Proposed Revisions to the Ten Induction Principles

The Ten Induction Principles were written over 40 years ago. They have served us well. However, there are a few elements of good inductions work that were not included,

Consider at what point in time the Ten Induction Principles were formulated by the CAG. The Elangomat System had not yet spread beyond a handful of lodges in Florida, and the prior CAG members had not yet had any experience with it. So although the Elangomat concept was known by the CAG as it developed the Ten Induction Principles, none of those principles require or even made any reference to it.

So today we have Ten Induction Principles which do not include any guidance for the Elangomat System, which has become the core of the modern Ordeal.

We have developed a replacement document, Ideals of the Induction.

• Focuses on current issues, rather than those of the long past.
• Begins with points that explicitly define the purpose and methods of the Induction.
• Fully integrates material on the Elangomat program.
• Calls itself “ideals” rather than “principles”. This is more realistic and accurate. For example, complete silence is ideal, not a principle whose violation shatters the experience.
• The Handbook for Ceremonial Teams, an unofficial book written by Ray Petit, was the primary source for the ideas that became the Ten Induction Principles. In his honor, we have restored his original names for the four principles that adorned the CAG neckerchief: Atmosphere, Clarity, Symbolism, and Unity.

Click here to download the fifteen Ideals of the Induction that we propose for use in the Order of the Arrow, using the familiar terminology “Ordeal” and “Tests”.

Click here to download the same fifteen Ideals of the Induction, using our preferred terminology “Ancient Quest” and “Ways” (of Solitude, Service, Fasting, and Silence).

Click here to learn of the Ancient Circle of the Arrow, an Order of the Arrow equivalent program for use by foreign Scout associations. The above document was created for that purpose, but is equally applicable to the Order of the Arrow.

Click here to see our Ideals of the Elangomat System which are hereby obsolete. They are merged into our fifteen Ideals of the Induction introduced by this page.