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King/Elder

Empowering Intent: Each initiate basks for a moment in the light as he descends into darkness. As each man directly confronts the ultimate questions of life he gets a brief vision of a higher purpose (sacred king & mission) before he continues the descent into chaos and blackness.

Energy Embodied: The blessing, fatherly, loving and gracious king.

Materials:
___ White headband
___ Candles
Timing: Early in the greeting. Somewhere between challenger and the contraband room.

Notes to the King/Elder: Make real statements of inquiry, light questions. This permits more room to not answer, as many men will not have any answer. We want at this point for initiates to "hear" and hold the question. You may be surprised by the deep (perhaps archetypal) recognition men display when they feel these questions. You may see or feel them jump, jolt or startle.

Preparation: A ritual elder serving as the symbolic "king" dresses in black except for a white headband. You stand or sit in a dark room or outside in nature with a candles placed so as to illuminate both your eyes and the initiates eyes. Do not take full ashes on your face.

Process: Escort leads initiate to King/Elder and says: "Knock on that door." or "See that man."
King/Elder says, "Enter" or "Step forward"
Initiate enters and sees dimly the figure of an elder. Gently and firmly invite the initiate to step forward until you can easily see each others eyes.
(Example: "Take another step closer".) Establish clear eye contact.
King internally, silently blesses the man before him. (Blessing: feel your belly soft and send a prayer.)
King/Elder says: "Tell me your last name." Even if he has passed table one and has his number, ask his name. This will keep the elder contact personal and help jar him momentarily out of his descent thereby getting his attention for the questions. Listen for his name. Example: Smith or Jones
King/Elder says: "Smith, tell me (dramatic pause) your life mission."
Note: Be sure to say "Life" mission. Even if a man does not have one he knows what that means.
Stay in eye contact and accept whatever the initiate says. (15 seconds) Count slowly 15 seconds, Stay in the quiet void, keep blessing him as he struggles and struggles in the question.
Initiates will likely stumble, or give a surface level answer. Some will clearly state a mission or make one up and some will say "I don't have one."
Accept whatever he says. And say "Thank You." (pause)
King/Elder says: "Smith tell me, (pause) Who do you serve?"
Initiate will likely stumble again with an answer. Some will have some version of his inner king, some will say god, some may say "myself" and some may not know. (15 seconds) Stay in eye contact and accept whatever he says.
King/Elder says: "Thank you" (perhaps a small bow) and points "Knock on that door." or Points to the escort, "Return to that man".
Escort then takes him to next step of the descent.

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Empowering Intent: Initiates surrender some more of the security of their outside world.
Begin stripping initiates of personal items.

Energy Embodied: Direct and matter-of fact.
Materials:
___ Zip lock bags
___ 3x5 cards
___ Marker
Preparation: Make a list of contraband items (see #1 below) in black marker.
Post list on wall where it can be easily seen by initiates.
1. Memorize and state clearly to each initiate as he steps forward, "Put all jewelry, keys, money, electrical devices, sacred objects, tobacco, weapons, drugs, time pieces, and food in this bag."

Note: Some centers have the man put all medications, prescription and over the counter, in a separate baggie. This bag gets another 3x5 card with the man's number in red.
Note: Some centers treat tobacco as a medicine and put it in this second bag too.
Hand him the bag(s).
2. If initiate says anything, repeat #1.
3. Write initiate's number on 3x5" card ? put in bag ? seal bag. Hand bag to initiate. He will carry bag into contraband room.
4. Say "Stand over there" and point to the spot or "See that man" point to an escort.
Note: sacred objects has been added to cover wedding rings, crosses, medicine pouches, etc.

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NotOneOfThem

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Begin stripping initiates of personal items.

Energy Embodied: Direct and matter-of fact.
Materials:
___ Zip lock bags
___ 3x5 cards
___ Marker
Preparation: Make a list of contraband items (see #1 below) in black marker.

Note: Some centers have the man put all medications, prescription and over the counter, in a separate baggie. This bag gets another 3x5 card with the man's number in red.

3. Write initiate's number on 3x5" card ? put in bag ? seal bag. Hand bag to initiate. He will carry bag into contraband room.

Note: sacred objects has been added to cover wedding rings, crosses, medicine pouches, etc.

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Contraband

Empowering Intention: Taking initiate away from worldly attachments by removing his personal stuff.
Initiates feel the descent.

Energy Embodied: Clear and direct, like a blank mirror.

