An Elder, alternatively referred to as a Path Elder, signified a rank bestowed upon senior individuals within the Path of the Open Hand cult. These Elders played a crucial role in guiding the organization through a Council of Elders, operating under the authority of a Herald and the Mother. Subsequently, the Mother established an additional leadership role known as the Guide of the Open Hand, a position assumed by Marda Ro. Following Ro's transformation of the Path into the Path of the Closed Fist, the Elders initially remained within its structure. However, they eventually chose to depart from Ro's version of the Path, driven by their dedication to the original "Open Hand" principles.