The Laical Path: Discernment and the Acolyte

What is an Aspirant?

As stated, the Acolyte is someone who is on the Laical Path in the Laical Caste. The Aspirant is the (2nd) Second Office in progression of the Laical Path. The Acolyte's second level of two years is the "Aspirancy" where you are an "Aspirant", a person who is discerning their place among our OCAB Druids. You contemplate if belonging to our Druid Order is right for you. You also learn the fundamentals of virtuous living, moral theology and how mythological creatures can be great archetypes for strength, courage, vision, and wisdom. Here, you master the Daily Ritual. You should have a partner work with you during this time to help you with your Orders if you wish. A partner is someone just like you and interested in similar goals, because sometimes it takes two to Tango. Instead of a partner, you may have a Formation Director which is advised but still not necessary. During this time, you continue to move downward from a Third-Class Druid to a Second-Class Druid. You complete your (17th) Seventeenth through (32nd) Thirty-Second Orders, or 17th Rank through 32nd Rank Druid of Blest Stone and Wood.

Identifying the Aspirant.

The Aspirant is identified by (3) three or (4) four gray pins on the left collar of their Lorigan (1) one per level of completion. Closest to the throat, they wear a pin of 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. 

Note: The Official OCAB Swatch Card is given directly from the Order and is issued by that entity, to any OCAB Druid who has completed (8) their first Eight Orders, meaning if an OCAB Druid holds an Eighth Rank or higher, they receive an OCAB Swatch Card. An OCAB Druid does not receive an Official OCAB Swatch Card until they complete (8) eight orders. Pins are awarded after completing a level.

A Hero's Journey After Initiation

Once you successfully complete the Laity Path which is the Laical Caste, you have completed a total of (40) Foury Orders and are a 40th Rank Druid of Blest Stone and Wood. You've finished your Discernment Program and are officially and fully Initiated into the Druid Order of Blest Stone and Wood which is abbreviated by the letters OCAB, you'll find you have four distinct paths you can choose to follow.  Druidic Acolytes find their way with a Formation Director, who acts as a pastoral counselor to help them through their initial levels. 

Option One: Remain a Laical Druid or become a Partner

Your first choice is to simply remain a Laical Druid within OCAB. You can keep practicing everything you learned during your discernment, but your formal instruction and learning journey would conclude here. You'll need to remain in good standing, but as a Lay Druid, you're limited to performing only the acts you were taught in your Discernment Program. While you're free to pursue other spiritual interests outside of OCAB, those other pursuits are considered unofficial practices and activities. They won't be recognized as part of your official role as an OCAB Initiate and will not be sanctioned by us. Those things you have learned during discernment, can and will be sanctioned by us, therefore being official OCAB activities. Here, you may become a partner with someone who may be having problems with their "Theory and Practice" before Initiation.

Option Two: Become a Formation Director

Your second choice is to become a Formation Director. If you have a passion for counseling and guiding others, this role is for you. You'll mentor individuals at any stage before their own Initiation, learning pastoral counseling techniques. Your goal is to provide direction, encouragement, and support as they navigate their discernment journey. Remember, as OCAB Druids, we never give direct advice; instead, offer various options and explain their potential outcomes. The final decision always rests with the individual, making you their mirror, mirror, on the wall, not telling them what they want to hear, rather what they need to see.

Option Three: Enter the Clerical Path as a Druidic Deacon

Your third option is to move onto the Clerical Path, which is the Clerical Caste. Here you become a Clerical Druid for OCAB. This path has two offices: Deacon and Priest. If you choose this, you'll first train to become a Druidic Deacon and learn the important Rites of Benediction, officially becoming a Dedicant of the Order. These Rites are diverse, and include Blessings, Petitions, Processions, Intinctions, and Ceremonies for Life's Milestones (Naming, Marriage, and Funerals), all performed within a larger Ritual framework. A Deacon can perform everything an Acolyte can, plus they can instruct those in Discernment, lead Nature-Based and Communal Events, and perform Ordinal Rituals. These include mastering and leading our Sunday Rituals, Special Rituals for Nature-Related Holidays, Patriotic Holidays, and Rituals for Special Intentions and Simple Gatherings (Talk Groups, Meetups, etc.)

Option Four: Advance to Druidic Priest within the Clerical Path

Once you're dedicated as a Deacon, you're able to administer those specific Rites of Benediction within an official OCAB Ritual format. Some Druids may choose to remain Deacons, with their official learning concluding at the end of the Deaconate. Most Deacons, however, feel called to become a Druidic Priest, still within the Clerical Path. A Druid Priest is Ordained and learns the powerful Rites of Anointing. These Rites involve the Consecrations of Persons, Places, and Things outside of a standard Ritual for specific, profound reasons. Priests also master and perform Low, High, and Cardinal Rituals. You also might be called into Leadership, or you can submit a written request to become a leader, who is an Archdruid in the Order. The Archdruid begins as a Seer, then as an Overseer, then as a Chieftain, then as a Viceroy (female only) or Successor (male only) to the Founder who is the Chief. Other than administrative, consecration, and defrocking powers, all archdruids in OCAB have the same ability, to carry out the will and testament of the founding Druid who  is the Chief.

Your Initiate Credentials

An OCAB Druid is a fully initiated member of the Druid Order of Blest Stone and Wood. As a fully initiated OCAB Druid, you will receive your official Photo ID Card with your Ministry credentials from the Druid Order of Blest Stone and Wood. This credential allows you to practice those things you learned under us in public spaces and to fulfill our Mission within the Druid Order. Your credentialing renews every year or upon reaching a new Level, whichever comes first. You can also begin holding public events as a Brother or Sister of the Ancient Cross, or OCAB Druid. As you gradually learn the Rituals and Rites within your Office, it will be reflected in your ID Card. Your ID Card expires immediately upon reasonable cause for your defrocking, or the process by which one is officially shunned and dismissed from our Order, in which you may never return. While this is not likely at all, you continue to be an official OCAB Druid which is a Druid of the Order of Blest Stone and Wood and move onward with your Orders as an active participant and in good standing with us and your community.