Materials:
___ Paper bags
___ Markers
___ 3x5 cards
___ Pens

Note: Besides [b:e23365e76b]separating men from identity items[/b:e23365e76b] this process also increases physical safety by removing any weapons and drugs from easy access.
1. Positions: One man ("table man") dumps stuff if needed and alternates with hard questions. Second man ("pat down man") takes notes on accountability issues of attitude and contraband, and does the pat down when table man calls for it. Third man ("side man") observes initiates for issues and pushes verbally. The three position usually rotate after each initiate. Escort stays close to initiate.
2. Commands:
"Put your stuff on this table."
"Open it."
"Take everything out."
"Hurry up."

Note: Dump the stuff for the man only as a last resort. Give him a chance to dump it himself. Dump it for him only if he is too slow. Do not invade unnecessarily.
3. What to confiscate:
[b:e23365e76b]Anything he will not need; any reading material, all toiletries except his tooth brush and toothpaste. Take virtually everything except his clothing and bedding. [/b:e23365e76b]

Note: If medicines look vital (prescription medications) ask him
"Do you need this?" and if he says yes don't confiscate it. If he says no or [b:e23365e76b]hesitates confiscate it[/b:e23365e76b] and say: "Will you ask staff if you need this."
When he says yes put it in his bag.

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Anything on Table # 2 list: If we find a piece of this contraband ask a series of closed ended questions requiring yes/no answers. This requires the initiate to acknowledge the obvious.
Open example:
"Is this a (name of item)?" Yes or No
"Were you told to leave (type of contraband) at the other table?" Yes or No
"Did you follow instruction?" Yes or No
Example with specific details:
"Is this banana/knife/radio?" Yes or No
"Is this food/weapon/electrical device?" Yes or No
"Were you told to leave food/weapons/electrical devices at the other table?" Yes or No
"Did you follow the instructions?" No or No
If he answers "I forgot I had it." he has not answered the question. Restate it "Yes or no, is this food?" This process lets a man call himself of his failure to follow directions and be accountable for his actions.
This also [b:e23365e76b]sets him up[/b:e23365e76b] for the Accountability process.
(Don't expect him to be too happy about it, though.)

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4. Questions: during the process staffmen may ask the following.
"Who are you number __ ?" If initiate gives his name or anything but his number, repeat: "Who are you, number __ ?"
Repeat with variation as often as needed and when he gets it say; "Thank your number __ . "
We want the initiate to acknowledge his number as part of
getting him to lighten up on his [b:e23365e76b]current identity. [/b:e23365e76b]
"Why are you here?" and "How is this like your life?"
We use these as throwaways. Don't expect or wait for an answer and accept any answer. We only want to stimulate some self questioning under pressure and keep him [b:e23365e76b]off balance. [/b:e23365e76b]
"Do you forget/hurry/rebel a lot in your life?
"How is that working for you?"

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5. The Pat Down: Table leader says; "For your safety and ours we are going to pat you down. Do you understand?"
When initiate acknowledges with a "yes" or a positive nod tell him; "Put you hands on the table and take a step back."
Pat down man says; "I'm going to touch you now." and proceeds to pat him down.
If something is found acknowledge it with him, "What is this?". When he names it, put it in the bag.

Note: The pat-down is [b:e23365e76b]partially an intimidation process[/b:e23365e76b] and a highly practical because we do not want to risk any weapons coming into the training.
6. Notes: Make careful notes of serious confiscated items and men with extremely resistant attitudes for accountability team and future reference.
7. Bags: Put each man's plastic bag and all other confiscated items in numbered paper bag and make sure bags get to Bagman later.

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Bagman

Empowering Intent: Be of service to initiates and staff by caring for their stuff.
Bags remain safe and accessible all weekend.

Energy Embodied: Deliberate and attentive. Friday evening: Immediately after the Greeting
1. Collect paper bags from contraband rooms.
2. Put bags, in numerical order, in pit before accountability. Get other staffmen to help.
3. Be responsible during accountability to take any initiates surrendered jewelry etc. and make sure it gets in the plastic ziplock bag inside the correct paper bag.
Later Friday: As the "Confidential Process Questionnaire" begins.
1. Remove bags from pit and secure all bags in numerical order in a safe place. Ask leaders ahead of time for location of a "safe and accessible place" to store the bags for the weekend. Get other staffmen to help.
On Sunday: During the "sweat cave"
1. Return bags to each man's room or bunk.
Bag numbers usually correspond with bunk number or room number or team numbers.
2. Also return each man's own "Confidential Process Questionnaire" by putting it in his bag. Match numbers.
3. Also make sure he gets a copy of any current New Warrior literature.

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Out: Violating or intimidating initiates in the greeting. Over and over we kept hearing the call for less intimidation and violation, to be replaced with more clearly holding of the blank mirror for initiates to see their own shadows