Celebratory Officiant Preparations
Celebratory Officiant Preparations
Here are posted Preparation suggestions and recommendations for any Individual planning to Officiate at a Garden of Life Work, particularly concerning Celebratory Circles. These suggestions and recommendations are in addition to those posted at the GoL Celebrant Preparations area of the WebSite. They are intended as aides for those Officiants that wish such, and in no case are to infringe on the Officiant's pursuit of Her/His True Will toward such Celebration or Officiation. Garden of Life defines an Officiant as any Individual performing a Leadership function at a Garden of Life Event (or an Event of Like Nature), which includes a specifically Spiritual Aspect such as Celebratory Circles or other specific Workings. Officiants have specific responsibility in the Effectuation of the Garden of Life Sacraments.
Officiants
It is recommended that Each Garden of Life Officiant spend some time contemplating exactly what She/He is going to do in Circle, and meditating to determine Her/His True Will as to such Officiation, both as to the Work itself and the Way that She/He is going to perform such Function. Writing down Definition, Intent and Details of the Planning is always helpful. The clearer each Concept is in the Mind of an Officiant the more effectively such Concept will be Effectuated in Circle. There are many types of Officiation and the preparation for Each is different. As examples of Definition, although these are vast oversimplifications, the basic function of the Priestess in Garden of Life Celebrations is Showing and Building; and the basic function of the Priest in Garden of Life Celebrations is Showing and Sending (This reflects the basic difference in the Feminine Magickal Formula of Enthronement and the Masculine Magickal Formula of Radiance, which is generally held throughout the Nature Faiths).
Priestesses
The First Duty of a Priestess to a Celebration, may be to start Physically, Mentally and Spiritually preparing Herself to Manifest as complete a version of Her Own Ultimate Potential Perfection as possible at the Celebration, in the Sacrament of Showing. This may include doing meditations towards and about the Celebration, altering what She physically takes into Her Body as food, etc. and other preparations. More pragmatically, once the specifics of the Celebration have been decided upon, She should start assembling the elements for which She will be responsible. For example: any of the Tools used in the Circle: Chalices, Wands, Blades, Pantacles, Oils, Incense and Burners, perhaps getting a basket or other container and beginning to gather the desired implements in one place so that it will be easy to remember when headed to the Celebration. She should talk to the other Celebrants about the Celebration and get a feeling for their understanding of it, including emphasis on solidifying each Celebrant's understanding of the general goals of the Celebration and helping Each Celebrant to define Her/His Personal Goals for the Celebration. At a first Officiation She should make sure She has scheduled time for a Priestess Consecration. Always She should make time for enough preparation including walk-throughs so that She will be comfortable with Her Actions, considering that during the Celebration itself She will be in a Heightened State.
Priests
The First Duty of a Priest to a Celebration, may be to start Physically, Mentally and Spiritually preparing Himself to Manifest as complete a version of His Own Ultimate Potential Perfection as possible at the Celebration, in the Sacrament of Showing. This may include doing meditations towards and about the Celebration, altering what He physically takes into His Body as food, etc. and other preparations. More pragmatically, once the specifics of the Celebration have been decided upon, He should start assembling the elements for which He will be responsible. For example: the physical components for Establishing the Circle: Marking Stones, Altars, Tiki Torches, Candles, etc. It is best if such items are assembled in such a manner as to assure their being at hand and not easily forgotten when He is headed to the Celebration. He should draw or help to draw the Circle at the Site. He should talk to the other Celebrants about the Celebration and get a feeling for each Celebrant's understanding of it, including emphasis on understanding the Visualization of the Spheres of Enclosure that is ordinarily used at Garden of Life Circles. At a first Officiation He should make sure He has scheduled time for a Priest Consecration. Always He should make time for enough preparation including walk-throughs so that He will be comfortable with His Actions, considering that during the Celebration itself He will be in a Heightened State.
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