The Chandrian Journey: Moon Maiden Circle Contents i. Introduction I. Mission A. Beauty B. Power C. Truth II. Identity A. The Identities 1. Gateway to the mysteries of feminine spirit. 2. Journey into the majesty of the threefold self. 3. Wellspring of strength for the grand journey. 4. Realm of respite from the currents of culture. 5. Communion of confidence and creativity. 6. Safe haven in the dark recesses of night. 7. Treasure trove of secrets, hopes, and dreams. 8. Sanctuary aglow with love, light, and peace. III. Power IV. Pursuit V. Code A. Code of Conduct 1. Guard all Chandrian signs and secrets. 2. Abide by Chandrian code and custom. 3. Embody the powers and employ the pursuits. 4. Be beautiful, powerful, and true in thought. 5. Be beautiful, powerful, and true in word. 6. Be beautiful, powerful, and true in deed. 7. Heed the wisdom of age and authority. 8. Seek truth and live in the light of it. VI. Custom A. Core of Customs 1. Open and close the day the Chandrian way. 2. Treasure the Chandrian emblem and gem. 3. Honor the nightly presence of the moon. 4. Observe the moon’s cycle with phasework. 5. Conduct Chandrian ritual and recite her refrains. 6. Practice Chandria alone and with peers. 7. Support the society and seek sisters-to-be. 8. Progress through the Moon Maiden degrees. VII. Registration A. Chandrian Name B. Registration Form VIII. Preparation A. Self-Assessment 1. Code Recall 2. Custom Consideration 3. Interest Inquiry B. Complete Your Real Review 1. Past Persona 2. Present Persona 3. Potential Persona 4. Real Review Rehash C. Chandrian Circlet 1. Circlet Materials 2. Circlet Pattern 3. Dream Beads 4. Goal Beads 5. Strength Beads 6. Circlet Stringing 7. Circlet Key 8. Circlet Enchantment i. Introduction The Chandrian Journey. This book provides an overview of our society: The Chandrian Order, the teen division: Moon Maiden Circle, and the practice that defines our tradition: The Chandrian Journey. This is only an introduction to Chandria and not a detailed description of our practice, which is reserved for initiated members only. This text outlines our code and custom and prepares you for your initiation ceremony, after which you will gain access to the books called: Secrets, Guidebook, Ritual, and New Moon. These books will answer many of your specific questions about how to practice Chandria, both online and offline, and make the journey alongside your sisters-in-spirit. You will gain access to additional books of secrets and customs as you advance through the Moon Maiden degrees. Before your initiation, we encourage you to register your membership, read this text, complete your preparation activities, and participate in the community forum. When you are ready, we invite you to undergo your initiation and officially embark on your very own Chandrian Journey with strength and spirit. I. Mission The Chandrian Order is a mystical sisterhood whose mission is to cultivate women of beauty, power, & truth. I.A. Beauty A woman of beauty is a woman who loves herself. She is a woman who appreciates her precious gifts and quirks alike and embraces herself as a whole. She is complete. Her spirit burns with the fire of her dreams, the light of which radiates out through her hopeful eyes and joyful smile. She attracts others to her with the blissful lightness of her being, which is all the more remarkable because it is not carefree. In fact, she is a woman of deep caring, who regularly reaches out to share her gifts with others along the journey. Her words encourage and her presence enchants. This is the essence of a woman of beauty. I.B. Power A woman of power is a woman who believes in herself. She is a woman with the ability to shape her own destiny because she is a woman who believes in the beauty of her dreams. She is unlimited. She has a foundation in hope, and faith in her ability to do, have, and become all that she desires to be. A woman of action, she is not content to stand idly by while others participate. Instead, she consistently involves herself in pursuits that bring her fulfillment and effect positive change in her world. She abounds with confidence and creative energy. Her poise impresses and her determination inspires. This is the essence of a woman of power. I.C. Truth A woman of truth is a woman who knows herself. She is a woman at peace in the balance between her public and private personas because her thoughts, words, and deeds are in keeping with her deepest intentions. She is authentic. She heeds the counsel of her intuition and gathers kernels of wisdom as she unearths them in the path of her experience. While she may suspect or even believe, she realizes that she cannot really know for certain, for there would be no journey if life’s mysteries were readily known to her. And so, she encounters the many possible masks of truth with an open mind, respecting the beliefs and practices of others even as she would have them respect her own. For, she knows that the way to enlightenment is to inquire rather than to conclude. Her character influences and her conviction endures. This is the essence of a woman of truth. II. Identity Known simply as Chandria (chan'-dree-uh), The Chandrian Order is a sisterly society whose secrets aim to aid us on our life’s journey as we strive to become women of beauty, power, and truth. Chandria sprang from the hope-well of a seasoned girl devoted to the development of spirit: that fearless force of fun and focus that lies at the core of the threefold self—mind, body, and spirit. We dedicate ourselves to empowering our own spirit with the help of the beautiful rituals and constructive customs that Chandria offers to every girl whose heart is sincere. We believe your heart is sincere. And so, we pledge to open our circle and share our gifts with you as our sister-in-spirit if you will pledge to support the spirit of our great sisterhood as your own journey unfolds. To show our sincerity, we begin by offering the key roles Chandria plays in the lives of her members. We call these her identities. II.A. The Identities i. Gateway to the mysteries of feminine