Ordination Questionnaire

devised by Elsa Die Löwin, HPs,
Circle Dragonmist, 1994

(Circulate freely, but if you make changes, note them as such. Suggestions for changes are welcomed. Send them to elsa@draigsffau.org)

• Why do you want to be ordained?
• What difference will it make in your life?
• Why do you want me/us to do it?
• How would you determine whether or not someone is ready for ordination?

• Have you been through a personal crisis/transformation?
• A "Dark Night of the Soul"?
• If so, how did you handle it?
• If not, how do you imagine you would handle it?

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• How do the strengths compensate for the weaknesses?
• How do they parallel each other?
• Do you draw a distinction between pride and self-esteem?
• Why or why not?

• Have you run a ritual from start to finish?
• Have you written a whole ritual?
• Have you run a ritual with guests?
• Have you run an open or semi-public ritual?
• Are you prepared to do so?
• If not, why not?
• If so, how would it be different from a smaller ritual?

• Have you dedicated yourself to any particular deities?
• If so, what do you do for your deities beyond ordinary ritual?
• If not, are there deities to whom you feel you might become dedicated?
• If not, why not?

• How far out of the "Broom-closet" do you intend to be?
• How will you protect your privacy?

• Have you taught the Craft?
• If not, are you interested in doing so?
• If not, why not?
• If so, would you teach one to one?
• In small private classes?
• In open classes?
• Only within your coven?
• Would you teach people under 18?
• With or without parental consent?

• How do you deal with difficult people?
• How about nice but unreliable people?
• What do you do about people who bring out your weaknesses?

• How do you handle crises?
• How would you respond to a teenager asking for advice about a relationship?
• How about a couple that are considering moving in together?
• A couple that's splitting up?
• If someone calls you at 3 am talking suicide, what do you do?
• Could you do a memorial for a close friend?

• What is your approach to magical ethics?
• Do you feel that doing any magic on another without their specific permission is ever acceptable?
• Are you willing to give positive energy to someone who is not in a position to ask?
• How does this relate to the concept of karma?

• How are you at co-ordinating mixed schedules?
• How far off a Sabbat date does the ritual still feel "real" to you?
• How far off a full moon does the Esbat ritual still feel "real" to you?

• Are you a member of any Pagan organizations?
• Which ones?
• Are you active in them?
• What do you do for them?
• Why did you join?

• Are you prepared to perform services for the community outside your coven? If so, which ones?
• Baby blessings?
• Coming of Age rituals?
• Handfastings?
• Initiations?
• Ordinations?
• Memorial services?
• Would you go into hospitals or prisons?
• Political/Environmental/Animal and/or Human Rights activism?

What lasting good can you see yourself doing with your life?

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© 1994, 1999 Elsa Die Löwin and Deirdre Clyde