After Initiation
Achievement
Once initiated, you are now officially part of our Druid Order and begin learning our Rituals as a Deacon and Rites, as a Priest. To have been initiated you have completed the Laical Caste of Postulant, Aspirant, and Initiate from a 5th Class Druid to a 1st Class Druid and completed (40) Forty Orders.
Levels
Classes become Degrees
After the Discernment Program, levels go from lower to higher and are called Degrees (1st Degree to 5th Degree.) During this time you either act in the person of Deacon, where you are dedicated, or you act in the person of Priest, where you are ordained. The Deaconate and Priesthood are explained below.
Enumerated Degrees
Degrees after Initiation
After Initiation, you still receive your Orders, and those Orders continue to be sent octannually receiving them (8) Eight times per year if moving at a good pace. If you only complete, say only, (1) one Order a year, you'll move much slower through the clerical ranks. After Initiation, there are (5) Degrees.
Nominative Offices
Deacon and Priest
An Office is a distinct level within a caste. Before Initiation, levels are Classes, arranged from higher-to-lower. After Initiation, levels become Degrees, arranged from lower-to-higher. Levels after Initiation include (5) Five Degrees in this progression: Novitiate, Competent, Proficient, Practicant, Officiant.
The Cleric
The Five Degrees
There are only (2) Two Offices in the Clerical Path. The first office is called Deacon. The second office is called Priest. After Initiation, the Deacon has (1) one degree called the Novitiate. The Priest has (4) degrees: Competent, Proficient, Practicant, and Officiant. There are no subsequent degrees.
Ranks
Orders are Steps
To determine one's specific rank, the numerical Order a Druid has completed is used. Orders are the small steps one takes to pass to the next rank. Orders come in letter form. Therefore, a Druid who completed his First Orders, is a First Rank Druid, Second Orders, is a Second Rank Druid, etc. Ranks are not Offices.
Dedication
Druid Deaconate
Deacons move from 1st to 2nd Degree. Their sole Office is the Novitiate (First Degree Druid). The Deaconate is for Deacons seeking dedication in OCAB. Within (4) four years they learn and celebrate our (5) Five Rituals. They deepen their understanding of Theory and Practice. The Deacon masters the Rites of Benediction.
Ordination
Druid Priesthood
The Priesthood happens after the Deaconate. This is your vocation and life as a Druid Priest. There are Four Offices, each having (4) four degrees. The First Office is the Competent. The Second is the Proficient. The Third is the Practicant. The Fourth is the Officiant. The priest masters the Rites of Anointing.
The Offices of the Clerical Path
Noviciate: The First Degree
What is a Novice?
The First Degree of the Clerical Path is a four-year period called the Novitiate. This happens, once one has completed their Discernment Program and has been initiated, if interested. This degree's objective is to become a Deacon by completing your Forty-First through Seventy-Third Orders. Here, you learn and perform our Ordinal Rituals, Rites of Benediction, or become counselors as Formation Directors, and minister to those who benefit from our mission. Novitiates are Dedicants, dedicated to the Druid Order. By the end of the four years, they receive Dedication powers. They start as a First Novitiate and end by becoming a Fourth Novitiate, earning official OCAB credentials at the end as a Full Novitiate. Since there are only two offices of the Clerical Path: Deacon and Priest, they may move on to the next degree, or remain in the Druid Order in the Clerical Office as Fourth Year Deacon. The Novice starts the First Level of the Clerical Path: Deacon.
Identifying the Novice.
They are identified by (1) one Snake and Sun pin on the left collar of their Lorigan and on their right collar, black pins, one per year of completion. Closest to the throat, they wear the symbol of their country (ie. American Eagle) on the same side of their colored pin(s). They have in their possession, an official OCAB Swatch Card. This card supports NFC technology that when tapped, it will indicate an OCAB Druid's Active/Inactive status, a current photo, along with their rank, level and office. It will also indicate if they are in good standing and are adherent to the "Rules of the Founding Druid". To prevent any fraudulent activity and impersonation, our phone number will be listed when transferred to the profile. Like a Driver's Licence or State ID, their picture will be updated every few years. Unlike official secular identification cards, it is only to be used to identify an official Druid of Blest Stone and Wood.
Competent: the Second Degree
What is a Competent?
The Second Degree of the Clerical Path is a four-year period called the competency where one becomes a Competent. This happens, once one has completed their Novitiate and has been Dedicated, if interested. This degree's objective is to become an ordained Priest by completing your Seventy-Forth through One Hundred Sixth Orders. Here, you learn and perform our Low, High, and Cardinal Rituals. Competents are ordinariates, who strive to be Ordained by the Druid Order. After four years, they receive Ordination powers. They start as a First Competent Priest and end by becoming a Fourth Competent, earning official OCAB credentials at the end as a Full Competent. The competency starts the Second Level of the Clerical Path: Priest. The Competent may move on to the next degree, or remain in the Druid Order in the Clerical Office as a Fourth Year Priest.
Identifying the Competent.
They are identified by (2) two Snake and Sun pins on the left collar of their Lorigan and on their right collar, bronze pins, one per year of completion. Closest to the throat, they wear the symbol of their country (ie. American Eagle) on the same side of their colored pin(s). They have in their possession, an official OCAB Swatch Card. This card supports NFC technology that when tapped, it will indicate an OCAB Druid's Active/Inactive status, a current photo, along with their rank, level and office. It will also indicate if they are in good standing and are adherent to the "Rules of the Founding Druid". To prevent any fraudulent activity and impersonation, our phone number will be listed when transferred to the profile. Like a Driver's Licence or State ID, their picture will be updated every few years. Unlike official secular identification cards, it is only to be used to identify an official Druid of Blest Stone and Wood.