spirit. ii. Journey into the majesty of the threefold self. iii. Wellspring of strength for the grand journey. iv. Realm of respite from the currents of culture. v. Communion of confidence and creativity. vi. Safe haven in the dark recesses of night. vii. Treasure trove of secrets, hopes, and dreams. viii. Sanctuary aglow with love, light, and peace. II.A.1. Gateway to the mysteries of feminine spirit. Chandria is a gateway to the mysteries of feminine spirit-that fearless and fervent essence of the self that compels us to become all we aspire to be. Chandria is a portal through which we, who pass, gain insight into the grand journey of womankind throughout the ages. There are as many avenues into adulthood as there are those making the transition. Each must find her own way, but the wise girl learns from the experience of others. Chandria offers a secret passageway lined with the insights and achievements of our predecessors. Those who have gone this way before us have opened the door and signaled for us to step through it, not to follow in their footsteps, but to make our own alongside them. By entering womanhood through this gateway, we receive special tools, and a great circle of support, to help smooth what might otherwise be a bumpy crossing from adolescence into adulthood. II.A.2. Journey into the majesty of the threefold self. Chandria is a journey into the majesty of the threefold self-mind, body, and spirit-taking us deep within ourselves to uncover our purpose, our gifts, and our earnest desires. Those of us who make the grand journey of this life the Chandrian way also make The Chandrian Journey. By charting a course that includes keeping Chandrian custom, completing her rituals regularly, and heeding her insights, we journey through life better prepared to overcome obstacles in our path. We are more readily able to overcome fear, take matters in stride, view the hard lessons objectively, and achieve success because we make our journey equipped with a wealth of women’s wisdom. II.A.3. Wellspring of strength for the grand journey. Chandria is a wellspring of strength for this grand journey of life. Its source is an endless power that enables us to persevere in all of our pursuits. You will learn more about it once you join us on the journey. When we tap this source of strength, we find the dedication and determination to pursue our purpose and overcome obstacles as we come upon them in our path. Though fear and anxiety sometimes seem to freeze up our wellspring, we learn to let it flow again by setting our Chandrian skills to work at fueling our spirit’s fire and thawing the ice of fear. For additional strength, we seek the support of others who have tapped this source, enabled their own spring to flow freely within them, most especially our sisters-in-spirit. Theirs is the Chandrian way. When we make the Chandrian way our way too, our wellspring flows steadily and we keep fear at bay. II.A.4. Realm of respite from the currents of culture. Chandria is a realm of respite or rest and relief from the rush of our daily toils. Far too often, we find ourselves caught up in the commanding currents of our culture. How easy it is to lose ourselves in the barrage of messages telling us how we should look, act, think, and react to ourselves, others, and our environment. Chandria offers us a break from the rush--an opportunity to tune out from the culture crush and tune in to the truth of who we are, that we might more deliberately direct our own course through life. This way, when we do emerge from the preparation period of adolescence into the fullness of adulthood, we will have the greatest gift to give the world: our unique spirit. II.A.5. Communion of confidence and creativity. Chandria is a communion of confidence and creativity. It is the kettle in which we stir these key ingredients into a magic potion, out of which materializes our realized dreams...when properly ignited, of course. Each of us has dreams that beg to be realized. If we wish to taste the fruits of our labor, we must couple our inspired ideas with passionate belief in them and in our ability to plan, take action, and see them through to completion. When we succeed-when our hoping, planning, believing, and doing flow together into a seamless whole-magic happens! Chandria helps us to make magic by uniting dreams with determination; confidence with creativity. II.A.6. Safe haven in the dark recesses of night. Chandria is a safe haven in the dark recesses of night. Outwardly, night is the period of physical darkness when we struggle to see the material path both beneath our feet and ahead in the distance. Inwardly, night is a period of emotional darkness when we struggle through loneliness to perceive our spirit’s path and fear and despair make us prone to stumbling. We all fall prey to fear at times. Not one of us is immune. But, take heart! When we are most at risk of falling, Chandria is there with a soft cushion to land on-a great circle of support offering the brightness of hope’s blessings and the companionship of compassionate peers. II.A.7. Treasure trove of secrets, hopes, and dreams. Chandria is a treasure trove of secrets, hopes, and dreams. Each of us brings much to The Great Circle of Chandrian Sisters. We are all rich in stores of spirit’s gifts, both to use and to share. When we combine our strengths, we can surpass all. Our own treasure stores grow by leaps and bounds when we prize each other’s prosperity as a triumph for the whole, rather than dwell in the low levels of jealousy and spite. So, Chandria encourages us to share our spirit’s wealth with our sisters-in-spirit and to value each other’s success. Chandria further impresses upon all members that mining life’s mysteries is the labor through which we discover the diamonds we are. II.A.8. Sanctuary aglow with love, light, and peace. Chandria is a mystical sanctuary founded upon the limitless potential of spirit. For this reason, it is always aglow with love, light, and peace. We are beautiful creatures, bright with the light of all that is good and possible-all that is