1. Successfully complete the requirements for and be initiated at Second Degree

2. Spend at least six months after initiation at Second Degree actively participating in the activities of the coven.

3. Complete a paper and submit to the Heartwood indicating why they feel called to the priesthood, and how they are going to juggle the requirements of being a High Priest or Priestess with those of work, family, and personal life.

1) Continue studies began at first and second degree.

2) Meditate at least once daily.

3) Have basic understanding of cycles of life, death, and rebirth as understood by the group and write a 3-5-page paper supporting your positions.

4) Lead group ritual on a reasonably regular basis, at least once per quarter.

5) Demonstrate commitment to pagan education by organizing and facilitating at least one class or workshop on some area of NeoPagan practice or belief at least once per quarter.

6) Demonstrate a proficiency at writing and leading guided meditations, group workings, etc.

7) Demonstrate further leadership and group skills, including handling antagonistic members, organizational and management skills, event planning, etc.

8) Demonstrate a clearer and deeper understanding of clerical counseling skills, including when not counsel, counseling techniques, life change counseling, etc.

9) Demonstrate a facility at setting and obtaining personal goals.

10) Successfully train at least one degree-seeking student to initiation.

11) Acquire an understanding of the necessary legal procedures for legal church status, record keeping, local requirements for officiating of weddings, funerals, other rites, budgetary planning.

12) Understand local laws that might affect the practice of pagan religion, and the local law enforcement and legal structure.

13) Understand methods of dealing with religious discrimination, and how to protect religious rights.'

14) Serve your local, regional, or national NeoPagan community in a leadership capacity and help with or organize service-oriented projects with the community.

15) Choose a subject of current or former study about which to write a paper for inclusion in the lore of the tradition.

16) Understand multiple methods of power-raising (trance, dance, song, etc)

17) Acquire and demonstrate a basic understanding of the major religions of your local area, and how to communicate effectively with their members.

18) Write a five to seven page paper addressing the following questions:

a) How has having a relationship with specific patron deities changed or affected the candidate?

b) How has the candidate's perception of his or her patrons changed over time, and do those changes, if any, affect the candidate's response to the previous question? If so, how do they affect it?

c) How does having a relationship with a specific patron or patrons affect the candidates ability to work with other Aspects of the Divine as necessary in designing or leading rituals for specific purposes or to meet an individual's specific need?

d) How familiar is the candidate with specific deities and pantheons other than his or her patrons? How is this familiarity, or any lack thereof, likely to affect the candidates ability to function as High Priestess or High Priest in an eclectic tradition?

19) Demonstrate the ability to cope with emergencies both magical and mundane.

20) Demonstrate the ability to interact effectively with the mundane community. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

a) Demonstrable familiarity with the basic beliefs and tenets of at least three major world religions (other than those chosen to meet the similar requirement at Second Degree) which are not part of the modern Neo-Pagan movement.

b) Evidence that the candidate has seriously addressed the question of what it means to be Pagan in a largely non-Pagan world.

21) Demonstrate by the candidate's manner of living and interactions with others that the candidate has achieved an advanced level of personal growth and development, and a consistent understanding of the ethical conduct and behavior expected of a High Priest of High Priestess in the Oak, Ash, & Thorn tradition, and further that he or she is of such character that he or she is fit to be entrusted with the leadership of an independent coven, or represent the Tradition in Greater Neo-Pagan community or the world at large, and he or she is fully prepared in all respects to made "...Initiate, Priest(ess), and Witch" in the Third Degree.