Glossary of Chandrian Terms: Moon Maiden Circle Contents -A- adorning: The readying rite during which we outfit ourselves with accessories for ritual, except for our circlet which we put on during the convening portion of ritual. adornment: A status or personally-identifying accessory worn during ritual. These include our treasured gem, star pin for Stellar Sisters, tiara for Penumbrian Princesses, and our circlet. annuals: Rituals we conduct once each year. These include the seasonals, Chandria Day, and our birthday. autumnal equinox: The annual fall occurrence when day and night are equal. It happens on the 21st or 22nd of September each year. -B- beacon: One of the standard wares used during ritual. It is a tealight in a small glass holder that we use to focus our awareness. In a ring, it symbolizes the Guide's position. beauty: One of three primary qualities that Chandria makes its mission to cultivate in her members. It consists of loving, caring, and sharing. bell: One of the triad of standard wares used during ritual to awaken us to a heightened state of awareness. It is a small chime, handbell, or prayer bell. In a ring, it symbolizes the Host's position. binder: One of the triad of standard wares used during ritual to signal our entrance into sacred time and space. It is a 16" loop of ribbon that fits over a door handle. In a ring, it symbolizes the Guard's position. binding: The rendering rite through which we symbolically seal the door to worldly affairs and open a portal to spirit's cares. blessing: The phrase we use in parting to send each other off with a renewed sense of hope and belief in ourselves and the journey: "Strength & Spirit" Blue Moon Circle The blue moon circle is the 1st degree honor circle open to Full Moon Maidens and Full Moon Moiselles. -C- ceremony: A formalized Chandrian ritual that marks an event within the ring or The Great Circle, from the induction of new members to the instatement of leaders to the honoring of participants. Chandria: The Chandrian Order, community of members, sanctuary, society, and the realm where members of The Great Circle meet to explore and enhance our spirit, seek guidance along our life's path, and find companionship and support for the grand journey. Chandrian Chronicle: A member’s personal record of the Chandrian Journey, including phasework, progressions. You create such a journal for yourself when you begin your phasework for each new age tier, and are encouraged to keep it always as a remembrance of the journey. Chandrian Emblem: The identifying symbol of the Chandrian Order, consisting of an outer ring containing the moon's eight phases, separated from each other by repetitions of the number eight or the mathematical symbol for eternity, bounding a large inner circle that connects to each phase by a straight line. Chandrian Journey: A member’s individual path through Chandria, consisting of following the Ritual of the Order, abiding by the Code of Conduct, completing phasework, and making regular progressions. Reference to the journey is always capitalized when written, and hints at the grand journey--or journey of this earthly life--as well as the Chandrian Journey, since the two are inextricably linked. Chandrian Living: Abiding by the Chandrian Codes and ideals in daily life, though strict adherence to all tenets is not required. For example, Anonymous Sisters and affiliates can live Chandria without progressing through degrees, by living a life that reflects Chandrian values. Chandrian Message: Chandria’s message to womankind to bolster the efforts of her individual members in becoming their truest selves which states: "Hope abides within each of us, strengthens our spirit, and wills us to the task of love--that we might know peace and pure joy." The Chandrian Order: The code, ritual, lessons, degrees, tiers, and honors that together serve as an integrated system of guidance and support for womankind, providing tools and companionship to assist members in carving out their life's path. Chandrian Path: An individual experience of Chandria defined by personal efforts to make the Chandrian Journey. The path is unique to the individual and there are as many paths through Chandria as there are individual members. While every member participates in the collective journey, individual personality, environment, goals, and dreams shape the experience, creating individual paths. Chandrian Ring: A group of members of the Chandrian Order who have come together and formalized their desire to share the Grand and Chandrian Journies and support each other’s efforts to carve out their own unique path. Chandrian Ritual: The body of Chandrian text containing all of the customs, rituals, lessons, and observances that guides us and provides us with tools for successful living. Chandrian Sanctuary: The meeting area within the metaphysical structure