spirit. It is this strong spirit that builds and maintains our sanctuary, from the stones of hope that pave our floor to the bricks of dreams that firm our walls to the shingles of joy that seal our roof. The Chandrian Sanctuary is constantly gleaming with spirit’s light. Our doors open to each mother’s daughter who pledges to share the light of her spirit, as well as to she who seeks a beam of this light to guide her through a period of night. We visit the sanctuary often to keep its light shining constantly, that any sister or would-be sister in need of comfort might find it within our welcoming walls. III. Power The powers are the gifts of the spirit that serve us best along our journey. They are our pillars that hold up our sanctuary and they are our faithful companions, capable of supporting us through every trial; there to share with us in every triumph. They hold us up when we feel weak and keep us up when we feel strong. They are infinite energies, unseen but far from unfelt. When their singular strengths are combined in perfect proportion, their force can sustain, in limitless measure, that most elevated and impassioned aspect of ourselves we call our spirit. For this reason, we call them the powers. You will learn the powers and their secrets as you progress through the degrees of Moon Maidenhood. IV. Pursuit Chandria strives to help each of her members develop a strong and hopeful spirit empowered to fulfill her dreams, but the required effort is up to us. We, Chandrians, are dreamers, but we are also doers. We take action in the form of the pursuits—the creative and reflective actions that, with consistent application, enable us to become the beautiful, powerful, and true women we want to be. Each pursuit pairs with one of the powers. The power is the energy that sustains the associated action, or pursuit. Chandria’s customs all center around these power and pursuit pairings, ever reminding us that it is not the pursuit of power, but the power of pursuit that advances us on our journey. We engage in the pursuits regularly, that we might make steady progress on our path. You will learn the pursuit of each degree as you advance to it along your Chandrian journey. V. Code The boundaries of Chandria have been carefully set for the protection of her members and the preservation of her secrets. The rules we will now convey to you are the tenets that comprise our code of conduct. To abide by the Chandrian code is to pursue a life that keeps the obligations contained within each of the tenets. Careless neglect of any one of these tenets is grounds for release from the order. You must learn our code and agree to keep our code prior to gaining entry to the Great Meeting Hall: the meeting space where Chandrian spirits commune and where you will be initiated into The Chandrian Order, if you so choose, and we sincerely hope that you do. During your initiation ceremony, you must offer your consent to keep our code and pledge to pursue a life that reflects the convictions it embodies. And so, we ask that you please spend some time learning the tenets of the code you will be asked to keep. V.A. Code of Conduct i. Guard all Chandrian signs and secrets. ii. Abide by Chandrian code and custom. iii. Embody the powers and employ the pursuits. iv. Be beautiful, powerful, and true in thought. v. Be beautiful, powerful, and true in word. vi. Be beautiful, powerful, and true in deed. vii. Heed the wisdom of age and authority. viii. Seek truth and live in the light of it. V.A.1. Guard all Chandrian signs and secrets. It would be unrealistic to expect the Sisters of Chandria to be able to thoroughly educate non-members in our ways. Unfortunately, when received only in part, our ways are open to speculation and misunderstanding. Therefore, in order to avoid misrepresentation by those who have not been properly instructed in our ways, it is necessary, for our protection as well as theirs, that we strictly guard the ritual, signs, secrets, symbols, and lessons of our precious order. By so doing, we also protect the specialness of the journey we undertake by joining and by perpetuating our membership. You will keep this tenet of the code by 1) not sharing your password with your friends, 2) not openly discussing Chandrian secrets with those who have not been properly initiated, or in public places where the uninitiated may overhear, and by 3) directing would-be sisters to the Chandrian Sanctuary where they can learn about the order for themselves. V.A.2. Abide by Chandrian code and custom. To be Chandrian is to abide by the tenets of the Chandrian Code of Conduct. We use these rules to weed out the undisciplined, the unprepared, and the uncommitted. This also includes carrying out the activities outlined in our core set of customs, the details of which are revealed to us once we are initiated into the order. Our customs are not religious in nature, but they do include the use of rituals, mantras, symbols, and written activities to 1) aid the individual spirit in accomplishing her heart’s desire, 2) offer mutual support between spirits along the journey, and 3) ensure consistency in practice among members. And so, it is vital for the development of Chandrian spirit and the preservation of our tradition that all sisters abide by the code of custom of the order. You will keep this tenet of the code by adhering to Chandrian code and keeping our custom consistently. V.A.3. Embody the powers and employ the pursuits. The cornerstone of Chandria is a firm belief in the inner spirit of strength, will, and love. A desire to increase, utilize, and preserve the strength of this spirit should accompany a belief in its existence. The Chandrian Sister seeks to accomplish this through the powers and pursuits of the order. By striving to embody the strength of each power and regularly engage in each of the pursuits, we enable ourselves to live meaningfully and successfully, that we might look back over our experience here and smile in contentment for all that we are, and have, and know. You will keep this tenet of the code by completing your phasework