Proficient: The Third Degree
What is a Proficient?
The Third Degree of the Clerical Path is another four-year period called the proficiency where one becomes a Proficient if they choose. This happens, once one has completed the requirements of being a Competent. This degree's objective is to remain active and in good standing in the Druid Order as a Priest by completing your One Hundred Seventh through One Hundred Thirty-Ninth Orders. Here, you learn and perform our Rites of Anointing, and focus on the Environmental Aspect of our mission to begin official ministry as environmental stewards. Proficients are already ordained priests by the Druid Order. They start as a First Proficient and end as an Fourth Proficient, earning official OCAB credentials at the end as a Full Proficient. The proficiency starts the Third Level of the Clerical Path: Priest. The Proficient may move on to the next degree, or remain in the Druid Order in the Clerical Office as an Eighth Year Priest.
Identifying the Proficient.
They are identified by (3) three Snake and Sun pins on the left collar of their Lorigan and on their right collar, silver pins, one per year of completion. Closest to the throat, they wear the symbol of their country (ie. American Eagle) on the same side of their colored pin(s). They have in their possession, an official OCAB Swatch Card. This card supports NFC technology that when tapped, it will indicate an OCAB Druid's Active/Inactive status, a current photo, along with their rank, level and office. It will also indicate if they are in good standing and are adherent to the "Rules of the Founding Druid". To prevent any fraudulent activity and impersonation, our phone number will be listed when transferred to the profile. Like a Driver's Licence or State ID, their picture will be updated every few years. Unlike official secular identification cards, it is only to be used to identify an official Druid of Blest Stone and Wood.
Practicant: The Fourth Degree
What is a Practicant?
The Fourth Degree of the Clerical Path is another four-year period called the practicancy where one becomes a Practicant if they choose. This happens, once one has completed the requirements of being a Proficient. This degree's objective is to remain active and in good standing in the Druid Order as a Priest by completing your One Hundred Fortieth through One Hundred Seventy-Second Orders. Here, you learn and perform our Swynion, learn Natural Law and focus on the Caregiving Aspect of our mission to begin official ministry as caregiving advocates assisting families of those with neurological disabilities. Practicants are already ordained priests by the Druid Order. They start as a First Practicant and end as an Fourth Practicant, earning official OCAB credentials at the end as a Full Practicant. The practicancy starts the Fourth Level of the Clerical Path: Priest. The Practicant may move on to the next degree, or remain in the Druid Order in the Clerical Office as a Twelfth Year Priest.
Identifying the Practicant.
They are identified by (4) four Snake and Sun pins on the left collar of their Lorigan and on their right collar, white pins, one per year of completion. Closest to the throat, they wear the symbol of their country (ie. American Eagle) on the same side of their colored pin(s). They have in their possession, an official OCAB Swatch Card. This card supports NFC technology that when tapped, it will indicate an OCAB Druid's Active/Inactive status, a current photo, along with their rank, level and office. It will also indicate if they are in good standing and are adherent to the "Rules of the Founding Druid". To prevent any fraudulent activity and impersonation, our phone number will be listed when transferred to the profile. Like a Driver's Licence or State ID, their picture will be updated every few years. Unlike official secular identification cards, it is only to be used to identify an official Druid of Blest Stone and Wood.
Officiant: The Fifth Degree
What is an Officiant?
The Fifth Degree of the Clerical Path is the final four-year period called the officiency where one becomes an Officiant holding the highest level of the clerical office, if they choose. This happens, once one has completed the requirements of being a Practicant. This degree's objective is to remain active and in good standing in the Druid Order as a Priest by completing your One Hundred Seventy-Third through Two-Hundred Fifth Orders. There are no more orders after this. Here, you learn the mechanics of our Swynion to create your own, why the formulas work, and dive deep into the Occult. You focus on the Tradition Aspect of our mission to begin official ministry as preservation apologists learning how to defend our myths and heritage. Officiants are already ordained priests by the Druid Order. They start as a First Officiant and end as an Fourth Officiant, earning official OCAB credentials at the end as a Full Officiant. The officiency starts the Fourth Level of the Clerical Path: Priest. The Officiant has completed the highest degree of the Clerical Path and remains in the Druid Order in the Clerical Office as a Sixteenth Year Priest.
Identifying the Officiant.
They are identified by (5) five Snake and Sun pins on the left collar of their Lorigan and on their right collar, gold pins, one per year of completion, up to four pins. Additionally they wear a single gold stripe on their cuffs for every ten years of service after that. Closest to the throat, they wear the symbol of their country (ie. American Eagle) on the same side of their colored pin(s). They have in their possession, an official OCAB Swatch Card. This card supports NFC technology that when tapped, it will indicate an OCAB Druid's Active/Inactive status, a current photo, along with their rank, level and office. It will also indicate if they are in good standing and are adherent to the "Rules of the Founding Druid". To prevent any fraudulent activity and impersonation, our phone number will be listed when transferred to the profile. Like a Driver's Licence or State ID, their picture will be updated every few years. Unlike official secular identification cards, it is only to be used to identify an official Druid of Blest Stone and Wood.