Remembering rituals and symbols
 

After I was initiated into my (NPC) group in college, I remember we all received a folder containing a brief summary of what our symbols, colors, etc. mean. Now that I'm an alum several years out of school, I find it's nice to have since the meanings of certain things may get lost with time. I can re-read the summary and it's like, "Oh yeah...that refreshes my memory!"

Just curious to see if other groups do this too. It can be so easy to forget. Most alums I know are primarily involved in social aspects when they become alums. A lot of the "meat" of the ritual seems to take place more in the collegiate realm.

I think that rituals is a BIG thing that we should all remember and I think it is such an importnat thing that all sisters should remember!

We receive nothing of the sort. After each Initiation, a post-Initiation review is held for the chapter. If you spend enough years with your chapter, it's easy to remember chunks of your Ritual because you're familiar with it by then. We aren't allowed to make copies of any part of our Ritual book. Everything is done by memorization.

Even now, as an alum, I can still remember the symbolism and meaning behind our Ritual. I'm not as active now as I should be, but I try to make it a point to attend Initation every year -- and it definitely brings back memories.

Re: Remembering rituals and symbols
 

Maybe you could refresh us on the ritual of KKI or Delta Theta Tau.

Re: Re: Remembering rituals and symbols
 

Bwahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

We don't do that...in fact, we're not supposed to write down anything from our ritual. It's far too easy for someone to misplace something written and for a non-member to see it.

I still remember large chunks of ritual, and probably will for the rest of my life.

I recommend that no matter where you are or if you have graduated and live away from your home chapter where you went thru ritual, find out where the closest chapter is of your fraternity or sorority and check with that chapter to see when they hold iniaition and try to attend. We may be all in different GLOs but the one thing that we all have on common is that RITUAL is what makes us GLOs. It is what binds us together. If it wasn't for RITUAL, we would all be just another organization on the local college campus. I hope this all makes sense. I just woke up. LOL....

I would do anything to "forget" what I know now just to go thru my fraternity's ritual again. Does anyone agree?

we wouldn't be allowed to make copies of anything like that, but I second what others have said. Attend an initiation of a chapter near you, you'll remember. :)

Cosign. I have yet to hear of a GLO which is careless enough to put this information in print. What GLO do you belong to, that would allow ritual material outside of the hands of the Ritual Chairman?

I distinctly remember for both Delta Sigma Pi and Alpha Delta Pi this is the same. (as far as not writing down anything from ritual because it could easily be lost or found by a non-member.)

Carnation: I <3 you! hehehe

Our Ritual Chair has this, too, but it's in code. You never know when a troll is going to accidentally find one!

Are you serious? That's very cool!!!

I honestly don't know what my chapter did as far as the written Ritual. It appeared for Rituals and, since I wasn't Ritual chair, I don't know where it spent its time when it wasn't being used.

Our procedures as undergrads were that anything that was esoteric in nature was kept in a locked box when not in use, and over the summers, said box was left with the advisor or in a safety deposit box.

Also, nothing was ever written.

Just to clarify: what I have is a SUMMARY of some (not all) of the symbols (the various parts of the crest, for example), not a copy of a ritual book or an explanation of the meaning of the ritual (even though the crest etc are technically part of the ritual).

If you have even a passing knowledge of heraldry or symbolism behind colors, flowers, etc. it's probably pretty easy to guess at the meaning (or come close to guessing) behind the symbols each group has chosen. And even if you did have a copy of the ritual book, it would make absolutely no sense to anyone unless they participated in it.

I'm glad I have this summary. I'm not even sure they do it anymore since I was initiated in '92. While I will always remember what my letters stand for, over time I've found some of the finer points of the crest, etc. can become fuzzy.

It sounds as if this isn't really something other groups do, which is what I was curious about. Thanks!

that's cool GreakFreak .. which NPC did you say you were part of?

maybe other GC members of your org can clarify if this is still done :)

Hmmm...I'm not sure if I want to say which group, because I don't want to get anyone in trouble now!! It sounds as if this is kind of a touchy subject and I don't want anyone to have a cow about ritual-like things being distributed. HOWEVER, I will say that the group that I belong to was one of the founding members of NPC back in 1902.