regularly, as you receive it along your Chandrian journey. V.A.4. Be beautiful, powerful, and true in thought. Chandrians, are believers in the creative power of thought. We are careful to mind our thoughts, so as not to release negativity into our own lives, the lives of others, and the world in general. We deem every person we meet in our travels as deserving of our esteem until and unless proven otherwise, and so we strive to give people the benefit of the doubt in our thoughts, reserving judgment, recognizing their struggles, and realizing the faultiness of our perceptions. Then too, we keep in mind that we are the ones we encounter most often in our travels and strive to show ourselves the respect and appreciation worthy of any person who has experienced all that we have. You will keep this tenet of the code by continually asking yourself these questions: 1) Does what I am thinking paint a pretty picture--whether of myself, someone else, or an event or a thing? Is it good or helpful to me or someone else? Is it true to the person I want to be? V.A.5. Be beautiful, powerful, and true in word. Chandrians know the impact of the unkind word, as we have experienced its power first hand. We consider the impact of our thoughts before we lend them our voice. We speak well of people that they might become as beautiful as the picture we paint of them. We remember, too, that we require a beautiful picture of the women we wish to become. And so, we strive to spare ourselves the suffering of negative self talk, knowing that it will only stunt our spirit’s growth. We compliment ourselves in our private space and speak well of ourselves to others, neither in particular boast nor jest. Such simple acts work wonders in our favor, helping us to find that delicate balance between confidence and conceit that is the mark of a whole and happy spirit. You will keep this tenet of the code by continually asking yourself these questions: 1) Does what I am about to say paint a pretty picture? Will saying it be good for, or helpful to me or someone else? Will it be true to the person I want to be? V.A.6. Be beautiful, powerful, and true in deed. Chandrians know the importance of action. We know that the thoughts we think become the words we say, and the words we say compel the actions we take. We wish for our actions to be fruitful and kind. We serve others when the opportunity arises and seek opportunities to do so. We come to our own aid as well. We eat to nourish ourselves. We move to make ourselves strong, flexible, and able to endure. We hold ourselves when the storm clouds loom overhead. We know that if we are our most steadfast friend, then happiness will accompany us everywhere we go. We maintain this vital relationship with ourselves by being kind and taking care of our needs, that we might always have a friend to turn to for comfort and strength. You will keep this tenet of the code by continually asking yourself these questions: 1) Is what I am about to do a nice thing for myself or someone else? Will doing it be good for, or helpful to me or someone else? Is this action true to the person I want to be? V.A.7. Heed the wisdom of age and authority. Chandrians show respect for those with insight and experience to share, and everyone possesses some measure of each! We listen to the words of our elders and those in positions of influence and observe their actions, modeling them when they further our course, and taking our own path when they conflict with our sense of self-never too fast to discount what might be truth simply because we do not care for the mask it wears or the voice that utters it. We regard our peers and those younger or lower than us in perceived position, knowing that all have weathered stormy circumstances and have something to share, even if that something is simply an example of what we wish to avoid along our own journey. It is up to us to find the kernels of wisdom in their stories that will nourish us into deciding well for ourselves. And so, we seek wisdom in everyone we encounter, that truth may not disguise itself in the one we unknowingly discount. V.A.8. Seek truth and live in the light of it. We, Chandrians, do not easily accept the beliefs of others as our own. We open our minds consistently to new perspectives, but consider each new view carefully before determining which ones we will incorporate into our own outlook. Additionally, we question all that we hold sacred, wondering why we hold a belief and whether it continues to ring true for us as we journey toward becoming women of beauty, power, and truth. We do the work necessary to cast aside old beliefs that hinder our progress and develop new convictions that further us on our course. By consistently opening ourselves to new and life-giving ideas, we gain ever-greater insight into the nature of things. We are content in knowing that we cannot know and supposing that, rather than there being one way to all-encompassing truth, there are many means to one end, many roads to a single destination, and many trails to truth, including the one we are currently carving out for ourselves. VI. Custom Chandrian custom is the sum of the distinguishing details of our tradition. To keep custom is to carry out the basic Chandrian practices intended to develop a strong spirit and preserve our tradition, which are outlined in our core of customs. The details of these customs are reserved for members of The Great Circle only. They will be conveyed to you in their full form after you agree to keep our custom during your initiation ceremony. However, we hint at some of our secrets here. Therefore, before we proceed, we would remind you of the pledge you made to protect our secrets in order to gain entry to the Chandrian Sanctuary. Remember that you cannot be made a Moon Maiden until and unless you consent to keep Chandrian custom, and that you will not truly be a Moon Maiden unless you make a genuine effort to practice Chandria regularly. You should consider carefully whether you feel you will be able to meet the embedded obligations as we now outline our