of the Chandrian Sanctuary where Chandrians commune for edification, companionship, and spiritual retreat. circlet: A circle of beads strung by owner for her initiation, each bead reflecting a hope, goal, or dream unique to her, as recorded in her Chandrian Chronicle. circlet key: xxx closing: Last of three sections of the regular meeting format during which participants suspend their activities and close the portal to Chandria. Code of Conduct: The set of eight tenets, or rules by which Chandrians consent to abide. These rules govern both Chandrian Activity and behavior in daily life. As part of the initiation process, prior to registration, candidates must agree to each tenet of the Code of Conduct. Core of Customs: communing: Second of three sections of the regular meeting format during which participants engage in ceremonies, business, and reflection. conductress: xxx person performing a solitary ritual. convening: First of three sections of the regular meeting format during which participants enter the circle and open the portal to Chandria. Core of Customs: The Code of Core Activity is the set of key customs that Chandrians consent to keep. The keeping of these customs in daily life is considered Chandrian Living. As part of the Initiation process, candidates are introduced to each custom and must agree to strive to keep each custom contained within the Code of Core Activity. Crescent Moon Phase Degree: The Crescent Moon Phase Degree is the second preparatory Moon Phase Degree, or membership degree. It is followed by the Quarter Moon degree. crown: Xxx crown and kindle! cycle: A lunar year during which a ring holds three sessions and one recess. Year status in a ring pertains to cycles. Crescent Moon Maiden (CMN): Crescent Moon Maiden (CMN): A 2nd degree member of the 13-19 age tier. Crescent Moon Moiselle (CML): A 2nd degree member of the 20+ age tier. -D- dedication: This closing rite during which participants rededicate themselves to the Chandrian Journey, strengthen their resolve to carve out a Chandrian path, and acknowledge their united effort as a ring. degree: A level of membership attained by a member. There are four preparatory degrees that lead to full membership at the Full Moon Phase Degree. The preparatory degrees are the New, Crescent, Quarter, and Gibbous Moon Phase Degrees. Attainment of a degree requires completion of set requirements and remittance of dues. departing: This is the final closing rite that ends a ritual or ring meeting. drape: A sash or cord worn to signfiy status. These include the white sash of the New Moon Maiden, the purple sash of the Full Moon Maiden, and the silver honor cord of the Blue Moon Maiden or Moiselle. draping: The readying rite during which we cloth ourselves with our drapes for a meeting or other ritual. -E- -F- first quarter: The third phase in the moon's cycle following waxing crescent and preceding waxing gibbous. It appears as half a moon, rounded on the right and flat on the left. full member: A member who has progressed through the four preparatory degrees: New, Crescent, Quarter, and Gibbous Moon Phase Degree; and reached the 5th: Full Moon Phase Degree, or beyond. During the four prepartory degrees, members are considered provisional. full moon: The fifth phase in the moon's cycle following waxing gibbous and preceding waning gibbous. It appears as a complete circle. 1st Degree Full Moon Maiden (FMN1): A 5th degree member of the 13-19 age tier. 2nd Degree Full Moon Maiden (FMN2): A 6th degree member of the 13-19 age tier. 3rd Degree Full Moon Maiden (FMN3): A 7th degree member of the 13-19 age tier. 4th Degree Full Moon Maiden (FMN4): An 8th degree member of the 13-19 age tier. 1st Degree Full Moon Moiselle (FML1): A 5th degree member of the 20+ age tier. 2nd Degree Full Moon Moiselle (FML2): A 6th degree member of the 20+ age tier. 3rd Degree Full Moon Moiselle (FML3): A 7th degree member of the 20+ age tier. 4th Degree Full Moon Moiselle (FML4): An 8th degree member of the 20+ age tier. Full Moon Phase Degree: Full Moon is the fifth and final Moon Phase Degree, or membership degree. Once a member reaches the Full Moon Phase Degree, she is said to be a full member of her age tier. -G- Gibbous Moon Maiden (GMN): A 4th degree member of the 13-19 age tier. Gibbous Moon Moiselle (GML): A 4th degree member of the 20+ age tier. Gibbous Moon Phase Degree: The Gibbous Moon Phase Degree is the fourth preparatory Moon Phase Degree, or membership degree and is followed by Full Moon. gift giver: xxx meditation used to send support to the circle. grand journey: The conglomeration of days, months and years spent in the quest for knowledge, companionship, and experience in an earth-bound lifetime is known to Chandrians as the grand journey. All living creatures upon the earth participate in the grand journey. When Chandrians and others leave