I could call the chapter I initiated in the next day or so and ask if they still do this. I'm not sure if I'd get a straight answer though because they don't know me and even if I tell them that I'm an alum they might be defensive about some stranger calling out of the blue and asking them about ritual stuff!! But I can still try to find out...I'm curious now myself!!

I, too, sort of wondered why I was given this summary when I received it. So much emphasis was put on these things being a secret and when they gave this folder to me I wondered if that was a good idea because everyone knows how easily things can get lost or misplaced as we move around in life.

I will call them and post an answer if they give me one!

why would that get the group in trouble? if that's just what they do nationally, it shouldn't be a problem.

I don't think it's something that is done nationally by this group. I had a friend who was initated into the same group in another state and she didn't receive anything like this. We always used to joke that if something ever happened to me that she had to come to my house and specifically ask for this one item!!

It also doesn't sound like it's something other national groups do either, judging by the replies on this thread.

Let me call the chapter I initiated in and see what they say. Then if you still want to know the group I can tell you (or better yet, PM you!).

Sounds like your group had good intentions but went about it the wrong way.:)

sounds like the poster is a ritual fisher :)

Perhaps...

But I would like to think everyone is good and honest.

nothing involving ritual should even be remotely discussed online

She's also being evasive not posting her org. How would people get in trouble 10yrs later?

What's a ritual?

that's kind of what i was thinking... why send a pm about what org you're in? usually ppl here are so proud of their orgs they plaster 10-inch greek letters in their signature :)

and besides, even if the chapter was doing something that they shouldn't have been, they should all be alums now 10 yrs later, right? :p

I agree with this. And from my point of view, I always either learn something new or catch something I missed...
I definitely agree with going to as many as you can. It also helps you renew your enthusiam and committment

You got that right, girl!! Even when we would do Initiation three times a year, I would still find at least one thing that seemed new to me! It was the best part of being an Advisor! :)

Greekfreak-

I feel for you! One of the most precious things that I possess is a copy of The Ritual of my fraternity. Since we had a revision of the
ritual in the 90s, the previous one was no longer in use, even though 95% is still the same. I kept one for myself. After I was initiated I was elected president and had the job of keeping ritualistic material. I read and mediated on what I went through and it made a lasting impression on me--the profound spiritual (biblical) values and lessons for life that the initiation ritual contained. I know that brothers in my fraternity often have unofficial sessions where older brothers give them information to refresh their memories on what they experiences and its significance. There are many brothers who can quote much of the ritual verbatim--now living up to the ideals of it all the time is another matter!

And this gets to another issue:if there is too much esoterica in initiation rituals, people can miss the big picture,and it become somewhat "cartoonish." Anthropologists tell that rites-of-passage ceremonies (e.g., of Greek-letter groups) appeal to levels in us deeper than simply the intellect.

It's pretty disappointing that a posting that declared "This is what I have - did your group do something similar?" has degenerated into calling the poster "evasive" and a "ritual fisher". Puh-leeze...:rolleyes: You flatter yourselves. Ritual doesn't mean anything to anyone else unless they can actually participate in the ceremony.

Realizing this is a touchy subject (at least for some) and knowing it could easily be misinterpreted (as it apparently has by some) I didn't want to just put my group's name out there and imply, "This is what ALL chapters of XYZ do (because I'm pretty sure they don't)." Then some hyper-sensitive bonehead poster would read it, misunderstand it (no surprise there), then post somewhere else that XYZ prints out copies of their ritual and distributes it" - or worse.

At any rate, this is what I found out today: I called my chapter and talked to a gal who was initiated last year. She knew what I was talking about, but said that the new initiates only had these summaries long enough to memorize some stuff and then they were turned in. Guess that makes sense.

Then I asked a friend of mine who initiated at the same chapter a year or so after I did if she remembers getting this (unofficial) summary, and she said yes. She said she remembers getting this folder from her Big Sis and the folder had her name on it (just like mine).

So...my guess is that at one time, new initiates did not get to keep this information. Then someone (unofficially) decided to just give their Little Sis a copy, and then it just generally evolved back into just letting new initiates keep the copy long enough to memorize or review things.

Wolfman, I'm with you! I still stand by my statement that it's kind of cool to have this, even if it's not officially sanctioned by national HQ. It's locked away in my cedar chest where no one can see it...in case anyone is still wringing their hands over this.
:p

There should be nothing written about ritual except, well, the ritual. There's a difference between open info that's on websites (i.e. the Owl is Chi Omega's mascot) and things that are revealed during ritual.