tradition for you. VI.A. Core of Customs Open and close the day the Chandrian way. Treasure the Chandrian emblem and gem. Honor the nightly presence of the moon. Observe the moon’s cycle with phasework. Conduct Chandrian ritual and recite her refrains. Practice Chandria alone and with peers. Support the society and seek sisters-to-be. Progress through the Moon Maiden degrees. VI.A.1. Open and close the day the Chandrian way. Moon Maidens perform brief centering rituals to open and close each day, one upon arising in the morning and the other before retiring to sleep at night. While we describe them as opening and closing the day, these rituals actually mark the beginning and end of each night. Their purpose is to guard our spirit against the threats of fear and despair when we are the most vulnerable to them, lurking in the dark corners of our solitary time. You will learn the full text and details of these and other rituals after you have been initiated. Following your initiation and before you retire to bed that night, you should perform the moonup ritual that marks the end of the day and the beginning of the night. Every night thereafter, before you go to sleep, you should perform the same ritual. Every morning thereafter you should perform the ritual that marks the end of the night and the beginning of the new day, called moondown. VI.A.2. Treasure the Chandrian emblem and gem. Chandria is represented by a single emblem, consisting of a ring of the moon’s phases bounding a center circle. The Chandrian emblem is readily recognizable as it is represented throughout the sanctuary. Moon Maidens display this emblem regularly for its significance and to affiliate themselves with the order. In addition to the emblem, Chandria has a distinguishing gemstone that Chandrians wear or carry as a symbol of a beautiful, powerful, and true spirit. The Chandrian emblem and gem and their symbolism will be conveyed to you during your initation. Thereafter, you should obtain the gem and wear or carry it with you as a reminder of the wholeness of your spirit and of hope’s endurance within you. You should also display the emblem regularly by taking it with you throughout your day and by leaving it visible in your room. When displayed in fixed form, the light full moon should reside at the top and the dark new moon at the bottom. VI.A.3. Honor the nightly presence of the moon. The Moon Maiden title does not come without obligation. As the title suggests, Moon Maiden activities center around the moon and her various phases. For Chandrians, the moon symbolizes all of the qualities we wish to embody. And so, each night, we look for the moon. When we spy the moon in the sky, we offer a short moon-based mantra, or moontra, to honor the spirit of the current phase and infuse our own spirit with these qualities. You will gain access to the moontras and other verses after you undergo your initiation. Before then, you should begin to look for the moon each night. Immediately following your initiation, the first step you are encouraged to take toward fulfilling the obligations of the Moon Maiden title will be to begin memorizing and reciting the moontras, on a nightly basis. During the new moon and on other nights when you do not catch a glimpse of the moon, you should gaze upon the emblem in your room and recite your moontra there. VI.A.4. Observe the moon’s cycle with phasework. Chandrian practice centers around the moon’s cycle. We link each moon phase with a stage of life and identify certain qualities with it. For this reason, we call the set of activities that define our practice: phasework. Some activities, known as rituals, are read or recited to build up our spirit with the qualities of each phase through mindful repetition. Others, called simply phaseworks, are written or recorded to apply these qualities in practical ways that advance us on our chosen path. When we complete our phasework regularly, we are living the link. Beginning with the first new moon after your initiation, you should begin to observe the moonthly cycle or lunar month with the formal ritual and phasework for that phase. You will gain access to the activities for other phases as you advance along the Chandrian journey. We encourage you to keep all your phaseworks in a single volume called your Chandrian Chronicle and post your best work for your sisters-in-spirit. VI.A.5. Conduct Chandrian ritual and recite her refrains. Chandrian practice includes performing rituals to mark both the regular passage of time and special events. Some are performed nightly; others, moonthly—per lunar month; some are annual observances, and still others are occasional events—marking special, one-time occasions. Some rituals are celebratory and invite us to have fun, while others are more reflective and require us to focus. Maintaining this balance between work and play is vital to our spirit’s health because we cannot enjoy the fruit unless we first plant the seeds and water them. The same holds true for the recorded phaseworks. While Moon Maidens are not expected to memorize all of Chandrian ritual, certain portions should be committed to memory for timely recitation, as in when we spy the moon in the sky each night. The sections and verses that should be memorized are referred to as refrains. Non-memorized portions of ritual should be performed by reading sincerely from the Chandrian text. VI.A.6. Practice Chandria alone and with peers. Moon Maidens know the importance of making time to spend in solitary pursuit. We know that we cannot carve out a unique path and refine our talents if we are too busy following the crowd and doing what’s popular. And, we definitely cannot make the best decisions for ourselves if we never spend time in solitude finding out what we think, and want, and need. So, we make time to practice Chandrian alone, that we might make solid progress on our path. Chandrians know the benefits of solitary practice, but we also value the companionship that comes from socializing with peers. We work to build a strong and diverse social circle, taking care to avoid those