this life, we continue the sublime journey, but while we reside here we focus on the grand journey, and all the wonders it entails. The Great Circle: The structured community of members who keep the custom of the order and affiliates and honorary members, both living or passed. This is the whole of Chandrian spirit, with all of our accumulated hopes, goals, joys, dreams, and successes. Great Meeting Hall: The meeting area within the metaphysical structure of the Chandrian Sanctuary is known as the Great Meeting Hall. Chandrians are said to enter the Great Meeting Hall whenever they are engaged with others in Chandrians pursuits. When meeting together physically, they are said to enter a delineation of the Great Meeting Hall. Great Sisterhood: Sometimes known formally as the Circle of the Great Sisterhood, the Great Sisterhood consists of all females, past, present, and future, whether affiliated with Chandria or not. This is the universal conglomeration of feminine spirit, complete with all of the joys and sorrows, successes and setbacks, and hopes and dreams that womankind has known throughout the ages. -H- hope burst: xxx meditation used to center and boost our own strength. host: The ring attendant responsible for scheduling and leading meetings and reporting the events to the Ring of Elders. -I- identities: xxx initiation: The ceremony through which someone becomes a member of the Chandrian Order. When held by a ring, the person becomes a member of that ring as well. -J- -K- kindle: xxx -L- last quarter: The seventh phase in the moon's cycle following waning gibbous and preceding waning crescent. It appears as half a moon, rounded on the left and flat on the right. life stage: A period of life that Chandrians link with a moon phase and assign particular qualities and activities. There are eight moon phase/life stage links in all, which are revealed by degree of membership. -M- Moon Maiden: A member of the 13-19 age tier. Moon Maiden Circle: The age tier consisting of all 13-19 year old members. Moon Moiselle: A member of the 20+ age tier. Moon Moiselle Circle: The age tier consisting of all 20+ year old members. moon phase: A portion of the moon that reflects the sun's light to the earth, which Chandrians link with a stage of life and assign particular qualities and activities. There are eight moon phase/life stage links in all, which are revealed by degree of membership. moonth: Chandrians informally refer to a lunar month as a moonth. This helps to avoid confusion since Chandrian progressions correspond with lunar months as opposed to standard months. moontide: xxx occasion of mentruation; new moontide being the first occasion of menstruation. -N- new moon: The first phase of the mon's cycle following the end of the last cycle with waning crescent. During this phase, no light is reflected to the earth from the moon and it appears either invisible or very faintly visible. New Moon Maiden (NMN): A 1st degree member of the 13-19 age tier. New Moon Moiselle (NML): A 1st degree member of the 20+ age tier. -O- -P- provisional member: A member of one of the four preparatory degrees: New, Crescent, Quarter, or Gibbous Moon Phase Degree. One a member reaches the 5th or Full Moon Phase Degree, she is considered a full member. Penumbrian Honor Circle: The second degree honor circle open to 4th Degree Full Moon Maidens. Penumbrian Princess (PRS): A member of the Penumbrian Honor Circle. -Q- Quarter Moon Maiden (QMN): 3rd degree member of the 13-19 age tier. Quarter Moon Moiselle (QML): 3rd degree member of the 20+ age tier. -R- -S- seasonals: Rituals we perform once each year, corresponding with the four season changes: vernal equinox, summer solstice, autumnal equinox, and winter solstice. summer solstice: The longest day of the year. It happens on the 21st or 22nd of June. -T- title: Label bestowed upon members based on membership degrees attained, honors conferred upon them, and positions heldd. -U- -V- vernal equinox: The annual spring occurrence when day and night are even. It happens on the 21st or 22nd of March each year. -W- waning crescent: The eighth and final phase of the moon following last quarter and preceding the beginning of the next lunation cycle with new moon. It appears as a sliver of light in the shape of the letter "C". waning gibbous: The sixth phase of the moon's cycle following full moon. It appears as a full round on the left with some cut off on the right. waxing crescent: The second phase of the moon's cycle following new moon. It appears as a sliver of light in the shape of the curve in the letter "D". waxing gibbous: The fourth phase of the moon's cycle following first quarter and preceding full moon. It appears as a full round on the right with some cut off on the left. winter solstice: The longest night of the year. It happens on the 21st or 22nd of December. -X- -Y- -Z-