MEMBERSHIP
Why do you ask for so much personal information on the application? What do you have to hide? We ask for this information to protect the safety and privacy of our members. Disclosure prevents potential pedophiles from being put in charge of family events, or those with criminal charges from running a local chapter/group. We also have some members who have been stalked, and we need to make sure we’re not allowing their stalkers into our membership. There are a lot of reasons we need full transparency on the back end of our membership. If you wish to remain anonymous, you need to speak to the High Priest with your reasoning. After all, no one will know you’re a member unless you tell them. We have no motivation to spread your identity around. Those on this site who use their real names do so of their own accord. If this isn’t acceptable to you, then no one is forcing you to join.
If I’m a complete beginner can I join? Of course. Why not? Just be sure you’ve already done enough research and study to know that you are seriously wanting to become a Daemonolater.
Do you curse people who have left your temple? It is not the practice of the House of Delepitore, or its clergy, to curse anyone who leaves the training or the organization. We are not that petty and childish. We understand that not all groups are a good fit for every person. We also understand not everyone can hack the training, and that’s okay. We’re all different.
PRE-INITIATE TRAINING
When does pre-initiate training start? It’s a self-paced course, but it does require effort, sincerity, and application. Upon acceptance into the training program, each new member is put through a fundamentals class, then given an instructor who will guide them through the remaining material (including tests). Upon completion of this training, members will be asked to write a paper, and then complete an oral exam. Then the council convenes and decides which students will be offered initiation. Initiation opens students up to participating in our forum, rituals, and additional classes. This is how many traditional covens conduct their training for new initiates and we wanted to stay with tradition as much as possible. We’ve found that a rigorous selection process cuts down on group drama considerably and creates an atmosphere of commiseration, learning, and mutual respect among members.
Why do I have to take pre-initiate training? Everyone has to undergo pre-initiate training. We will allow those members who have already undergone pre-initiate training in an approved GenDem group to go directly to initiation with HP approval and a letter of recommendation from the HP of your GenDem group. An email will be fine.
What if I don’t like my teacher? Can I change? We understand that some teachers are hard or that personalities sometimes clash. However, it is our practice to NOT move students around from teacher to teacher except in extenuating circumstances. Those circumstances might include: romantic feelings, transference, or conflicts of interest. Each situation is weighed individually on its own merit. You cannot swap teachers just because you dislike the one originally given to you.
I have a complaint about a member of the clergy. How do I file? You are welcome to file a report by sending an email to shae.delepitore@gmail.com with your complaint, in full, with documented evidence of the infraction. It will then be forwarded from the Council representative to all Council members, where it will be reviewed. The clergy in question is allowed to present in his/her own defense, and priest/priestesses are judged and subject to disciplinary action based on the Council’s findings. The person who filed the complaint will be informed of the Council’s decision once it is made.
My teacher isn’t getting back to me! What do I do? First, please make sure you have paid attention to your teacher’s office hours! Our clergy are people, too, with lives. This is a volunteer job for them. House of Delepitore considers two weeks a reasonable time frame for a teacher to get back to a student, though most instructors have weekly office hours (or a policy to deal with email one day per week). Do not expect them to drop everything to answer your email. You are likely not their only student. If you have read these guidelines and still feel that your teacher is not responding to you in a timely enough manner, please email the current head of the pre-initiate program at preinitprogram@gmail.com.
My teacher made me re-do a lesson, which isn’t fair. Can I get a new teacher? No. Our clergy want you to put forth your best possible effort. If they see that effort lacking, they might push you and ask you to redo an assignment. Be thorough in your lessons and the chances of you having to redo the lesson will decline dramatically. Becoming a better magician demands excellence, as does the Daemonic Divine. Truly put for your best effort.