who find fault and put others down, preferring the company of those we admire and aspire to be more like. We look for others making the Chandrian journey and share our experiences with them by forming our own Chandrian rings-which you will learn more about once you have been initiated. VI.A.7. Support the society and seek sisters-to-be. Moon Maidens support Chandria in thought, word and deed. We think well of the order and appreciate the service it renders. We speak well of the order to our acquaintances and encourage others to join. We share our gifts with The Great Circle and keep custom regularly. We cheerfully support our beloved order in every way we can to maintain the sanctuary that connects us to our sisters in spirit. As soon as you register your membership, you can begin to reap rewards from things like membership referrals. When new members enter your username on their registration form, you gain stars! The more stars you accumulate through referrals and other contributions, the more contests and honors you become eligible for. So, if you would like to be a Stellar Sister, a Blue Moon Maiden, or even a Penumbrian Princess, then start referring right away! VI.A.8. Progress through the Moon Maiden degrees. Moon Maidenhood is divided into eight levels or degrees. The degrees serve as guideposts on our journey, helping us to measure our progress. The first four degrees: new, crescent, quarter, and gibbous, are called preparatory degrees because they introduce new members to Chandrian practice and lead to full understanding and membership in the Moon Maiden Circle. Each of us enters the circle as a New Moon Maiden with the goal of advancing to Full Moon Maidenhood and beyond, as well as being inducted into various honor circles through our active participation and contribution to Chandria. During your initiation, you will officially join The Great Circle and receive the New Moon Maiden title. In order to advance through the Moon Maiden degrees to Full Moon Maidenhood and beyond, you must keep Chandrian code and custom and support your Chandrian sisters-in-spirit. We sincerely hope to soon find you living the link alongside us on this grand journey. VII. Registration We encourage you to register your membership right away. Once you do, you can be initiated, enter contests, advance through degrees, and gain honors. Registration is a three-step process and you are not eligible for the above until you have completed all three of these steps: i. Select your Chandrian name. ii. Submit your registration form with referrals to begin earning your stars. VII.A. Chandrian Name Your Chandrian name is the username that you will use to enter the sanctuary, as well as to post in all of the degree-based member forums. We encourage you to select a positive name that you will be proud to see displayed on the site and which you will continue to want to have represent you for years to come. Accounts set up with profane or unduly negative usernames will be deleted at our discretion, so please consider carefully when choosing your Chandrian name. VII.B. Registration Form We use the registration form to collect some basic information about you that enables us to attribute your current degree and honor status to you, and help us to better serve our members. We will not ask you for your legal name or street address and you should never give out this information on the website. Be sure to list the username or email address of the member who referred you to Chandria, if applicable, along with the email addresses of your friends, so that you too can earn your platinum referral stars! VIII. Preparation Before your initiation, you must prepare for the journey ahead the traditional way. To this end, we set these tasks before you: i. Self-Assessment ii. Real Review iii. Chandrian Circlet View these tasks as tools to help you carve out your path. Gather them into your heart’s memory, and you will be richer for the experience. We sincerely hope that your initiation into Chandria will serve as a real turning point for you that puts you squarely on the path to becoming the person you want to be and achieving all that you desire on the grand journey of your life. What you get out of Chandria will be proportional to what you put in. We encourage you to make a good start by putting some time and effort into these preparation activities. Once you complete them, we invite you to undergo your initiation into The Chandrian Order. VIII.A. Self-Assessment The time of your initiation draws near when we will ask many questions of you and require that you make certain pledges if you would join us in The Great Circle. Before then, we would have you ask some questions of yourself to determine your preparedness for the journey that lies ahead. If you feel that you are ready to proceed with your initiation into The Chandrian Order, then please complete these activities to evaluate your interest in Chandria and your eagerness to make the journey: i. Code Recall ii. Custom Consideration iii. Interest Inquiry VIII.A.1. Code Recall We ask you now to test your memory of our Code of Conduct. Without looking back through the text, try to provide the missing term from each tenets of the code... i. Guard all Chandrian _____ and secrets ii. Abide by Chandrian _____ and custom iii. Embody the _____ and employ the pursuits iv. Be beautiful, powerful, and true in _____ v. Be beautiful, powerful, and true in _____ vi. Be beautiful, powerful, and true in _____ vii. Heed the _____ of age and authority viii. Seek _____ and live in the light of it VIII.A.2. Custom Consideration These questions will help to determine if you are willing to preserve our tradition: i. Do you follow any routines before bed and upon arising or would you? ii. Do you wear or carry something special? Do you think you could? iii. Do you notice the moon or are you willing to start giving it symbolism? iv. Have you memorized anything deliberately, such as song lyrics or would you? v. Have you ever kept a journal? Do you think you could keep a new kind of journal? vi. Do you seek friends and role models