible for a 3rd Degree High Priest or Priestess to take a position of leadership within the initiating coven, depending on the structure of that coven. For instance, a man may become the High Priest to his initiating High Priestess if there is no one else to fulfill that role.) For those who are not on the path of priesthood, it is very likely that they would remain with their original coven and become a teacher and elder there, offering their skills, wisdom and leadership within the immediate family to which they have always belonged.

The Dedicant Year

The first year course of study will include (but not be limited to) basic magical skills, magical tools and their uses, circle casting, ritual planning, participation in open and closed rituals, forms of divination, working with the various Deities, entities, energies, elemental, and other magical beings who assist and empower the Craft. If you choose to Dedicate to a Coven within the Clan of the Laughing Dragon, you:

• will follow a rigorous course of study designed to educate and empower you as a witch and a practitioner of the Craft.

• will be required to design and make a complete set of magical tools.

• will be required to show proficiency in at least three forms of divination.

• must also design and orchestrate an entire ritual.

• must demonstrate a working knowledge of successful spell craft and

• be able to maintain a "contact" communication with a Deity and allow a full aspect of a Deity during a regular meeting of the group.

• keep regular journals  and submit them for review periodically.

Furthermore, as a Dedicant member of the Tradition, you:

• must develop a working knowledge of "mythological" creatures and be open to a pairing with such a creature.

• develop meditation skills and learn to maintain a trance state, travel freely in other planes of existence, learn from the other side, and bring back that knowledge, conveying it to the rest of the group.

There will be occasional guest teachers so that everyone has the best possible training.

Homework will be assigned.

During the Dedicant year, students must yield over to the Priest/Priestess a small measure of control.

• Students must clear with the priestess/priest any participation in any ritual, other than those put on by the Clan.
   

• The taking of any outside [magical and/or metaphysically oriented] classes or workshops must be discussed with your Priestess/Priest.
   

• ANY spell work should be discussed with the Priestess before you do it.
  Usually this will not be a problem. It is more of a courtesy to your Priestess, having given her the charge to guide your magical growth.
   

• Usually there will be little or no problem with your participation in other activities. However, occasionally, you will be directed not to participate in another ritual or class. This is usually because that activity is not in agreement with what we are studying or the Priest/Priestess feels that the activity is contraindicated for some reason.
  Usually he/she will give you the reasons why. Of course, personal private rituals done by oneself are mostly exempt from this restriction.

Also, any student who seeks to study with the Clan of the Laughing Dragon, who already has initiations with another coven or another course of study, will be asked to set aside their initiate status until they have received their "first" from this Clan.
This is not to lessen prior achievements or to degrade in any fashion any work done before. It is designed to start all Dedicants at the same level.

After your "first" initiation, you will be encouraged to wear any cords, jewelry or other emblems earned, prior to joining Laughing Dragon. Any "degrees" earned before you are a member of this group will not change your status within the group. They will be recognized as having been earned in other disciplines. For example: you may be a "third degree" in the Tradition X, so after initiation in Laughing Dragon you would be a "first" in our Trad and a "third" in Trad X.

Obligations of the High Priestess/Priest

The Priestess/Priest has an obligation to provide the best possible magical education to his/her students. In areas where s/he might not be as knowledgeable, guest teachers will be provided.

It is the obligation of the coven leaders to provide a place of safety for the Dedicant student to practice their developing skills.

Confidentiality between student and teacher is a must.

Honor, honesty, and respect are very important in this Clan.

The student has the right to expect to be treated with respect and dignity, just as the Priestess/Priest should also be shown every respect. Even as the Dedicant and the Initiate each take vows to the Gods and to the Priest/Priestess, so do the Priest/Priestess take vows to the Gods and to the students.

It is hoped that this brief description of our focus, student expectations and priestly obligations will help you to understand the Clan of the Laughing Dragon.

This site was last updated on Sept 7, 2008/p>