Revised Craft Law: 61

Sleeve Rings as Indicators of Wiccan Rank

Part 61, Title 12 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Laws and Regulations of the Craft (Cited as 12 CL 61)

Effective, Beltaine 1944

Revised by Joint Intertraditional Technical Committee, Beltaine 1995

[61.1] Preamble: On September 9, 1939, in light of increasing accidents and communication difficulties associated with ad-hoc intertraditional magical workings, a Committee was struck to investigate the need for technical standards for identification of Wiccan rank and coven office on robes for all-purpose use, and to make such formal technical recommendations as might be deemed proper by its members following due and careful deliberation.

[61.11] Inasmuch as Craft practice has evolved since our Committee released its initial findings at Beltaine of 1944, and the likelihood of the Wicca being called into service in territorial defence organisations (to fight against things that go bump in the night) has declined since the cessation of world-wide hostilities, we have deemed it necessary to revise our report.

[61.12] Use of registered trademarks in this report is for identification purposes only. This Committee neither warrants nor specifies any particular commerical product or service for Craft use.

We hereby recommend that:

[61.2] All initiated Witches wear standardised insignia of rank on their coven robes, and that they be thoroughly trained in the recognition of such insignia under conditions of diminished visibility such as may be caused by darkness, fog, or smoke.

[61.21] If this is impractical, they should be trained in the use of infra-red or passive image intensification ('starlight scope') detection equipment.

[61.3] Craft rank as indicated by insignia shall be deemed substantive unless otherwise indicated as being titular or honorary, subject to individual Traditional practices.

[61.31] The provision of separate insignia for males and females is deemed unnecessary owing to the ready availability of biological evidence of gender.

[61.4] Insignia shall be constructed of colourfast thread embroidery or firmly-attached colourfast appliqué (such as lace, bias tape or rickrack).

[61.5] Insignia shall be positioned at the outer ends of the sleeves of robes, or about the armholes in the case of sleeveless robes. Insignia may, as an additional option, be placed around the lower hems of robes. Placement of insignia around necklines is not recommended, owing to the risk of accidental or intentional discolouration by food or beverages.

[61.51] In the case of skyclad workings, sleeve rings may be drawn upon the wrists with theatrical paint or grease-pencil. Other regalia may be attached to the Witch's body by the use of small pieces of hook-and-look fastener (Velcro© or equivalent) on appropriate parts of the body.

[61.511] Being of genteel disposition, we deem it unnecessary to enumerate the specific placement of such attachments.

[61.6] Insignia shall consist of rings and ornaments as set forth in Table 61.6. For ease of recognition, the insignia broadly parallel those used by the British Merchant Navy.


Table 61.6: Wiccan sleeve rings

1. Witch Queen:
four plain rings, inner two of which are interlaced.
2. High Priestess:
three plain rings, with central lozenge.
3. Maiden:
two and half plain rings, with central lozenge.
4. Summoner:
two plain rings, with central lozenge
5. Priestess:
one plain ring, with central lozenge.
6. Magus:
four rings with ribbed ornament, inner two of which are interlaced.
7. Herbalist:
Three rings with ribbed ornament and central lozenge.
8. Scribe or Webmistress:
Three rings with intervening corded ornament and central lozenge.

[61.7] In the interests of preserving Traditional identity, and ensuring unambiguous distinction of Initiatory relationships, insignia shall be coded according to Traditional colours, as set forth in Table 61.7.


Table 61.7: Traditional insignia colours:

Alexandrian:
Silver
Calgard:
White
Celtic:
Grey
Central Valley Wicca:
Purple
Dianic:
Violet
American Eclectic:
Any colour not otherwise assigned
Evergreen:
Green
Gardnerian:
Gold
Kingstone:
Carmine
Minoan:
Reddish-brown
NROOGD:
Yellow
Protean:
Green and Red
Ravenwood
Crimson
Silver Crescent:
Silver and Gold
Unicorn
Scarlet
West Coast:
Rainbow stripes

[61.71] Covens operating at confidentiality levels [C], [S] and [?] may mark insignia in low-visibility or camouflage colours.

[61.72] The provisions of [61.6] and [61.7] shall not be construed as limiting Traditional freedom to enact, change or ignore standard practices as they see fit.

[61.721] Neither this paragraph nor [61.72], incorporated herein by reference, shall be removed from these regulations.

[61.8] Closure: Comments may be addressed to the Committee at Maellenkleth Covenstead, Road 16, Stop 2, Pico Tranquillon, Casmalia, California 93429-9162.

For the Joint Intertraditional Technical Committee:

Lady Sybil Shipton-Gardner (Chair)
Count Fenix von und zu Commack, Magus-at-Law
Richard Barrington-Feynman, Maritime Architect
Antigone dell'Argoloni, Forensic Engineer
Rendrag Dlareg (Alternate, ex-Officio)

written by: Sybil Shipton-Gardner, for the Committee
document COSMCL61 © 1997 Joint Inter-Traditional Co-ordinating Committee
disclaimer: this Committee does not recommend that you engage in any of the practices herein referenced, including but not limited to laughter whether in forms corporeal or non-corporeal, chuckling or chortling in any way whatsoever (including any means of enjoyment or literary amusement whether herein referenced or to be devised or developed at a later date) at the absurdity of our attempts at humour, without prior and explicit authorisation of your High Priestess, her heirs and/or assigns. As our Lady is ever inclined to enjoy the odd laugh or two, "Honi soit qui mal y cense."

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