who inspire you to be your best or will you now? vii. Have you ever supported a cause or invited friends to join an activity you enjoy? viii. Do you like to advance through levels and be recognized for your efforts? VIII.A.3. Interest Inquiry These last few questions will reveal your true interest in Chandria. We encourage you to turn to your inner voice and listen for each response. i. Do you want to join The Great Circle of the Chandrian Sisterhood? ii. Are you committed to carving out your own path on the grand journey? iii. Does keeping Chandrian code and custom and sharing with your sisters-in-spirit sound fun and worthwhile? If so, then we feel that you are a good candidate for Moon Maidenhood. We encourage you to put some time and effort into the remaining preparation activities. Once you have completed them, we invite you to make your entrance to The Great Circle in the ceremony of your initiation and officially join us on the Chandrian Journey. VIII.B. Complete Your Real Review Some people claim to have had a near-death experience, during which they underwent a review of the events of their life from the perspective of the others involved, feeling the direct effects of their actions just as the others felt them when the events actually transpired. Every love they showed came back to them and brought with it the joy they gave. Similarly, every pain they caused came back to them and brought with it the accompanying hurt and sorrow. They experienced their treatment of themselves the same way from the viewpoint of having received both the love and the lack thereof. Many report that this experience was life-changing. The belief that when we complete this grand journey we undergo a life reveiw and then continue along a sublime journey of the spirit is wholly individual. However, Chandrians do see the benefit in taking a rest break on any journey once in a while to consider where we have come from, where we are, and where we want to go from here. We call this activity a real review because it is time that we set aside to get real with ourselves. VIII.B.1. Past Persona We ask you now to evaluate your past persona--the character you have played up to this point in your life. Consider your greatest accomplishments, your most trying setbacks, the people you have cared for, and those for whom you have neglected to care. We ask nothing less than that you be completely honest with yourself. Exaggerate nothing. Downplay nothing. Make no excuses. Just be present with who you have been in a rolling review of all that has transpired in your life. Where you have brought joy, you might smile in delight. Where you have caused pain, you might shed a tear. We caution you not to dwell on any one event or harm you have caused. We all have room to grow, but when we are unduly critical of ourselves it only teaches us to build up resistance, suppress or lash out, and make excuses for our actions. Instead, try to be objective in this quiet reflection. Where you have yet to learn, resolve to do better. Where you have succeeded, acknowledge it and move onward through your life to the present. VIII.B.2. Present Persona Once you have weathered your way through the experiences along the journey of your past persona, gradually wind your way back to being present with the person you are now. Acknowledge your strengths and your weaknesses. You do not have to like every flaw, but you do need to acknowledge and accept that it exists because it is only then that you can change it, if you so choose. Regardless of any faults, mistakes, insecurities, imperfections, or quirks you have acknowledged in your review of your past persona, we task you now to hold yourself in this present moment and honor the beautiful spirit that is your present persona with all of its strengths and weaknesses...with all of its unique-ness. Sit with yourself for a few minutes now in acceptance of who you have become and what it took to get here. Honor this person for all that she is, and has, and knows, for the sum total of her experiences, for her strengths, her talents, and her insights. Honor yourself for the perfectly imperfect person you are. VIII.B.3. Potential Persona Chandrians never consider a real review complete without contemplating where we are headed from here. We consider whether our current course will take us where we really want to go and steer our ship accordingly. We envision our potential persona--the woman we would like to become. This person embodies our strengths, our hopes, and our dreams. We envision this person we aspire to be and think about what it will take to become her. Take a few minutes now to create this image in your mind’s eye. Try not to picture a particular role model in your mind. Instead, gather the qualities you desire and bestow them upon the woman in your mind. You will not know everything about this woman, or perhaps even be able to see her face, or life would lose its mystery. You should, however, leave this activity with an impression of the woman you wish to become. Details of her image will change as your goals and abilities change, but the core idea of who she is will remain. Take this woman's hand and let her lead you into the next leg of your journey. VIII.B.4. Real Review Rehash As you have experienced in this activity, Chandrians choose the light of knowledge over ignorant bliss. We endure the discomfort of considering the pain we have caused so as to better ourselves and avoid repeating our mistakes. We know that the goal of reviewing is not to weigh ourselves down in guilt or regret, but to evaluate as objectively as possible where we have been, where we are now, and where we are headed on our journey. By so doing, we can truly reap the benefits of the real review and apply the insights we have gained from our past experiences to all of our future endeavors. Long after you have performed your real review in preparation for your initiation into Chandria, we hope that you will carry its benefits with you. We hope that you will check in with yourself periodically, consider the effects of your actions, intuit wisdom