School of the Zerynthian Mysteries
The School of the Zerynthian Mysteries includes three cycles. Each Cycle has a title that to denotes what level within the Mysteries those Sisters participate at. No stage is better than any other in any hierarchical sense. All Sisters have equal voice in the day-to-day functioning of the tradition. The stages are levels of participation and responsibility only. The only other distinction is that of Mystes (Greek for Initiate), which is given to those who have experienced the annual Rite of the Zerynthian Mysteries, which are held each August, either as a Priestess or as a Devotee. Also, completion of all stages of the Mystery School training leads to legal ordination.
Cycle One: Novice to Arktos
Novice is the title used for all Sisters of the first Cycle. They are at the most basic level of participation in the Mysteries. They are either in training for the second Cycle or have not made that commitment yet. No Sister has to move past Novice stage ever, if she does not feel the call to do so. Novices have the same right to participate in Full Moon celebrations and to voice their thoughts and feelings on all subjects touching the basic functioning of the Mystai. The Novices participate only in the outer Rites of the Mysteries.
All Novices can ask for training to the next Cycle when they feel the call and are at a point in their lives to make the commitment to study further. At this point they make a request to the Mentor Sisters (see below) for training, at which point an Heireia or Mentor Sister will take the Novice on as a student. There is no set time for this training as it is more than a simple body of knowledge. It is an inner transformational process and preparation for the Mysteries. It can take as little as one year or much longer. It is done when the Mentor Sister feels that the student is truly prepared for initiation.
Cycle Two: Arktos to Hiereia
Arktos is the title used for all Sisters of the second Cycle. They have completed the first Cycle. They have created a personal practice and can participate in the outer Mysteries as well as function as Priestess in Full Moon Celebrations. Again, any Sister can stop at this phase and be an Arktos as long as she wishes. Only the Sister herself can know when she is called to continue. Arktoi can all participate in the Outer Temple functions of the Mysteries.
All Arktoi (plural for Arktos) can ask for training to the next phase when they feel the call and are at a point in their lives to make that commitment to themselves, their Sisters, and the Goddess. At this point they can request that a Mentor Sister (see below) train them for however long it takes for them to progress to the next stage, which will lead them into the deeper mysteries through study of Goddess Lore and philosophy into a more involved role. This training takes one to two years on average but it is not done until the Mentor Sister feels the Arktos is truly ready for inititiation. Arktoi can choose whether they wish to follow the Outer Temple Paths or pursue a deeper role in the Mystery Rites.
Cycle Three: Hiereia to Mentor Sister
Hiereia is the title used for all Sisters of the third Cycle. They have gone through the first two cycles of studies and can lead the Full Moon celebrations, teach Novices, and celebrate the inner Rites of the Mysteries, if they have chosen that Path. Again, any Sister can stop at this phase and be a Hiereia as long as she wishes. Only the Sister herself can know when she is called to continue. The Hiereiai are divided into two main groups, the Sisters of the Outer Temple, who lead the Full Moon Rites and create ritual for the whole Sisterhood to share and the Sisters of the Inner Temple who focus on communion with Goddess to deepen the Mysteries and our understanding of Goddesses in the modern world. Both roles are equally important within the Sisterhood and are needed as the Sisterhood grows and changes. Both groups can also participate in the work of the other, they are not mutually exclusive. So sisters of the Outer Temple can take time to do oracular/mystic work in communion with various Goddesses if they feel a call and Sisters of the Inner Temple can lead the rituals when they wish to do so, for example if they wish to introduce some new aspect to our rituals.
All Hiereiai (plural for Hiereia) can ask for training to the next phase when they feel the call and are at a point in their lives to make that commitment to themselves, their Sisters, and the Goddess. At this point they request for the Mentor Sisters to speak with them about their desire to enter the third stage of the initiatory path and how they feel they can serve the Sisterhood through their commitment. If the Mentor Sisters agree that the Heireia is ready, then one Mentor Sister will take on the training of the Heireia for the final phase of the path working. This takes a minimum of two years as well. It is a deep transformational process and also goes into the deep magicks of the central Rites of the Mysteries. It is done when all the Mentor Sisters and the Heireia agree that she is ready.
Mentor Sister
Mentor Sister is the title used for all Sisters of the fourth and final stage. They have complete all three Cycles of the pathworking and can lead Full Moon celebrations, celebrate the central Rites of the Mysteries, help craft the Mysteries through communion with various Goddesses, and are responsible for training all Sisters who wish to study for initiation. They can hive off new Covens of the Mystai either online or in their local area and train up Sisters to continue the lineage.
As far as the training work goes, each Mentor Sister can have up to five Novices, three Arktoi, and one Heireia to train at any given time. The difference is due to the much more involved process as the training goes deeper. Each Mentor Sister gives a lot of herself to the Mystai tradition through continuing refining of the pathworking, the one-on-one communications she makes time for with each Sister she is training, her time working with various Goddesses to build the Rites, and her own personal practice. That's why the Mentor Sisters take time to speak in-depth with any Sister who wishes to become a Mentor Sister, to make sure she is truly ready for that commitment. Being a Mentor Sister is a labor of love for those who go to this phase of the Path. We welcome all Sisters who wish to join us in our work.