By Diane Keating Sciacca (wolfinblack@pagan.net) for the Keepers of the Silver Flame
The Asesinos Brujos are an elite and semi-secret society and candidates they consider worthy are approached and invited to join, instead of the other way around. Their Rites Cycle is very reminiscent of august, secret societies throughout history and have a decided Masonic flavour.
For an Asesino to advance to any given Rank -- or indeed, to join the Camp -- she must undergo this cycle of Rites. Each is different and tailor-made for the Initiate, but the common thread is the initiate is blindfolded and guided through a series of tests by her mentor, facing adversaries, strafings, hazings and uncertainty at every turn.
At Rank One, she is approached by an Initiator who asks her to accompany him. More than likely this Initiator will become her Mentor. She is manhandled into an empty room where she is surrounded by the local chapter of the Camp. They question her before handing her a specific talen in the shape of the Assassin Bird; this talen will, if activated in the next 24 hours, summon the nearest Asesino Brujo upon which time the candidate lets the Camp know she wishes to join them. An initiatory ordeal or test follows.
Further Rites of Rank are based upon and test the prior performance, character and achievements of the Assassin Witch. At Rank 5, a panel of Elders convenes to initiate the Candidate and puts her through a ritual test that closely follows the Hero's Journey and uses a Camp legend as its blueprint.