from them, and apply the lessons you have learned, changing your course as necessary to get wherever it is you want to go on this grand journey. VIII.C. Chandrian Circlet In preparation for your initiation, our custom requires that you string your Chandrian circlet. The circlet is a circle of beads that represents the compilation of your strengths, your goals, and your dreams. You will use this ritual tool throughout your Chandrian practice, wearing it on the crown of your head while you engage in ritual to remind yourself of all that you are and all that you aspire to be. Your circlet will be as powerful as you make it with through your sincerity. We encourage you to focus your energies and create an instrument that is truly infused with the beauty of your spirit. VIII.C.1. Circlet Materials 8 - 8mm purple or silver beads 16 - 6mm purple or silver beads 64 - 4mm pearl-colored beads 18" - 24 gauge silver craft wire 1 - celestial or initial charm (optional) VIII.C.2. Circlet Pattern Your Chandrian circlet should be strung according to the traditional pattern, beginning with a small bead and ending with a large one. Minding the instructions for each bead size provided just ahead, string your beads as follows: ...LsssMssMsssLsssMssMsssLsssMssMsss L = Large bead M = Medium bead s = Small bead VIII.C.3. Dream Beads Each of the eight (8) large beads in your circlet represents a dream or lifelong goal that you hope to accomplish at some point during the course of this life’s journey with thorough preparation and whole-hearted dedication. Identify a dream for each bead and record it in the first section of your circlet key. To identify a dream of yours, finish this sentence: One day, I hope to/for... All of the beads in your circlet should be shiny, pearl-like, or iridescent--meaning rainbow-tinted. The 8 large beads should be 8mm in length and can all be identical or each wholly unique. They should be purple, lavender, steel gray, or silver in color. Glass beads make good choices. Plastic beads are fine too, if they feel special enough for your circlet. You may also use semi-precious amethyst and hematite stones, or freshwater pearls. VIII.C.4. Goal Beads Each of the sixteen (16) medium beads in your circlet represents a goal-an accomplishment that is fully achievable within a certain timeframe with the proper preparation and effort. Identify a short term goal for each of these beads and record it in the second section of your circlet key. To identify a goal of yours, fill in the blanks in this sentence: By (date), I will... Other than the size, similar requirements apply to the 16 medium-sized beads as to the large ones. They should be close in color and finish to each other and to the large beads, but clearly distinguishable from the small ones. The medium beads, like the large ones, may all be round or otherwise identical to each other. Or, they may be somewhat less uniform in shape. They should be about 6mm in length, though slightly larger or smaller is acceptable to complement your other beads. VIII.C.5. Strength Beads Each of the sixty-four (64) small beads represents a strength-a positive quality that you possess. These can be qualities that you have in abundance as well as those that you would like to further develop within yourself. Single word descriptions are fine for this section. To identify a strength of yours, finish this sentence: I am... The 64 small beads in your circlet should be fairly uniform, if not identical. They should be round, faceted, or bi-cone in shape. Unlike the purple or silver medium and large beads, the small beads should be iridescent clear or pearl. 4mm glass beads and white freshwater pearls make good choices for the small beads in your circlet. VIII.C.6. Circlet Stringing Your finished circlet should be about 6" in diameter-large enough to fit around the crown of your head. String your circlet on an 18" length of sterling silver, nickel, or other silver-colored 22-24 gauge craft wire, depending on the size of the openings in your beads. Memory wire is not recommended. If you like, you may add a single charm just before you close off your circlet to personalize it. A charm that dangles from a Chandrian circlet should be a moon and/or star, or an initial. The charm should be silver in color and not more than 1/2" in length. To close off your circlet, twist the ends together with needle-nosed pliers and trim the excess with wire cutters. VIII.C.7. Circlet Key You can associate your strengths, goals, and dreams with your beads as you string them. Or, you can string the entire circlet first and then attribute meaning to the beads, either in the order of their appearance, or to all of the beads of one size at a time. As you string your circlet, and associate your strengths, goals, and dreams, you should write them down in a record called your circlet key. You may want to use a different pen color for each bead size. Either way, your record should be kept in an expandable journal called your Chandrian Chronicle, which will contain the rest of your recorded Chandrian practice as well. VIII.C.8. Circlet Enchantment You are welcome to try on your circlet, but you should not wear it for an extended period of time prior to your initiation when you will complete the enchantment that you began by creating this intrument that embodies your strengths, goals, and dreams. Once you have completed these activities, we will consider you no longer just a candidate, but an initiate of the New Moon Maiden Circle of The Chandrian Order, properly prepared to make your entrance to The Great Circle, at which time, we invite you to undergo the ceremony of your initiation. We encourage you to wear white for this joyous occasion or drape yourself with a white sash or ribbon. To be initiated, click on the left inner door-- preferably during the next full moon--and enter the password you received in your registration confirmation. If you do not remember the initiation password, please email us at members@chandria.com. We look forward to sharing the Chandrian Journey with you as your newfound sisters-in-spirit.