I would like to state however, that initiated members should be able to (if it's written down) look at the ritual at any time. It shouldn't be "OMG only the chapter president and ritual chair are allowed to even know where it is." It belongs to everyone in the sorority.

Here's a little ritual refresher lesson for everyone still reading:

If your national organization does not permit members to write down all or part of your ritual(s), then don't write it down. If your national organization does not permit individual members to have a copy of all or part your ritual(s), then you as an individual member don't get to have a copy. If you're an initiated member, take advantage of every chance you can get to experience your ritual(s). Read them, fully participate, learn the what's and the why's about your GLO's beliefs and teachings.

Honestly, I don't care where you have it locked away, because if you are my sister I'd ask you to destroy it. It's not cool to have it. It's disrespectful, especially if "it's not officially sanctioned by national HQ." Even if I'm not your sister, I'm still going to ask you to destroy whatever ritualistic information you may have in your possession. Sure, it may be locked away and secure now, but what about the future? There are reasons why rituals aren't written. There are also reasons why most rituals can only be witnessed by initiates. Respect these reasons and respect your sisterhood (or brotherhood).

ok question for this thread: for those of us that have gone thru our respected fraternity/sorority's rituals, how many of us would take the opportunity to "forget" what we know now and go thru again? I know sure as heck would in a heartbeat!!!!

It has been almost 19 years since I went thru my fraternity's ritual and I still remember well 90% of it....I plan on heading down to my chapter in May and watch to refresh my memory on the other 10%....

Time does have a way of kickin your mind's butt from time to time..LOL.....

So, far as secrets being revealed here on Greekchat....I think that we care enough about our rituals that we DO wanna share at times but we are bound by oaths and obligations to our fraternities/sororities not to reveal that information to anyone that, I guess you could say, is "on the outside looking in"....

I remember, on that night of August 29th, 1986, that I wanted to tell the world what I experienced.....It was an experience that I will never forget!!!! AHHH, the memories.....

In my fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi, no copies may be made of our Ritual and Secret Work, even for rehearsal purposes. Copies are strictly controlled by the chapter. It's been over 20 years since I've taken the vows that made me a member of Alpha Sigma Phi, and I still remember them as if they happened yesterday.

As a Freemason, the rituals and ceremonies in the Grand Lodges of Texas and Oklahoma are passed down from 'mouth to ear'; as far as I know only one written copy of the ritual is kept under lock and key at Grand Lodge; even then it is only seen by the Committee on [Ritual] Work. Members who are proficient in the ritual submit to annual oral examinations in order to receive certification as an instructor. (I was once certified in both Grand Lodges at the minimum "C" level of instruction at one time - I just haven't had time lately to really sit down and study again.)

Possession of or use of unauthorized written rituals or ciphers of the Texas and Oklahoma work is illegal and may subject the member to disciplinary action up to and including reprimand, suspension or expulsion from Freemasonry. Other Masonic Grand Lodges vary in their use of written rituals and ciphers; some permit them, some do not.

I can neither confirm nor deny the existance of a ritual for my fraternity.

If there were one, however, I would question our ability to keep it secret if we had printed materials discussing secret things.

We have a ritual review after every initiation. If the girls dont remember what things mean they can learn again.

CO SIGN. I've seen LXA Ritual in at least 5 different chapters, and over a total of 30 times now, give or take. I learn something new each time I see it - a new way to apply, or based on life's new experiences, how the Ritual's teachings apply.

I make it a goal to see Ritual at least once a year...usually I get to see it twice if not three times.

I wouldn't want to re-forget just to go through it again....I put my initiation as the third most influential event in my life - second only to watching my children being born (the most incredible miracle of all!), and my wedding.

It is most amazing if you can get to a Convention and see it there.

OMG yes.

The first time I witnessed Ritual with hundreds of my sisters, I had goosebumps the whole time. I was almost moved to tears.

One thing I noticed, though, and this might or might not be true for other GLOS...but while the Ritual remains the same over the years, I can see how parts of it (pronunciation, actions, etc.) might vary from chapter to chapter. Chapters might not know that they're doing/saying things incorrectly -- so it's a great feeling to go to a Convention, witness how it's SUPPOSED to be, and go back to chapter making corrections, if necessary.