"The only justifiable reason for the existence of a Priesthood is to prevent people from putting limitations on their conceptions of God." Rev. Bitterwind

 Rev. Virginia Bitterwind Smith
First Elder of Tradition
Danville, Illinois, USA


 

Above: Arch Priestess Virginia "Bitterwind" Smith proudly displays a decanter of with sacred water to be used in the Lustration ceremony.

The Rt. Rev. Virginia Smith, better known as Lady Bitterwind, is the third longest serving member of the Correllian Council of Elders, and also the oldest of the currently seated Elders.

Rev. Bitterwind is the First Elder of the Correllian Tradition, succeeding the Rev. Gloria High Correll in this office.

As First Elder Lady Bitterwind oversees the succession of the Tradition's primary offices.

The First Elder also has an important role in the Lustration ceremonies.
 

Above: Lady Bitterwind, First Elder of Tradition, photographed at  the Lustration of the Living, 17 November, Year 2 Aquarius.

Left: Lady Bitterwind around the time of her acclamation as an Elder of Tradition.
 


Lady Bitterwind's personal sigil. To learn more about the heraldry of the Correllian Witan and High Priesthood, click HERE 
Lady Bitterwind was born on a particularly frosty Candlemas morning long ago, which was the inspiration for her name "Bitter Wind".

Lady Bitterwind's father nurtured her interest in philosophy and encouraged her to always look beneath the surface of situations. 



Lady Bitterwind's name in Correllian lettering. To learn more about the Correllian alphabet, click HERE
 
 In the '80s Lady Bitterwind made a collection of her father's philosophical writings, which was published in the Pagan journal Wheel of Hekate.



Lady Bitterwind with Rev. Ruthann Amarteifio, at the Awakenings Festival, 
Vermilion County, Illinois, 1599 Pisces (1999 AD). 


Above: One of Lady Bitterwind's artworks, entitled "Fur on fur, heartache on heartache" illustrating the role of death and regeneration in Nature.
Associated with the Correll Mother Temple for many years, and a founding member of the Temple of the Dancers of Shakti, (a Correllian Temple that flourished in the late '70s and '80s) Lady Bitterwind became an adopted member of the High-Correll family in 1583 Pisces (1983 AD). Lady Bitterwind holds the rank of Honorary Third Degree High Priestess in the Correll Mother Temple. You will notice that as an Honorary Third Degree Lady Bitterwind wears a lavender stole.

Lady Bitterwind is also a member of Enchanted Realm/ PURE Sanctuary Temple in Vermilion County, Illinois.

A retired restaurateur, Lady Bitterwind has authored many philosophical articles and stories, as well as works on metaphysics and science fiction. Lady Bitterwind's best known writings are Dirty Tricks, Inc. a series of articles expounding upon the hidden agendas and unconscious behavior patterns of society, and including her famous discourse on why government should be considered a living being -one not always friendly to humans. 


Throughout the '70s and '80s Lady Bitterwind was also well known as an artist and illustrator in the underground press. She is skilled in pen-and-ink, oils, and water color, but in recent years has come to specialize in sculpture. Some of Lady Bitterwind's most recent artwork has been done in sand. Lady Bitterwind created a sand sculpture in honor of the Goddess 2000 Project, which was displayed in the art competition accompanying the Danville Balloon Classic, held in Danville Illinois in the Year 0 Aquarius (2000 AD). The following year she won Second Place with her sand sculpture "Love knows no barriers".


Above: Lady Bitterwind with the Blv. LaVeda Lewis-Highcorrell, former Regent of the Tradition, at a ceremony of the Correll Mother Temple in June of 1588 Pisces (1988 AD).



"Love Knows No Barriers."

More recently Lady Bitterwind has begun marketing her artwork under the name "Wyrd Ginny Art." To see more of Lady Bitterwind's artwork, go HERE.

A widow, Lady Bitterwind lives with her two cats amid her seven carefully landscaped theme gardens. She has one grandchild.

Though rarely ever used, Lady Bitterwind's full formal titulalry is as follows:

Her Excellency the Right Reverend Virginia Bitterwind Smith, First Elder of the Correllian Tradition, Elder and Arch Priestess, High Priestess, Princess of the Faith.